The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-06-09
GOLDEN WEDDING.
Continued from Page On.e)

stringlng up the apples. and more
than his whole duty in the youthful
follies that were the usual aftermath
of the evening work.
For want of better name we will
call this chap Frank" and leave him
for the present while we take up an
other thread of this story.
A little more than half of GEN.
fury ago girl baby was born In the
valley of the Wesserrunset In the pic
uresque little village of Athens. She
was a bright and clipper baby from
the word go. She was a source OF
10y and comfort to her parents and the
envy of other babies of discriminating
minds. AS she grew into young girl
hood she easily absorbed all of the
good and genuine traits of childhood,
flinging herself into young maiden
hood with all the grace and abandon
of fairy. In maidenhood her apt
mind caught and held those essentials
that go so far In making home an
abode of happiness and contentment.
In the kitchen her skill in the culinary
art was the pride of her parents and
the despair of her mates. Her skill
with her needle and her brush gave
promise of rich fruitage when youth
should have given way to the mature
years of womanhood. And as we
need a name for this young person
Just budding into a beautiful woman
hood we will call her Maria"
Now the good towns of Cornville
and Athens were separated only by an
imaginary and invisible line. What
wonder then that so lively and so
agile a person as our Frank" should
occasionally Chamber over that line
and into the precincts of the town OF
Athens,-Athens then the abode OF
charming, delightful, eligible young
ladies', while good men were scarce.
What wonder that his sharp, clear
eyes should ere long become fastened,
glued as it were upon the fairest maid
in Athens. And what wonder that
his eyes, being held captive, his heart
in turn should follow suit and should
surrender itself to one who has held
It as her greatest and her best pos
session during all these years. just
fifty years ago come tomorrow Frank
and Maria, having made up their
minds that they were just made for
each other, were united in the holy
bonds of matrimony and from that
time they have lived for themselves
and their friends. How true they
have lived during all these fifty years
in their relation of husband and wife,
In their relations as friend and
neighbor our presence here tonight is
intended to signify and emphasize.
And so, my dears, Frank and Maria,
we wish to say to you that while many
o. us have kept pace with you through
these fifty past years and many for
only a portion, we all have learned
to appreciate and value the beauty
and grandeur of fifty years Of welded
life in which faithfulness to each
ether, helpfulness to all your friends
and neighbors, cheerfulness and cour-
age in meeting and overcoming all
the ills and misfortunes that touch
oil mortals sooner or later has ever
been the characteristics of that life.
That many happy years may yet be
added to the fifty already flown is our
sincere and earnest wish.
1t has been made my very pleasant
duty to present to you small Offer
ing from the friends who have gath
cred at your home on this occasion.
1t is in the form of golden coin.
Its value is not to be taken as a
measure of our love and esteem for
you but its freedom from alloy, SO
99-100 per cent pure gold, signifies the
quality and the purity of that love
and esteem and in degree measures
the high regard in which we all hold
you as our neighbor and our friend.