USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Abington > Celebration of the one hundred an fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of Abington, Massachusetts, June 10, 1862, including the oration, poem and other exercises > Part 4
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The saint bows down his hoary head, and the tears begin to flow ; The fervor of his saintly breast no mortal ken may know ; He turns away ;- he cannot speak ;- his blessing on us rests, And we will shout a loud amen to all his kind behests.
Saint Crispin is the prince of all the patriotie saints ; Apostle of true liberty, his ardor never faints. When ancient knight threw down the glove, the mischief was to pay. So when the cobbler drops his shoe, let cowards slink away ! In stalwart arm, in sturdy hand, our confidence was put, Till all the country learned to trust one stout and valiant Foute. Though handling rebels all with gloves, not just exactly suits, Perhaps 'twould do to let them feel the toes of Northern boots.
Saint Crispin in those troublons days, when first this plot was hatched, When all our statesmen scratched their heads, and pondered as they scratched,
Beheld their puzzled looks, and said " Why this will never do; Some oue must cut the Gordian knot, or just untie the shoe." Let those who patch with compromise, just fling the shoe away, Or hammer in steel nails enough to make the sole taps stay. The good saint's plan in short was this-with stout, determined hand
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To knock away the chosen props on which the rebels stand. To clothe the rascals all with shoes, would be too great a tax, We'll take the plain raw-hide undressed, and lay it on their backs ; For it is clear to all man-kind, and evident to brutes, Their labors must be bootless when they all are out of boots.
Saint Crispin spake-his words were few, he used no subtle charms- " Ye freemen brave of Abington, attention, shoulder arms !" Shoemakers left their boots unpegged, fling down the nimble awl, And forthwith rushed into the ranks and answered to the call. And many a tierce and bloody fight has signally displayed The stanch, unyielding stuff of which old Abington is made. Mid tempests thick with leaden hail, mid hot and sulphurons blast, They prove the olden adage true, and still " stick to the last."
And now the rebels jaded out, stand trembling in their shoes, Or wander up and down the earth like God-forsaken Jews. Their shoes, now full of gaping holes, hang loosely round their shins, And open wide their cruel mouths and twit them with their sins. They have so hard a road to go, it hurts their tender legs; Whene'er they meet the enemy, 'tis sure to start their pegs. And since their pegs alone uphold their soles and keep them strong, "T'is plain that cursed with shaky pegs, they must give out e'er long. And when their understanding fails, and all their soul is gone, Since their sole hope is in their heels, their case must be forloru. And lest by sad experience taught, those crafty Southern chaps Should strive with awl and last to guard against such dire mishaps, The saint would hint to Unele Sam, before the coming fall To take the last they have away, and confiscate their all. And then the shoeless chivalry, can only rant and curse ;- Though waxed ends sometimes pierce the sole, their end is waxing Worse. Alas for Southern chivalry ! All pride must have a fall ; The Butler of St. Charles Hotel is greater than they all. A Porter there in New Orleans seares their poor souls to death ;
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And when they hear his iron tread, they gasp and hold their breath. The buckle of Jeff. Davis's shoe is tightening inch by inch ;- Ile writhes in helpless agony-the shoe begins to pinch ! And to the latehet of that shoe is tied an hempen thread, That ugly twine that most of all those Southern fellows dread. And high aloft that cord is flung over a sturdy limb, Ilis heels fly up,-he swings in air, and that's the last of him. Young Absalom from oaken bough swung dangling by his hair ; Stern Justice snatched him from his steed, and fixed the rebel there. But with arch rebels now a days, fate not so gently deals, When from the proud palmetto tree she hangs them by their heels.
When first the rebels, bent on sin, this wicked strife began, They thought their stolen shoes would last while they worked ont their plan.
They got more than they bargained for, those Yankees were so cute- To consummate their enterprise required too much bout. They finished up shoe leather fast, skedaddling o'er the road, And though their faces might be brass, they were not copper toed. Their shoes are now past all repair, and one need not be told That since their shoes cannot be tapped, they must themselves be sold.
