History of the town of Whately, Mass., including a narrative of leading events from the first planting of Hatfield, 1660-1871 : with family genealogies, Part 28

Author: Temple, J. H. (Josiah Howard), 1815-1893
Publication date: 1872
Publisher: Boston, Printed for the town, by T. R. Marvin & son
Number of Pages: 358


USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Whately > History of the town of Whately, Mass., including a narrative of leading events from the first planting of Hatfield, 1660-1871 : with family genealogies > Part 28


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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" The steamers were designed solely for towing. Our steamer always gave the preference to our own company's boats ; yet, when not fully loaded, would tow any other boats that offered. We loaded at Greenfield, and the other landings, for Hartford : i. e., the down trip was expected to do strictly a 'through business ;' up freights were landed wherever it would best accomodate the merchants. Whately goods were all landed at Stockbridge's wharf. Freight for South Deerfield, Couway, Ashfield and Hawley, was left at Sunder- land bridge, west side ; while goods for Sunderland, Leverett, and adjoining towns, were left on the east side.


"Sometimes ' a round trip' was made in a night and a day : i. e., in twenty-four hours. Sometimes we were two or even three days in going and returning,-depending on pitch of water, number of boats in tow, etc. ; perhaps the average would be three trips per week. A steamer's earnings for the season amounted to about three thousand dollars.


" The ' Ariel Cooley '-named after the engineer who planned the South Hadley canal-was a steru-wheeler, ninety feet long, and eighteen feet wide, with two high-pressure engines of twenty horse power each. She was overhauled in 1839; her name changed to " Greenfield ; " and in the spring of 1810, just above Smith's Ferry, she burst her boiler, killing Capt. Crawford, Mr. Laney, of Spring- field, the maker of her machinery, and Mr. Wood the engineer.


" A new steamer was built, also named the "Greenfield," which was commanded by Capt. John Baker, and by Capt. Martin, and was run till the opening of the Connecticut River Railroad in 1846.


" When I commenced in 1833, Belden's ferry and landing had gone into disuse, and we made our landings at Stockbridge's wharf. I have many pleasant remembrances of Mr. Stockbridge. Ilis table was always well loaded with the best of fare ; and this, together with his


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open, pleasant countenance, and relish for a good joke, especially a boatman's joke, was a strong inducement to all his men to reach " Stockbridge's Wharf" in time for meals, and, peradventure, to spend the night. He was very accommodating to all his customers, aud would often make large sacrifices in order to take along their freight " by the next boat." For this purpose the old white horse and gig would spin up and down the valley at a marvellous rate of speed, at all times of night or day. I have run the steamer many a night, when it was too dark to be strictly safe, in order that a certain good customer's brooms might go forward to Hartford the next day."


WHATELY SOLDIERS.


NAMES TO BE ADDED TO LISTS ALREADY GIVEN.


ELIJAH SANDERSON was Ensign in the drafted Militia in 1814.


HARRISON G. SCOTT, enlisted in Co. D, 52d Reg. Inf. M. V. M., for. nine months' service. Mustered Oct. 11, 1862; d. July 10, 1863, at Port Hudson, La.


LATHROP SMITHI, enlisted at Northampton, in Co. C, 10th Reg. Inf. M. V., for three years. Mustered June 21, 1861; d. Sept. 10, 1861, at Brightwood, D. C.


VOTES FOR GOVERNOR FROM 1781 TO 1871.


1781 John Hancock, .


16


1794


William Cushing, . . 21


Joseph Hawley,


1


Samuel Adams, .


4


1782 John Hancock, .


5


1795 Samuel Adams, .


16


William Heath, .


8


1796 Increase Sumner, 27


James Bowdoin,


3


1797 James Sullivan,


10


1783 James Bowdoin, 17


Increase Sumner,


16


1784 Nathaniel Gorham


14


1798


Increase Sumner, 68


1785 Thomas Cushing


7


1799


Increase Sumner, 37


1786 James Bowdoin,


8


1800


Caleb Strong,


76


1787


John Hancock, .


9


Moses Gill,


1


Gen. James Warren, . 1


1801


Caleb Strong,


70


1788 John Hancock, .


17


1802


Caleb Strong,


94


Elbridge Gerry,


5


34


1804


Caleb Strong,


72


1790 John Hancock, .


34


1805


Caleb Strong,


78


1791 John Hancock, .


20


James Sullivan,


47


1792 John llaneock, .


12


1806


1793


John Hancock, .


