USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The Vermont union of Boston and vicinity > Part 4
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This experience comes with the fullest power to the wan- derer in distant lands or on the unquiet sea, where he is greeted with no familiar sounds that make home music in his ear, with no accent of his mother tongue, with no visions that make glad the eyes that were wont to be love-lighted
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at the altar fires of home and native land - to the vision of such an one uprises once again the dear old valley beneath the shadowing hill, the smoke curls from the old chimney stack, the song of the birds that waked his childhood's slumbers at early dawn is heard anew, the sister's glad caress, the brother's merry laughter come again, and he feels once more upon his head in blessing rest that hand, the like of which is not in all the wide world and never shall be, - the hand of that gentle mother, who perchance sleeps as mine has slept for long, long years - the sleep that knows no waking, beneath the green turf of the val- leys far away among the northern hills, - when these things come thus to the heart, we feel how much better and holier in the contrast with the city life which consumes itself by 'ts own fierceness is that dearer life of love and memory.
But I tresspass and must cease. There is another reason why our recollections are dearer - they are of a mountain home. The honorable Senator said, " the altar fires of freedom burn brighter in a mountain land ; " they do, as witnesses the echoes of liberty among the Alpine fastnesses, and the grand old Cameronian chant from crag to crag of Scotland's hills - and it should be so, for use, not those fires kindled nearer to the free and open sky, and the calm, eternal stars? So, sir, while we live as best we may, the life we cannot now avoid, and eat, drink, toil, and go for- ward to death, and mayhap, to be forgotten; let us, at least, when we may, in feeling and in remembrance, “ speed us to the glens of the mountains." (Loud and prolonged applause. )
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The Daughters of Vermont - Their presence is everywhere and always a blessing - at our next gathering we will not be with- out it.
S. W. Bates, Esy., Secretary of the Association, respond- ed in a very amusing and musical speech.
The next regular toast was read :
The Free Schools of Vermont -The brightest and purest gems in her coronet ;- so long as their lustre is undimmed, Vermont is safe.
Mr. Spear of Vermont, responded with a few interesting and sprightly remarks.
The regular sentiments, speeches, and eatables being ex- hausted, several gentlemen spoke, and at 10 o'clock the proceedings closed, and the company went home fully satisfied with their enjoyment of the occasion.
ANECDOTES
OF
DISTINGUISHED VERMONTERS.
GENERAL ETHAN ALLEN
Was born in Litchfield, Conn., Jan. 10, 1737, and died in Burlington, Vt., Feb. 12, 1789. The following is related of him as having taken place while a prisoner in irons on his passage to England. While closely confined to his cabin, he discovered that a pin or wire that fastened one of his handcuffs was broken. Extricating the pieces with his teeth, he was enabled to loosen the bolt and set one hand at liberty, by the aid of which, and his teeth, he soon had both at liberty, and he was not long in liberating his feet. But fearing a discovery might lead to worse treatment, he replaced his irons, bolts, and pins, before the arrival of his keeper. It soon becams a fine recreation for the General to take off and put on his irons at pleasure.
One day the Captain wishing to afford the crew some merriment, ordered that Allen be brought on deck. Hop- ing to frighten him, the Captain said : "There is a prob- ability that the ship will founder - if so what will become of us, especially you, Mr. Allen, a rebel against the King ?"
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ANECDOTES.
" Why," said Allen, " that would be very much like our dinner hour." " Why so?" said the Captain, not reflecting that Allen was not allowed to come on deck, only when he, the captain, went down into his cabin to dine. " Well, you see," answered Allen, "I'd be on my way up just as you would be going below." This answer did not please the captain, and he began a regular tirade of abuse against the American people. "In a short time," said the captain, "all the rebels will be in the same situation as yourself." This was too much for Allen, and, raising his hands to his teeth, soon snapped the bolts and pins, took off his irons, and threw them overboard ; seized the panic-struck captain by the collar, and threw him headlong upon the deck, then, turning to the affrighted crew, he exclaimed, in a voice of thunder, " If I am insulted again during the voyage, I'll sink the ship and swim ashore." This exploit had such an effect on the captain and crew, that no further insult was offered to the general during the passage.
