The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-11-21
Golden Wedding.

The fiftieth NJ niversary Of the wedding
OF Mr.. and Mrs. Jonas Parker was C. h.
brated by large gathering Of relative.
and neighbors at the Parker homes .pad
In Norridgewock on 'he evening OF y ".
8. from seven until ten O'CLOCK.
The time passed pleasantly in social
greetings and "reminiscences. At about
eight o'clock the guests we're summoned
to the dining room. The tables were
beautiful with flowers and looked very
inviting In the soft light Of the many
WAX candles. A blessing was invoked
| by brother of the bride. Forty-six
guests were then seated and first served
with viands such as graced the banquets
of fifty years ago; then with salads,
creams, ices, dainty confections ani
fruits OF the present time.
A poem. written for the occasion by
Mrs, Pearson, one of Names fair dau1 III
tiers, now a resident OF Boston, who read
followed by after-dinner speeches.
Mr.. Parker very feelingy expressed
the pleasure of himself and wife in meet.
ing so many of their friends in their
home. The guests, upon their departure,
left many beautiful and valuable pres
ents, one Of which was fifty dollars in
gold.
Those present from out of town were
Mr.. and Mrs. Parker's youngest son,
| EraH | Durlyor i
and Mrs. Pearson of Boston; Mr., Charles
Parker, wife and daughter, of West Med
ford, Mass. MIR. and Mrs. Frank Colby
of Augusta.
Following is the poem;
Your sturdy sons from near and far away.
Your chldren's children gather here to-day
! With friends and neighbors kind, to celebrate
! The many years since that memorial date,
! When, with fond hopes and honest, manly pride,
You stood beside your pretty, blushing bride.
! Though now her hair Is white as winters snow,
Tier heart Is young as nifty years ago.
Their. are no SUMMER Joys in earthly store,
! door,
And lights the dwelling to look into ewes
That answer back to his with loves surprise
! Sweet were the songs she sang in cheerful mood,
| Bright was the home and choice the well.cook ed
food
She fed the hungry coming to her door;
She cheered and helped the troubled and the
poor.
There were few shadows then-her smile the ray
That l,l seemed TO brighten all the golden day.
| But years will fleet and in world like this
We may not hope for long continued bliss
| The children came, and with them brought such
| Joys
The curly headed girls the frightened boys,
Until three girls and three fun-loving boys
| Filled house and barns with laughter and with
noise.
Parents alone know what heart pleasures wa ke
/ As to their arms their own sweet babes they take
/ sweet voices ring around the hearth of home
As one by one these precious darlings come.
The shadows fall and sorrow came at last
The days without cloud are in the past.
| The Spoiler came, and with Implying tone,
| Claimed one by one three darlings for his own
! Dear girls, just blooming into womanhood,
So pure, so bright, so gentle and so good
| AT rest, ere sin had left its fearful stain,
| In Christ you surely will arise again.
| The girls are safe-t bears your spirits up,
And fills with hope and sweetness sorrows cup.
The months go by and the old smile appears,
And crowding cares beguile advancing years.
The father worked with strong and willing hand
| To fell the forest and to till the land.
| In home and farm he took an honest pride,
| Lived well, and laid up money, too, beside.
The church, each Sunday at the hour of prayer,
saw him and his whole family seated there
lie never smoked or drank, and what is more,
His children really think he never really swore
When greatly plagued. he would sometimes say
'darn -
He whipped the boys once soundly in the barn.
Because, when husking, they threw left and
The ears of corn while in boyish fight.
Another time, on which we will not dwell,
And what he said we will not try to tell
For months he had been logging in the wood
And working hard to earn Just All he could.
On coming home, with all his well-earned pay
! His smiling wife bill before him lay
OF seventy dollars for her new machine,
1 htATtNNn hf
! She meekly saAl, " IT'S big price, | know,
But only think how it will help me sew"
| For weeks this new machine caused busy talk
Ger all the quiet town of Norridgewock,
They found this leTel-headed farmer right
| In his advice about the railroad fight.
| But they were blind and stubborn, rash and SCI
The town is left with tremendous debt
| Both Frank and George the axe and scythe did
WELD,
And help their father in the harvest field.
Poor Fred picked rocks and had to chore alone
oh, how he hated every "pesky stone"
The father says, NOW I'm too old to now"
But every year into the field will 20
! The marriage bells resound and voices sweet
Allure away from home the Childrens feet
The boys each took unto himself a wife,
And all showed wisdom i'll their choice for life.
The ten grandchildren make n pretty sight,
With merry laughter and faces bright
All different now the weary pathway seems
Al first your future shone with golden dreams:
LIES rounded hilltop now lies far behind
! me ears grow ueal Ine eyes are getting Dllnd;
The limbs so strong upon the sunny crest
Now falter teebly near the vale of rest
! They come IN peace, your quiet golden days.
j With garnered sheaves that win your grateful
praise,
As forest trees in brighter hues appear
/ " lien autumn comes to rOwn the closing wear.
So may yOnr later DAYS he calm and bright
AT evening time may you have kindly light.
f Your earthly toll illumed with sunniest RAYS,
And heaN ems glory crown your closing days.
should one of you he left alone to stand,
/ Trembling with age few days on Times sand,
! Let hope sustain, your pilgrimage, once DER,
] What Joys await you on the other shore.
| A rest remains beyond Times tiresone road,
/ Release AT last from every wearying load
! When from the dust the sleeping ones shall
come, NJ z III
/ And Christ shall gather all his Jewels home
May your whole flock be found upon that shore
When ransomed hosts shall meet "to die no
more"
ADELAIDE +. PEARSON
Boston, Mass.
Smith-Seavey.
a quiet wedding was solmeniznd nj
| ho -