16


1807


Caleb Strong,


72


1803 Caleb Strong,


77


1789 John Hancock,. James Bowdoin, 1


James Sullivan, 22


293


James Sullivan, 53


1808


Christopher Gore, . 71


1830


Marcus Morton, 71


Levi Lincoln, 11


Thomas Longley, 6


Isaac C. Bates, . 6


1810 Christopher Gore, 97


Elbridge Gerry, 86


1811 Christopher Gore, . Elbridge Gerry . 79


82


Thomas Longley, -1


1812 Caleb Strong, 103


Elbridge Gerry, 92


1831 Levi Lincoln, 62


Nov. Marcus Morton, 15


Samuel Lathrop, 23


1814


Caleb Strong, 108


1832 Levi Lincoln, Marcus Morton,


13


1815 Caleb Strong, 100


73


John Q. Adams, 42


1816 John Brooks,


95


Samuel C. Allen, 21


Samuel Dexter, 70


1817 John Brooks, 94


Henry Dearborn, 43


Samuel C. Allen, 19


Marcus Morton, 10


John Bailey, 12


1835 Edward Everett, 76


Marcus Morton, 53 Samuel T. Armstrong, 13


1836 Edward Everett, 86


Marcus Morton, 74


1837 Edward Everett, 95


Marcus Morton, 70


1838 Edward Everett, 112


Mareus Morton, 81


1839 Edward Everett, 114 Marcus Morton, 108


Marcus Morton, 102


1841 John Davis, 128


Marcus Morton, 110


1842 Jolin Davis, . 119 Marcus Morton, 102


Samuel E. Sewall, . 25


1843 George N. Briggs, . 116 Marcus Morton, 10.1


Samuel E. Sewall, . 17


1844 George N. Briggs, . 132


George Baneroft, .


91


Samuel E. Sewall, . . 20


91


Samuel Dexter, 82


1833 John Davis, . 52


Marcus Morton, 13


1834 John Davis, . 93


1818 Jolın Brooks, 86


Benjamin Crowninshield, 42


1819 John Brooks, 86


Benjamin Crowninshield, 54


1820 John Brooks, 92 William Eustis, 32


1821 John Brooks, 64 William Eustis, 33


1822 John Brooks, 73 William Eustis, . 35


1823 Harrison G. Otis, 78


William Eustis, 53


1821 William Eustis, . 82 Samuel Lathrop, 97 1840 John Davis, 135


1825 Levi Lincoln, 80 Harrison G. Otis, 22


1826 Samuel Hubbard, 94 Levi Lincoln, 43


1827 Levi Lincoln, 63 Harrison G. Otis, 11


1828 Levi Lincoln, 32 Marcus Morton, 29


Lewis Strong, 27


1829 Marcus Morton, 51


Lewis Strong, G


Harrison G. Otis, . 7


Levi Lincoln, . 13


James Sullivan, 60


1809 Christopher Gore, . 82


Levi Lincoln, 69


1831 Heman Lincoln, 78


May. Henry Shaw, 2.4


3 Marcus Morton, Levi Lincoln, 3


1813 Caleb Strong, 105


J. B. Varnum, 83


Samuel Dexter,


294


1845 George N. Briggs, . 128


George Wm. Gordon, 57


Isaac Davis, . 97


1857 Nathaniel P. Banks, 86


Samuel E. Sewall, . 26


Erasmus D. Beach, 62 Henry J. Gardner, 48


1846 George N. Briggs, 123


Isaac Davis, . 84


1858 Erasmus D. Beach, 92


Samuel E. Sewall. . 25


Nathaniel P. Banks, Amos A. Lawrence, .


. 77


1847


George N. Briggs, 138


1859 Benjamin F. Butler, . 92


Samuel E. Sewall, . 20


Nathaniel P. Banks, . George N. Briggs, .


10


Samuel C. Phillips, .


32


Erasmus D. Beach, 26


Amos A. Lawrence, 24


Benjamin F. Butler, 17


Samuel C. Phillips, 17


1861 John A. Andrew, Isaac Davis, . 64


80


1850 George N. Briggs, 137 George S. Boutwell, . 89


.