Jeff. Davis, like that famous dame who onee lived in a shoe, Has got so many barefoot boys, he don't know what to do. They did not calculate at first to run one steady race, And like the dove, sent from the ark, still find no resting place. Why can't they like that ancient bird no more " vamose the ranch," But come back to the good old ark bringing the olive branch.
About poor wretches so forlorn 'tis heartlessness to jest ; When time is meting out their doom, why we can let them rest. With joy we turn to brighter scenes and view those noble souls, That History on her seroll of fame with conscious pride enrolls. Ye soldiers of Old Abington, now marshalled in the field, The Lord, the Lord Almighty be your buckler and your shield !
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Whether in life or death, in camp or mid the cannon's roar, God keep you heroes to the end, and patriots to the core. And if you fall, your sepulchre shall be within our breasts, Deep in our very heart of hearts each patriot martyr rests.
Not all God's martyrs die by fire or fall by blades of steel, Not all are tortured at the stake or racked upon the wheel, But some lie patient in the camp and calmly wait for death, While wasting fever binds their limbs, and steals away their breath. These are God's martyrs blest-the heroes of the camp, And the great captain on their brows the title proud will stamp.
John Milton Sewall,* if thy soul above ns hovers near, Come down receive the blessing of thy friends and kindred here. Ah no, we cannot summon from his throne of high renown That hero whom the Lord of hosts has honored with a crown. The soldier is promoted now. Let no one call him dead. " Thon faithful soklier, come up higher," the great commander said. The battle fought, the victory won, among the shining throng lle waves the palm of victory, and sings the victor's song. We must not weep. . Shall tears be shed when God exalts the brave ? Let not the gloomy cypress mark our fallen brother's grave ; But o'er his dust, an emblem just, let the proud laurel wave.
Fondly we love our dear old town. We cherish well its fame, We love its heroes, and adore each patriot martyr's name.
* JOHN MILTON SEWALL was born in Summer, (Oxford County, ) Maine, September 10, 1828. Hle came to Abington to reside in 1816. Although in feeble health, he did not hesitate to respond to the call of his country, and in September, 18GI, he enlisted in Co. E, 23d Regiment Mass. Vol., in which company he was a corporal. He was at the battle of Newbern, N. C., and soon after, while on picket duty, caught a violent cold, which produced fever, and resulted in his death at the hospital two weeks afterwards. His, was the first death that had then occurred among the large number of volunteers which Abington had sent to the war. His remains were brought home, and are deposited in a lot of his own selection, in " Mount Vernon Cemetery."
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But more we love our father-land ; its welfare is our care ; Its many blessings we will prize, and all its perils share. Then for its future, let us join in one united prayer.
O Columbia, strong and fearless, Draw the sword and wield the pen. Live forever free and peerless, Blessed of God-beloved of men ! Be thy history a presage Of the Savior's promised reign, Publishing the kindly message, Peace on earth, good will to men.
O thon God of our salvation, All our hopes are in thy hand ; Make us thine, a chosen nation- Make us thine, Inmanuel's land. Make us true in thought and feeling, Just, unmindful where or when, Conscience, honor, truth appealing, Let the people shout " amen !" Make us love the meek and lowly, Cherish the oppressed and poor, Shielding in our arms the holy, Frowning on the evil-doer.
When Injustice rules the hour, And Integrity is scoffed,- When enthroned in place and power Wrong shall rear its head aloft,- Fired by heaven-born inspiration, May our millions rise like men, And with righteous indignation Ilurl it to the dust again !
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When the voice of God from heaven Summons patriots to arms, Let no soul prove false or craven, Farewell cowardly alarms ! When the leaden tempest rattles, And the trump of war is pealed, Lord of hosts, and God of battles, Lead our armies to the field !
Let success attend our banner, Write thy name on every fold ! Still maintain its sacred honor, Still preserve its stars of gold ! While through ages yet unending History writes the deeds of men, Give us dignity, transcending Patriot's hope or prophet's ken !
And when Time its march has finished And its mighty cycles cease, Still with honor undiminished, May our nation's end be Peace. When archangel trumpet pealing Sounds the knell of hoary time, May it bring the full revealing Of an heritage sublime !
