Norwich bulletin., 1918-08-31
A FAMILY REUNION.

Dear Sisters of the Social Corner: As we realize the summer days are closing rapidly. and some. if not many of us have enjoyed aglfttle trip from home in the past few weeks, it IS with pleasure we like to IhInk it over, and exchange these notes of interest.
 I have been privileged to visit most delightful corner of the New England states. Nothing appeals
 more to the heart of a descendant of the early settlers who located on the massachusetts, coast. than to go and enjoy a family reunion in quaint village, where many old landmarks still remain. as evidence of homes and churches and now and then forsaken places of industries.
 The old town of Sandwich, located at the neck of Cape Cod. is just mid way between Boston and Province town, sixty-tw miles in either direc- Eon It has been my pleasure to visit this place several times heretofore, and again this month of August The attraction and the surroundings, form a. congenial combination. As we ap- proach the quiet. peaceful little will lage, we can see from the car window | the spire of the ancient church and we | feel that soon we shall stand on the steps and enter the door and then i inside, where we hope to greet former | friends, and meet with new ones; to i feel the touch or a kindred hand. As | the train halts at the station we find ourselves once more where time does 1 rot change many things, for Sand wich has retained it's name for more l than 270 years. The Indians had call ed their little settlement Shawn; but at the advent of the white man, it was named Sandwich, in honor of their home town in England. A beautiful little lake, central in the village, still bears the original name. There are many very old houses whose gambrel roofs, with dormer windows, and shingled sides. present a type of long ago architecture. The 1 wide streets, with grand old trees, that have been steadily. and slowly growing, these many years. are the benefits to this generation from other days.
 We like to cross the threshold and step within the rooms of, the old est house on Cape Cod, which was ministers. There is the old red brick fire place. one on each side of the huge chimney, which occupies much space in the center of the house. The walls are barren now, the floors squeak as 1 we step about. As we lool7 from the windows, of miniature size. we may see the same landscape and we may
 breathe the salted air. and the sant
 sunlight shines upon us. the same al
 when the first occupants there enjoy
 ed the simple life.
 To spend a few moments within thu
 walls of an old house suggests man.
 thoughts and imaginings as w
 reflect on those who once enjoyed tn
 summer days. and endured cold win
 ters. at this particular homestead
 Here stands tta old lilac bushes, eacl
 side of the front door. to bid us
 seeming welcome as we come; and tn tiger lilies, with their speckled head
 on stately stalks, close to the old ston
 wall by the roadside where once wa the gateway, but long since in decay As we look upon these tributes of na
 ture as we come to the old hom
 each wear as the descendants of thos
 who have found peace in another life We enjoy the greetings of others c
 cur kith and 'llin who come long dis tances because of the same bond C
 friendship.
 Before we go from Sandwich. " must pay our respects to "a si'en
 village" where the moss-covere
 stones bear the honored names of GU
 ancestors.
 As the shades of evening draw tn
 summer day of the annual family re
 union to a close we hear the paris 3 church bell ringing fond good nigf t as it has done these many year t We are glad we could come once nor g and meet with our kindred and find " l have enjoyed every minute. . JFNNTF