21


Charles Devens, 119


1863 John A. Andrew, 63


Henry W. Paine, 73


1852 John H. Clifford, .


144


Henry W. Bishop, . 102


1865 Alexander II. Bullock, D. N. Couch, 54


83


Horace Mann, . 13


1853 Emory Washburn, . 140


Henry W. Bishop, 117


Amasa Walker, . 20


81 1867 Alexander H. Bullock, John Q. Adams, 91


1868 William Claflin, 127


John Q. Adams, 51


Henry Wilson, . 1


1869 William Claflin, 59


John Q. Adams, 49


Julius Rockwell, 61


Erasmus D. Beach, 54


John Q. Adams, 50


Samuel HI. Walley, .


2 1871 William B. Washburn, 85


1856 Henry J. Gardner, 103


John Q. Adams, . . 53


16


Caleb Cushing, . 82


71


1848 George N. Briggs, .


135 Caleb Cushing, . 77


1860 John A. Andrew, . . 115


1849 George N. Briggs, 125 George S. Boutwell, . 75


1862 John A. Andrew, 65


Samuel C. Phillips,


1851 Robert C. Winthrop, . 152 George S. Boutwell, . 93 John G. Palfrey, 19


1864 John A. Andrew, 135


Henry W. Paine, . 83


94 1866 Alexander H. Bullock, T. HI. Sweetzer, 36


1854 Henry J. Gardner, 109


Emory Washburn, . . 59


Ilenry W. Bishop, . 34


1855 Henry J. Gardner, 80


1870 William Claflin, 75


Erasmus D. Beach, . 70


CELEBRATION


OF THE


ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY


OF THE


INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.


AT a meeting of the citizens of Whately, held May 1, 1871, called to consider what action, if any, should be taken to cele- brate the centennial of the town, on motion of Rev. J. W. Lane, Capt. Seth Bardwell was chosen chairman, and Levi Ford, secretary.


After a free interchange of opinions, and counting the cost of labor, and anxiety, and time, and money, and discussing the time most appropriate for the observance, it was


Voted, As the unanimons sense of the meeting, that we observe the town's centennial anniversary on the Fourth of July next.


.Voted, To choose a committee of twelve-two from each school district-to solicit funds, and make all necessary arrange- ments for the celebration.


The committee consisted of the following persons :-


South West District. Capt. Seth Bardwell, Edwin Bard- well, Esq.


North West District. David Scott, Hiram Bardwell.


North Centre District. Elon C. Sanderson, Walter Crafts.


South Centre District. Francis G. Bardwell, James M. Crafts.


South East District. Deacon Elihn Belden, Charles F. Pease.


North East District. Edward C. Sanderson, S. White Allis.


.


296


The committee of twelve met and organized, by appointing Capt. Seth Bardwell, chairman, and Elon C. Sanderson, clerk.


Voted, To raise by subscription the sum of five hundred dollars, to cover the necessary expenses of the celebration.


And the following sub-committees and officers were appointed :


Treasurer. Dennis Dickinson.


Committee on Correspondence. James M. Crafts.


Committee on Location. Edward C. Sanderson, Walter Crafts, Francis G. Bardwell.


Committee on Music. Edwin Bardwell, Capt. Seth Bard- well, Walter Crafts.


President of the Day. Dea. Elihu Belden.


Vice-Presidents. James M. Crafts, John Chapman Sander- son, Edwin Bardwell.


Chief Marshal. Capt. Seth Bardwell.


Assistant Marshals. Henry Brown, Francis G. Bard- well.


Toast Masters. Rev. J. W. Lane, William H. Fuller, Esq.


The place selected for the gathering was a maple grove, three- fourths of a mile northerly from the meeting-house, on the farm of Seth B. Crafts, Esq., (the original Thomas Crafts place.)


As the time of the meeting approached, an unexpected and gratifying interest was developed in the movement, and every body in Whately found himself busy in furthering the prepara- tions. The descendants of most of the families, that had for a longer or shorter period made the town their home, gladly availed themselves of the chance to visit or re-visit the ancestral acres ; and were present from Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Canada.


The day proved to be auspicious. In early morning the peo- ple began to gather, and by nine o'clock a vast crowd had collected. Many were there for a mere holiday ; but the great majority were evidently there to participate in the memorial services of the occasion.


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Soon after ten o'clock, the procession was formed at the town hall, and marched to the grove.