Hark ! a voice with welcome grateful Speaks from out the riven skies : " Well done, children, good and faithful, Fold your banners and arise !" Then while anthem and hosanna Shake high heaven with chorus grand, Farewell then, Columbia's banner, Welcome then the better land !
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O thou God of our salvation, All our hope is in thy hand ; Make us thine, a chosen nation- Make us thine, Immanuel's land !
The "Star Spangled Banner" was then sung by Mrs. EMILY J. REED, of South Weymouth, who kindly volunteered for the occasion.
4. Our Fellow Townsman, Hon. Benjamin Hobart .- Venerable for his years, and respected by all for the deep interest which he has taken for so long a period in the affairs of this, his native town.
To this sentiment Mr. HOBART responded as follows:
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen :-
I regret, Sir, it has fallen to my lot to address this large audience, after so many able addresses. The room is too large for my voice. However, being so highly complimented by the President, I will make a few remarks. He speaks of my patriotism. If I have any thing to boast of, it is that for three years past I have been writing Reminiscences of past times in Abington. The different numbers amount to twenty-four, published in the " Abington Standard." I expect to conelude the series at thirty. I have endeavored not to take an outside view of the progress of affairs in this town, but more to describe the manners, customs and modes of thinking and acting. Such a treatise, if well done, will be of great use. I have already received a great many compli- ments from inhabitants who have left the town and settled
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in other parts, saying, "it brings to their minds seenes that have passed away and gone." I have been rather invited to this work from the circumstance that my father (the late Col. Aaron Hobart) and myself have been voters in this town separately over one hundred years, (105,) and conjointly five years. I have, therefore, probably had more means of information and observation than any other person now living. I am surprised at the want of information of past times among the young of the present generation. Our young men and young women are very little acquainted with the circumstances of our fathers and ancestors.
The Reminiscences, I find, are to many new. I have endeavored to be impartial, and state things as they are. I have applied to the several churches in town for a history of their respective societies. There are nine in town. Eight have responded, and given their history in their own lan- guage. I have intended to take up every subjeet connected with the history of the town ; the schools, the manufactories, &c. There are one or two circumstances that I will allude to. One single truth, one single result, may mark a great many others. The population of this town in 1726 was 371. From that time to 1790 the increase was about one thousand, not exceeding seventeen a year. From 1790 to 1830 the increase was very small-in forty years only 970, twenty-four yearly. In 1830 there was a great change; from 1830 to 1840 the increase was 721. From 1840 to 1850 it was sur- prising, being in ten years 2,150. From 1850 to 1860 it was more so, being 3,334. Other things went on in like propor- tion. The valuation of the town went on in that ratio. The increase of the last ten years was more than the whole popu- lation of any one town in the county of Plymouth except four-North Bridgewater, Hingham, Bridgewater, and Ply-
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mouth. The reason of this surprising change, which began in 1830, was owing to the introduction of the shoe busi- ness. At that time the shoe manufacturing interest was computed at $30,000 annually. In 1860, it was estimated to amount to nearly three millions. AAnother circumstance gave great addition to our population-the building of the New Bedford turnpike ; the railroad was a great item.
One thousand or fifteen hundred foreigners came into town when the railroad was building. The shoe business also brought a great emigration from other towns to this town.
My Reminiscences are brought up to 1860. That was the zenith, the highest point of population and improvements. Since then some reverses have taken place ; but I would here state that the town has expended over $30,000 to build their school-houses. More than $200,000 to make their roads. These dwelling-houses are numerous and good. The population is here ; the industry is here ; what hinders us from going ahead again as soon as this wicked civil war is blown over ? There is no need of being discouraged. I will not, however, trespass further, but only make this remark : if the history of the doings of this day, which probably will be recorded, and the Reminiscences of past events, of which I have spoken, be well finished, (and it is proposed they be published,) fifty years hence the proceedings of this day and the Reminiscences which I have had the pleasure to write unassisted, will be of great interest and use. Thousands will look back and trace out their ancestors, saying-" That was my grandfather, and that was my father," learning their origin from many of those named here to-day, and in my Reminiscences, which will amount to more than one thousand.
