Connecticut western news., 1914-10-22
GOOD 0-D NEWS
Cleaned from the Housatonic Republi-
 can of 55 Years Ago.

| can UT oo ears fNROs
 The Falls Village "Housatonic Re- publican, of September IT, 1859, con- tained the following account of popu- lar Canaan institution that fiourished up to the beginning of the war:
 The annual Harvest Home" festival of North Canaan took place on Friday, Sept. 9th, at Gillett's grove. Hawley Cunning Esq, President of tho society called the assembly to order, and con- graduated them upon the happy aus pices under which they had assembled, and asked all to unite in invoking the blessing of Heaven upon the day ana in | thanking God for'the mercies and bless ings of the past year. Rev. Mir. Eddy led the assepilly i'll prayer A short poem by Wm. Leggett Esq, prepared l for the occasion was read by the Secre- tary. hev. IT. Eldridge of Norfolk, delivered a very excellent agricultural address whose wisdom was highly spiced with wit. The assembly were then all invited to a table Beautifully and bountifully provided by the ladies. After dinner the President again called the society to order, when officers were chosen for the ensuing year Brief addresses were then made by Gershom Fitch Esq, Rev. Mir. Nichols and others. On motion of MT. Eddy a committee was appointed to make ar- engagements to represent the past in its customs, costumes, implements, Man ners. &c., at the next annual festival. Miss Catherine R. Cowles was appoint ed to prepare poem to be read ut the next festival. A vote of thanks was rendered Dr. Eldridge and the other speakers for the addresses, also to Mir. Leggett for his poem. copy of which was requested for publication Tn the Housatonic Republican. The day was fine, everything passel of agreeably and all seemed to enjoy themselves heartily. After three cheers for the day the society was formally adjourned one year.
 I forgot to mention in its proper place that the Rev. MT. Eddy was reappointed Historian by the society, and it is un- derstood that next year, historical address will be delivered by him. c. THE POEM.
 
 ful vale. s.4s E.s-as Where past the green meadows, the willow
 bush pale,
 Past che mill and the forge, like child at
 its play, |. .# The Blackberry dimples and dances away. Not famous in story, not stained with the
 blood
 Of men who for tyrants or freedom have No city's proud towers look down on its No golden sands hlend with It's sparkle their gleam. a.aa. Yet our wanderers come back tt the place
 of their birth,
 Confess to few scenes that surpass 1t on
 earth.
 And in each of our hearts, fellow towns
 men, Is found
 Some holy affection that knits to the
 ground
 Ground by your own grandsires so recently
 cleared
 For thu forest, the wild beast, and Indian
 more feared,
 That since the first axe-stroke the years
 that have run And perhaps men are with us this festival Who have seen Isaac Lawrence, the
 veteran gray, The first of the pioneers, stout men. and
 good, E... Peirce, Buckley, and Franklin, and Stew
 ems and Rood,
 With Watson and Burrall, and Forbes and the rest
 You know them as we'll as if names were
 expressed. ......9-.. =t.. How soon by the labor of dlligent hands Has the wilderness smiled into fruit bear
 ing lanus, While the forge and the shop, the church
 and the school, Bear witness as we'll as the heads that
 can rule. And we'll may our Canaan, with just pride
 elate, Stand up with your sisters of county and
 state, ... Proud town of proud state, that looks
 North, South and West, And finds her sons ever 'mong foremost
 and best, And sees in her daughters, both matron
 and maid .- . With rare virtues and charms, her kind
 nurture repaid. Yet still let us labor with science and skill To rear richer crops, larger barns yet to And still let us toll to implant in our young
 More wide and more deep the hatred of | wrong,
 To train them in body, mind. spirit to grow The noblest of men that the broad earth That when the days come for the trial of souls
 They may win for our Canaan on His tory's scrolls,
 A name that shall summon like roll of a drum
 To actions heroic in ages to come. - Averaqe Length of Life.