ORDER OF PROCESSION. Aid. Chief Marshal. Aid. Escort of returned soldiers. Haydenville Band. President of the day, and ITis Excellency, Gov. Claflin. Secretary of State, &e .. Vice-Presidents. Chaplain. Orator and Poet.


Marshal. Committee of Arrangements. Representatives of the press. Invited guests. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association. Sheriff of the county. Marshal. Citizens of Whately. Schools of Whately, with teachers. Hatfield Band. Citizens of Hatfield. Williamsburg Band. Citizens of Williamsburg. Citizens of other towns.


At the grove a platform had been built sufficiently large to accommodate two hundred persons, and seats were arranged in a semi-circle in front for about two thousand five hundred, all of which were filled. The aged persons present were provided with seats directly in front of the speakers.


As an appropriate opening, the entire audience, led by the band, united in singing " America." After prayer by the Rev. John W. Lane, the president of the day delivered the following Address of_ Welcome.


Ladies and Gentlemen :


It has fallen upon me as a representative of the descendants of one of the earliest settlers in this town, and in behalf of its citizens, to extend to you to-day our kindly greetings : and I assure you NON


298


that I but express the feelings of all our hearts, when I bid you a cordial welcome ! We welcome you to the old homesteads, and all that is left to remind you of by-gone years ! We welcome you to our fire-sides, and all that is new ! We welcome you to the festivities and associations of this our hundredth birth-day !


Some feelings of sadness will mingle with our joys on an occasion like this, as we look around, and miss familiar faces ; as we recall the past - which returns not ; and recount the perils and hardships of our ancestors, when these now pleasant fields and meadows were almost a wilderness. And yet we come as dutiful children, with our votive offerings of affectionate remem- brance. And there is a special fitness - which I need not take pains to set forth at length - that we their descendants should gather ourselves together on this centennial anniversary of the incorporation of the town, to testify our admiration of their virtues, to review the scenes and deeds of their eventful lives, and unite in commemoration services, which may transmit their names to the generations yet to come, who will occupy the places now allotted to us.


We can speak with pride and gratitude of those great-grand- fathers and great-grand-mothers, those grand-fathers and grand- mothers, those fathers and mothers, who toiled and struggled for us ; who dared the onsets of savage warfare, and endured the privations of frontier life, and made any required sacrifices, in order to secure for us the inheritance we now enjoy.


We welcome with feelings of peculiar interest, those who were once our citizens, or children of our citizens, who have come from the more distant parts of our land, and from the Queen's dominions, to keep jubilee with us to-day. We extend to you the right hand of fellowship; we receive you with a happy greeting, and rejoice that your prosperity in your new homes has not extinguished your interest in your old native town.


We welcome the citizens of Hatfield ; and are especially glad that our mother town has not forgotten us, and we hope to prove to you that we are proud of our relationship.


We welcome the citizens of Williamsburg, our sister town -" twinned at a birth."


We welcome all who share with us common memories, and kindred blood.


299


May God grant that the impressions received here to-day, from our rehearsals of the past, our common offerings upon the old home altars, and our re-kindled hopes, may but strengthen the cords that bind us together, and make us better friends and neighbors and citizens.


But it is not well for me (even if I could) to occupy more of your time. We have those present who are capable of holding your silent attention at their will ; and whose words of wisdom you are waiting to hear.


The Rev. J. II. Temple, of Framingham, who was pastor of the First Congregational Church in Whately, some years ago, was then introduced, and delivered an oration, filled with histo- rical facts, and pictures of the domestic life of the carly settlers. He paid a fitting tribute to certain aged men and women, whose lives covered almost the century from the first settlement of the territory, and whose memories had furnished him with much of the material he was about to present. The address, which occu- pied a little more than an hour and a half in delivery, was con- densed from a work which Mr. Temple has in preparation, giving a complete history of the town.


After music by the band, a free collation, which had been fur- nished by the citizens and prepared by the ladies, and was most bountiful as well as most attractive and toothsome, was served to the hungry multitude ; " and they did all eat and were filled."


The Rev. S. T. Seeley, D. D., of Easthampton, was called upon for an oration. He excused himself, told some good stories in a most effective way, and closed by urging upon his hearers a single point of the oration which he had prepared, viz. The redeeming influence of our rural population upon the country.


The Rev. R. P. Wells, of Southampton, a grandson of the first settled minister of Whately, was introduced and recited the following POEM.


OLDEN TIMES.