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I have handed the President a sentiment on this occasion, the object of which is to proclaim the situation of this town, the great advance made in population, &c., in the ten years, up to 1860.
The Town of Abington .- Its population, valuation and industry, is greater than that of any other town in the county of Plymouth, and stands, in point of population, exclusive of cities, the sixth town in the State.
5. The Early Ministers of the Town .- We hold their memories in grate- ful remembrance.
Responded to by the Pastor of the oldest Society in Abington, Rev. F. R. ABBE, who spoke as follows :-
After the beautiful and eloquent eulogies, to which you have already listened, upon those carly ministers of Abing- ton, Brown, Dodge, Niles, it is almost presumption in me to weary you with farther remarks.
It is a great privilege to live early in history, to do the greatest good, and a great privilege to live late, to receive the greatest benefit. It was a privilege for those men to live when they did, as it is a privilege for us to live in a town whose early ministry was such a ministry. They were happy in living at the best time for moulding society, when the character of the town was in process of formation. And they stamped their impress, deep, strong and abiding. The New England character has its deepest, broadest foundation in religion. It was for this that our fathers crossed the waters, and established this Christian empire, founded not so much on learning as on moral and religious principle. It is this which, above all, has given us our triumph as a
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nation. It is this which, above all, has given us so rich and beneficent an influence in the world. It is this, first and foremost, which is now leading our brave troops to victory over tyranny, ignorance and irreligion. The God of nations was the God of our fathers.
The principles of religion and morals those early ministers wrought firmly and well into the character of our town; and to them chiefly, under God, must be ascribed the emi- nence of this community, for so many years, in all moral reform. They were men who feared God, and so did not fear to grapple with error and wrong. What they touched, they touched strongly, for they believed in this wisdom-
" Gently, softly touch a nettle, And it stings you for your pains ; Grasp it, like a man of mettle, And it soft as silk remains."
And so, doubtless, were they living at the present day, they would fearlessly grapple with the great questions which agitate our country, and would not hesitate even to throw a bomb into " the magazine," if by it they could blow up the foundations of this slavish oligarchy, this abominable tyranny, which is threatening the fair fabric of our govern- ment, and, through it, the interests of all mankind.
They were strong in their religious principles, and strict in their morality, as far as they were enlightened; but they had not the measure of light which we enjoy. They doubt- less took an occasional glass; and one of them certainly was a slave-owner, and, for aught I know, upheld the system on principle. And in this connection, with the great subject of St. Crispin before us, I will relate an anecdote of a slave of Mr. Brown. This slave was accustomed to wear out
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his shoes rather faster than his master thought economical. So he was provided with a pair with iron soles. These, the black man, with the genteel notions of his race, thought were not quite according to the fashionable style. So, in apparent thankfulness, he concluded to hold a jubilee on a rock back of the house, and dance away the hours. And as the hours wore away, his shoes wore away, till in the morning he came in triumph with the remnants of his iron shoes, worn out in fair use, as happy, undoubtedly, as any other slave who gets a victory over his master by wearing out his shoes in running across Mason and Dixon's line.
Those carly ministers were fortunate, too, in the wide influ- ence which they exerted in all parts of the town, and which they used so well. Happy is the man who, as President of the United States, wields an influence in every part of this great land, if he wields it for good. It is a great privilege to be Governor of this Commonwealth, and have power in every place, in time of danger, to save the republic. But is not religion more than temporal prosperity ? Happy, indeed, then, are they who have a wide and permanent religious influence. The whole population came up, from the north and the south, from the cast and the west, to hear the truth from those carly ministers; and their influence was felt, and is felt to this day, in all parts of this beautiful town. But now we are divided into religious families,- families under one roof, but still separate. In a certain sense, we are like the man who had one doctor in the morn- ing, another at noon, and another at night, hoping among them all to get cured of his disease ; or like the old lady, who took five or six doses of medicine at once, thinking that among so many some one might hit. We have not that unanimity of sentiment which pervaded the town in former
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days ; and consequently, other things equal, the same influ- ence is not possible for the present ministry. This is the result of growth, as well as of change of views; and, on the whole, is not to be regretted. "The past is past," as the Governor has said ; " the future only is ours." We are to look to the past for wisdom, not for regrets. God rules, and orders all things well. We have the present, and may use the present as a foundation on which to build a glorious future.
