Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-04-17

dered why was sent to the Presby-
terrain Sunday school. Parson Mitch
ell was then the preacher a. the Pres
byterian church and Elder Story was
the Baptist pastor. Elder Story, by
the way, was something of an invent
or, having discovered the art of mar
bleizing paper, but he sold his dis
covery and did not get rich by it. L
presume my mother sent me to the
former church as compromise; our
family was BAPTIST / remember once
hearing Parson Mitchell make use of
the expression: 1.-The Fathers, where
are they?" He looked at me in the
gallery, and l thought rather inslnu-
ated that l was absent from the par
entail roof without knowledge of my
ancestors, or would seem to say;
Does your mother know you're out?"
Some ten years ago my sister in
one of her letters to me, reminiScenced
on the subject of our old meeting
house on the hill in Norwich. Il re-
member" she wrote, that | was very
little, and the Elder who preached was
me, in that little, high pulpit. think l
had not arrived at an age when L was
regular ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1 was al
lowed a treat for some good behav-
ior-however, the Elder was very en-
rhusiastic and kept moving to the
lIOlil u AllG pulpit lll1AA III a AAAO-
ment of eXaltation, perhaps, stepping
back. 1t seemed to me as if he were
bobbing up and down. or back and
forth, being considerably excited. So
1 said to Ma when / got home: The
minister was dreadful mad"
I remember spending one of my
first Evenings out in my Uncle Dew
ey's house. My father was invited
over to help cut up hog and l was
invited to help stuff the sausages with
a promise that l should have some OF
them when they were fit to cook.
worked very Faithfully all that even
ing, but from that day to this l have
not tasted those sausages. They serv-
ed only as a link between bright hopes
and bitter disappointment. Another
eventful scene is brought to my mind
IN connection with that house. 1t was
there, in the back yard, under the
trees, in q green, shady bower, that ]
celebrated the first Fourth of July of
which l have any recollection. / re-
member that the gay and festive oc-
casion was sadly interrupted by the APP
pearance of an intoxicated blacksmith.
My sisters were much exercised with
regard to the intruder, and after an
earnest consultation we sent for help
to expel the victim of too much pat
riotism. We then resumed the, order
of exercises as if nothing had hap
pened.
Another eventful epoch Ito mel in
my career was the first time I appear
ed in public wearing knit suspenders.
I shall never forget the sensation with
which I crossed them over my back
and measured them for the button
hoies-my father had worn out the
buckles belonging to them. 1t was
during the first year of this memorable
period that Lafayette came over from
France to spend a day or two at
Kinne's Hotel. Probably I should have
called upon him during his stay. but
at that time ! was very much driven
at the rOpewalk. having to heave the
wheel for the toppit spinners. I re-
collect that the day wore off very slow
ly, and l was anxious for night to
come, as one of the men had prom
ised that I might go with him to see
the boys tar and feather an old dame.
However that little treat to the old
lady never came off, as friend Of the
intended victim appeared and frus-
trated it. Ny first bell button" jack