From wanderings near and far, to childhood's home, The close of a hundred years now bids us come ; The children, old and young, we heed the call To greet the goodly mother of us all ; IIer summons now we cheerfully obey- With joy we celebrate her natal day.


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No man that hath the stamp of real worth, Can fail to love the spot that gave him birth : No fairer landscapes spread out to his view, No brighter suns the morning light renew, No evening gales, no sunset's glow, no hills In beauty rising, no meandering rills Through verdant vales, no sca-girt, sunny isle, No classic land, can e'er his love beguile. True as the needle to the Polar Star, His heart from o'er the sea, from lands afar, Turns to the place of memory's delight- Yea, often wanders there in dreams of night.


The forest here a hundred years to-day, O'er hill, and vale, and slope, and plain held sway, Save here and there a house and open field Gave signs of wealth, that solitude concealed. Among the lofty oaks the sweeping storm Went forth to bow the head and bend the form, That had the tempest's might for years withstood, And reared itself the monarch of the wood. The wolf, the wild-cat, panther and the bear, Here roamed in quest of prey and made their lair, And sped the nimble-footed deer its way Where flocks in quiet feed, and lambs now play. The Indian's trail the hunter's course did guide, Where now the road is smooth and clear and wide ; The unbridged stream and swale he crossed with case, And truthful guideboards were the blazed trees.


'Twas here a quiet home our fathers sought, On soil their fathers had of red men bought A century before ; and built they well Log cabins, where sweet peace and plenty dwell. What joy to sit the broad fireplace around, While glad contentment, health and cheer abound ! Huge back logs, not rolled in by human strength, But snaked through door by horse, perhaps, at length, And then a royal pile of wood in blaze, That was a cheerful fire in olden days. The roomy, high old settle stood before ; Great armed chair, cradle, stools, all filled the floor.


301


The blaze revealed no vacant walls and bare, But savory, sage and fennel hanging there, Dried beef and apples, peppers, and o'erhead, Milk pans and pumpkins on the poles outspread ; Bright pewter plates and platters larger gleamed From cupboard high-of silver plato they seemed, And tankard, porringer of cunning skill, And piggin, ladle, pails, more cunning still, And wooden trenchers, clean and freshly scoured, Of snowy white, adorned the daily board. Tick, tick, the clock was heard the day all through, Tick, tiek, it went, the night long, ever true ; It sounded out the hours from roomy case, And told the minutes on its ancient face, And onward kept the house affairs a-moving, And taught the lesson well of time improving. No youthful group around the evening fire, With popping corn and cracking nuts could tire, And wild the hearty laugh went round. What tales Old men would tell of storms and midnight gales, Of howling wolves and savage bears they caught, Of marches and campaigns, of battles fought, --- The field they gained and glorious victories won, 'Mid fearful ravages, that war had done. Well might ye wish those days a glad return ; For such health-giving fare ye well might yearn,- Such hasty-pudding as ne'er feasts a king, Such milk and butter poets never sing ; Bean porridge hot, and then bean porridge cold, Fresh venison from the woods, lamb from the fold, Fat beef and pork from powdering tub, so sweet ;- No butcher's cart came with its rounds of meat ;- Potatoes, cabbage, turnips from the bin,- Such savory pot-luek will not be again. The children's morning song was milk and bread, And night by night with the same dish were fed. Men were made strong for toil ; they plowed the field, And ax, or shovel, hoo, or rake could wield With might. They'd swing the seythe without fatigue, Or walk on foot for many a weary league, Or thresh, break flax, seutch, swingle all the day, And then be brisk a game of ball to play. Such masters of the sickle wero they, that the grain


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Almost would wave as they drew near the plain. How would they laugh at our improvements now, To see a farmer ride a harrow or a plow ! A mower, or a reaper, or a raker ride ! They'd say 'twas shiftless, and lazy beside. No slender fabric clad their sinewy frames, But wool shorn from the flock ; flax from the plains ; The spinning-wheel made music for the piano, Their noisy loom was bass and sweet soprano. To spin street yarn our mothers did not know, But drew it well of wool, or flax, or tow ; No ceremony marked the calls they made, For quiltings, or wool pickings, or such aid ; Cards de visite were by them to be sure, But they were wool-cards in the days of yore. In every house was seen, the matron's pride, An antique case of drawers, capacious, wido, Well packed with linen sheets and whiter spreads, And coverlets to furnish many beds, The handiwork of her who knew to spin, Before the days of looms and cotton-gin. No use for cloth, or napkin, table-spread, The board was bare-all linen for the bed. A good outfit, which her own hands had wrought, Each maid to be betrothed, as dower brought, And no one to be wedded then was skilled, Till pillow-case of stockings she had filled.