There are those here to-day who sat under the ministry of at least one of those great and good men. Let them perpet- uate the influence which has been of so much benefit to them. Let us all think more of those fathers of Abington. Let us honor them with our lips, with monuments, and in our lives. And God grant that we may all at last sit down with them in heaven, and rejoice with them for ever and ever.
The following Hymn, written for the occasion by Rev. H. D. WALKER, was then sung to the tune of " Auld Lang Syne :"-
We've met as ne'er before we met, Our thoughts on days of old; Here owning blessings God has given, And asking grace to hold. So here we come, as brethren all, And hail as children dear, Of Abington, our Mother town, The Hundred Fiftieth year.
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To generations passed before, So wise to guard and gain For us this goodly heritage, We raise our grateful strain. We come to bless their honored names, Who feared no toil or ill, To feel as ne'er before we felt, " Their works shall praise them still."
And now God's blessing on the Land They loved and served of old ;
Peace, Freedom, Righteousness, secure For it the Age of Gold. And may this year, our JJubilee, Be one through all our coasts ; The gratitude of men made free Reward our war-worn hosts.
So when our children thus shall meet, Then will no anxious fears For Husbands, Brothers, Sons in arms, Unseal the fount of tears. And ere we part, as brethren all, We pledge our Mother dear, To gnard and swell her old renown, "Till her Two Hundredth year.
6. The Common Schools of New England .- The rich legacy of our fathers to us. Strong defence of free institutions, the hope and security of the future; may a generous policy in the maintenance of their interests ever honor the wisdom in which they had their origin.
Rev. HORACE D. WALKER, the Chairman of the School Committee, in response to this sentiment, said :
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I question, Mr. President, your calling upon the only member of the School Committee who is not a native, to answer in behalf of the schools of Abington. But I notice that you have made the sentiment somewhat broader than for the single town-you embrace " the Commonwealth."
And yet, if only the schools of the town were mentioned, I am not sure but we adopted citizens have, upon the whole, the best right here. As I look around upon this great assemblage, I suppose that many, perhaps the majority, while listening to the Oration and Poem from those whose birth- place was here, have prided themselves upon being natives of Abington. But you had no choice in that matter, I take it! You had to be born here ! while we who have come in, and thus become citizens of the town, had a choice in so doing. We are here by our own volition, not as you are here, having been dragged in by the cars. We are here, not as Jeff. Davis gets recruits, by conseription, but as volun- teers ; and our Governor and the President tell us the vol- unteer army is assuredly the best. We are more natives than those born here. Our Governor is more a native of Massachusetts because born in Maine. So, Mr. President, on the whole, I take it I have a right to speak for the schools of the town.
In the Oration this morning, and still more, with such exuberant play upon words in the Poem of this afternoon, a great deal has been said about the understandings and the soles of men. I have sometimes thought, Mr. President, that the rebels reckoned without their host when stealing our shoes. True, we have shod their armies; but shoes made here on Abington lasts have in them the very instinct of right and liberty-they cannot bear up and onward for the wrong and against the right, those standing in them. And
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I think when we consider what has underlaid these rebel forces, we can understand how a New York Cicero, speaking of these modern Catalines, so improved upon the old Roman orator. Following the track of the flying chivalry from Bowl- ing Green, Columbus, Island No. 10, Nashville, Corinth, and all places they leave, hastening to find that " last ditch," he said, "abiit, evasit, erumpet, skedaddle." The ancient Cicero would not recognize the last word; it has become classic with us. The rebels stand in our shoes, not just in the sense they expected ; shoes that will bear them where other shoes and shoemakers will drive them, because of the deep- rooted principles of right and justice in the hearts of our people, springing from that religious faith so earnestly implanted by our fathers, and from that knowledge which they were just as earnest in cultivating through our public schools.
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