The Newtown bee., 1908-07-24

Dor of my grandfather Sanford, wht
 was the manufacturer of all kinds Of
 spinning wheels in woolen and flax.
 To promote this indispensable business
 he was excused from military service,
 inasmuch as the uniforms for the army
 were principally of home production.
 The gaieties of social life had been
 checked by the casualties of war.
 There was mourner or a sympatizer
 in every home. The home of the young
 widow, the pivot of the town. became
 the center of intense activity during
 the following winter and summer. No
 one was more gentle, cheerful and un-
 assuming, yet there was quiet dignity
 of purpose which gave unconscious di-
 rection in all their business. There
 were daily and evening meetings with
 but little interruption, for the purpose
 of making all kinds of conveniences
 and supplies for the army. Abbie was never so happy, and Annie so content
 ed, as when this business was being
 pressed forward to it's uttermost. The
 weekly mail was left here by the post
 man for distribution, and thus it be- came the general headquarters of the
 stirring events of the day. Many fell
 in love with the widow, while she on her part loved her country and all the people equally well, and thus. with the blessing of ample means, ability, and good heath, her plans for the public good went on without friction or inter- ruption. AS the years passed scenes of public interest were witnessed daily during the summer months. Pompey in his rolling chair, Yankee, his indis- pensible companion, little Annie in her cradle, were grouped under the trees on the front lawn, again in the back yard under the spreading branches of the oak. One of their greatest pleas ures was spending hours and some times days amid the familiar scene and relics of the French camp. Here Abbie would often join them and make tea in camp style in the fre-places which still remained. The mother would also join them and sometimes their guests, where they held a picnic of uninterrupted pleasure. The doves came also for their share and Yankees rations were also provided for, and he seemed never so happy as when the doves lit upon his back and head and pecked his ears and circled themselves around his measure and ate oats with him, and Annie screamed with delight, as they lit upon her shoulders and ate bread from her hand, and the sly squir- rells knew their friends and came down from the trees and were permitted to help themselves to the best of the feast. Thus in her successful efforts in making these unfortunates happy, and all others within her circle of ac- qualntances the hidden sorrow of her heart was comforted.
 For generation we will leave the widow to pursue and finish her humane work.
 Endowed with genius, nursed by the blood of two nations of heros and war riors, the child, Annie, grew to wom- anhood, possessed of the most fascinat- ing personality and became the storm center of many admirers. The cham pion, who bore her ir triumph from the field of conquest, was my grandfather. The results of this achievement was t he birth of son, less in stature than his sire, cautious and conscientious, with the sentiment of a Frenchman. the will and purpose of an American. His youth and early manhood was un- eventful until a fair maiden came to his home, who in his estimation, was as pure as lily and as lovely as an angel. The patriotic French senti- ment glowed wi tn intense enthusiasm. By invitation the maiden went with him, in the twilight, to the deserted camp and sat down amid the ruins. There she listened in silence while he told of the romance of love and trag- edy of death; how a French officer wooed and won his grandmother and ended his life in the defense of our na- tional Independence. At this point of the story the tears glistened like dia- monds in the eyes of the silent listen- CT. Her whole being was agitated with ! emotion,. As he ceased she touched his arm and pointed to the waning moonbeams as they fingered on the highest summit of Mount Pisgah and said: "We must go, but we will come to this sacred place at the full of i the moon. l also, have story to tell" The eager, restless youth, who antici- pated so much, waited in feverish anx- ety and said to the maiden ..Why ,arry so long?" Be patient, the -ime will suon comp D The soul in her