Their fathers' God did these stern men revere, At once began to rear his altars here ; In solemn league they joined them to the Lord, To live according to his Holy Word. They sought a pastor ; one just past his youth They called to be their guide in ways of truth. They built a house of such proportions great, Through years they did for its completion wait. The centre of the town, the highest land, Was judged the fittest place for it to stand. Their roads like rules must run in straightest line, Nor for a hill to right or left incline,- The nearest way, the shortest, and the best, They thought, whether it ran to east or west. To God's own house their wont was to repair,


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When skies were cold and dark, or mornings fair. No carriages were then-not e'en a chaise Could lighten the fatigues of those rough ways ; Horseback the father rode, the babe in arms, On pillion sat the mother in all her charms. Boys barefoot went, and girls with shoes in hand, Till view of meeting-house they could command. The aged sire, with staff and trembling limb, Moved slow, rejoicing in God's care of him. Then sounded on the air no Sabbath bell, But steps were quiekened by tho blowing shell. In that old house, what scenes of joy and grief ! What burdens pressed the soul, what sweet relief ! How oft his saddest tears the mourner wept O'er precious ones that calm in death had slept ! 'Twas like the holy temple of the Jew,- Turn there the thoughts with fondness ever new. Was ever such exquisite skill displayed, As pulpit graced and sounding-board arrayed ? Such roomy pews, with high-backed seats around, One seat more, as in omnibus, was found. There mothers with great gravity and grace, With cake and caraway and radiant face, There fathers, patriarchal, grave and meek, The narrow path to heaven intent to seek. In gallery, singers, maidens fair, and men, Made walls with lofty song resound again : And sturdy boys, in long seats, slips, high pew, Oft to their grief, the tithing-man well knew. Not fifty years ago, I well remember, The frosty days of cold and drear November Brought in quite an alarming innovation, The thought of a poor, feeble generation. The souls of stalwart men in song had soared, 'Mid winter's frost, in worship to the Lord. Through the long prayer, singing, sermon, the whole, No fire was felt but the warmth of the soul. They thought devotion languid was, and poor, That cold and storm and frost could not endure. Indeed, the sifting snow, the outside air Through crack and crevice wide seemed best to bear The spirit high, and make devotion rise To heavenlier climes, to purer, loftier skies.


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But time brings actors new upon the stage, And some new things and strange the thoughts engago. The meeting-house needs a stove ; it was deereed ; But not in this new plan were all agreed. You've heard the tale ; a stove was duly set : The Sabbath came ; the congregation met ; Some smiling and some joyous, others sad ; Some taciturn and grave, and others glad. The air .was stifling ; sweat stood on the brow ; Faces were fanned, the heat oppressive now. The morning service closed, when lo, behold ! No firo was kindled yet, the stove was cold. This tale is told, you know, but 'twas not here -- It must have sprung from some wag's brain, that's clear. To meeting go, dogs old and young rejoice ; Sometimes behaved they well, sometimes their voice Did jargon make ; one by a wight's mishap, Fell from the gallery rail to a lady's lap. You should have heard her shriek so loud and shrill ; Why you can almost hear its echoes still ; And one within a matron's pitcher small, Ilis head thrust, and for help did bravely call. The geese around the house for apple cores, Were teazed by boys whose eyes were out of doors. Were all the tricks, the mischief, and the fun, Above the heads of praying people done, Disclosed, and wrought into a truthful tale, 'Twere hard to say if good or ill prevail. 'Twould seem as if the essence of all fun, Mischief and drollery ever done, Did effervesce, uncorked, unbottled there, And waste, and rule the spirits of the air. And yet the Word of God in that liard soil Grew well ; its roots struck deep, God blessed the toil. The Holy Spirit's influence like the rain, Descends upon dead souls ; new life again Is given : those young hearts by God's grace renewed, New paths in life and duty have pursued. In roughest state 'twas choice and priceless ore, Which when refined by God's own mighty power, And purged from all its dross in fire and flame, Reflects the brightest glory of his name. The service done, the amen scarcely said,




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