The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-10-08

March my father started with a wag-
on and my brothers, William and Ma
than for the state of Pennsylvania In
June following, Mr.. S. Robinson took
my mother and sister Sabra and
brother Lewis. making up his load
with household goods, out 10 Penn
sylvania to my father. On the jour
ney either as they were crossing
over the Susquehannah river my
mother was thrown into the water,
which frightened her very much.
was teaching a school at the time in
SALISBURY, it being the third season
that | had taught in the same place.
In October | went to see my much
beloved grandmother Harwood who
had been in decline since the March
previous. / took letter with me
from my father and mother My
grandmother had been very anxious
to hear from them for long time.
When she knew that | had a letter
from them she requested me to sit
by her bedside and read to her the
letter. My father said in the letter,
1--WE have put us up a snug, log house
hewed logs,-we have raised all kinds
of vegetables enough for our use and
are very comfortably fixed. My
grandmother expressed a great salts
faction at the contents of the letter.
She was considered near her end
and several relatives and friends had
collected there. After the reading of
the letter she appeared to be easy
until Just before the break Of day,
when some one of the friends stand
ing by her asked her If we should
have prayers. She said, 20 yes We
all knelt down and old Governor Mo
SEES Robinson commenced prayer;
before he had concluded we noticed
change-we all repaired to the bed
side and there, while at prayer her
spirit had taken its flight to the
realms of blessedness.
This was on the 9th of October in
the year 1919. At the time of her
death she had nine children, scatter
ed up and down the earth, not one of
whom attended her funeral. Three
grandchildren only attended, out of
some sixty or seventy, viz: Asa Doty,
Achsah Doty and myself. The per-
sons present at her death were Gov.
Moses Robinson and wife, Seraph
Robinson, Mrs. n Edgerton, Benjam.
in Harwood and wife, other members
of the Harwood family and myself
The procession that followed her
corpse was very long, reaching near
ly half way from grandfathers resi-
dence to the Congregational church
in Center Bennington, which is a
mile.
The text on the occasion was from
Rev. Chap 14-verse 10: and /
heard a voice from heaven saying I'M
to me, Write Blessed are the dead
which die in the Lord from hence
forth; yea, saith the Spirit. that they
may rest from their labors; and their
works do follow them" nDecember
1910 | was united in wedlock to Syl'
vester Stewart by the Rev. Isaiah
Matteson of SALISBURY at his house
three-fourths of a mile from North
Bennington. After we were married
we took a sleighride to Bennington
Center or "up town" as 1t was then
| called to see my sister Achsah who
was living there at the time. We
then returned to Joseph Stearns
which was my temporary home. The
| day after my marriage I sewed all
day on great coat for c. Scoville
a female friend of mine for which
received % cents, quite different
way from which 'Tnfairs" are now
held.
| In February in the year of our Lord
1871 my husband removed me and
my little stock of household goods
consisting of one bed, bedding and
hedstead two tables a kitchen and
tea table. one bureau, six chairs, one
! light stand, good assortment OF
crockery and glassware, tea kettle
spider. gridiron, toastingiron and q
chopping knife, one set of silver tea
spoons, etc, to his fathers Joseph
Stewart Esq. was pretty well
clothed had eleven dresses, elev
en- pairs of stockings with every
other article of clothing necessary
for my wear, all Of which had earn
ed by the labor of my hands and
made up in the month Of February OF
this year, 1911 Just before | remoy
ed | attended the funeral OF a female
friend who was cut down, suddenly
in the bloom of life and health.
The preacher took his text from
the book of Job. 14th chapter last
clause of the goth verse "Thou chang
est mis- countenance and sendest him
away" I never listened to the hear
sermon, was cut to the heart, was
bathed In tears all through the dis
course; was led to cry, Men anC
Brethren what shall do TO be saw
ed?" was in great anguish Of minC
for several weeks when the Lord was
pleased to manifest himself unto me
as tho chiefest among ten Thousand
and altogether lovely"
'He spake at once my sins forgiven
And washed my load Of guilt away
He gave me glory, peace and HEAVIER
And thus / found the heavenly
way.
When God revealed his gracious
name.
And changed my mournful stake,
My rapture seemed pleasing dream
The grace appeared so great.
The world beheld the glorious change
And did they hand confess,
Nv tongue broke out In unknown