MATTHEW LYON,
Who first represented Arlington in 1779, etc., and after- wards Fairhaven many times, endeavored to obtain the passage of an act giving him the exclusive right of slitting iron in Vermont. He had counted a member from a town very near Bennington, a political friend, as one of the sup- porters of his bill ; but after hearing argument on both sides, the project looked like asking too much, and when his name was called to vote on the question, he asked to be excused ;
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reasons were called for ; he said : " Mr. Speaker - I can- not in conscience vote upon this question ; my conscience will not let me vote upon it, and I must be excused." Thereupon arose a Scotch member from Caledonia county, and began, " Mr. Spaker, I think the jointleman must have a werry coorious kind of konshunts that wont let him say ees or noo."
REV. AARON LELAND
Was settled over the Baptist society in Chester, in 1788, and continued as their pastor till his death, in 1833. He took an active part in politics as well as religion ; being of the Jefferson school, was frequently elected to the offices of Selectman, Town Clerk, etc. He was chosen to represent the town in 1801, and was chosen nine years after, making ten years a member of the House, three years of which he was chosen Speaker, and was four years a Councillor, and five years was chosen Lieutenant Governor by the people. Ile was eighteen years one of the Assistant Justices of the County Court. The parson was fond of a good joke, and he had one neighbor, Hugh Henry, who was a match for him. On a Saturday evening, a young man, and money- less, called at the parson's house for supper and lodging. The parson did not see fit to comply with the request, and sent him to his neighbor Henry, and assured him that he would be well provided for ; " but still .the man will refuse -
you at first, but you stick to him and he will accommodate you." The young man called as directed, and was refused. " I was told you would refuse to keep me unless I stuck to
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ANECDOTES.
you, which I shall do." " Who told you that ?" said Mr. Henry. " A large man at such a house." " Well, if Parson Leland sent you here you shall stay; and what would you like for supper ?" " Oh, most anything that comes handy, for I have no money to pay you." " But what would you choose if you had money ?" " I should like a good, warm supper had I wherewith to pay you, for, to be honest with you, I have had very little food to-day." A warm supper was soon provided, to which the young man paid his best respects, nor was he allowed to depart the next morning till he had done justice to a good breakfast. The young man was going to try his fortune in the western wilderness, and had a small dog with him. Just before he was ready to start, it being near meeting time, Mr. Henry informed his guest that his dog was not a proper one to go into the wilderness with, and that he had a neighbor who had a large dog, and just the one for the woods among the wild animals, and he would like to exchange him for a small one ; " but no doubt he will refuse at first, and tell you to go about your business, I do not swap dogs on Sunday, and the like; but you stick to him and you will get his dog." The young man went to the house just as the parson was starting for meeting, and informed him that he had come to swap dogs, and received the answer that Mr. Henry pre- dicted. " Well, I was told you would make such excuses, but that in case I stuck to you I should get your dog; and that, sir, you may rest assured I shall do ; " and went with the parson to the steps of the meeting house. The parson finding the man to be as good as his word, told him to go
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and take the dog, and be off in a hurry, and never trouble him again in this way. Mr. Henry outlived the parson a few years, but their remains are both in one grave-yard in Chester, and not far distant from each other, as their grave- stones show.
REV. ELISHA HUTCHINSON,
The first minister of Pomfret, had some singularities about him. He was preaching a sermon in Hartland, at a pri- vate house, with two rooms, and he stood in the doorway. When about half through his discourse, Lieutenant Gov- ernor Spooner came in, upon which he informed his audi- ence that he had got about half through his sermon, but as Governor Spooner had come to hear it, I will begin it again, and looking at a woman near him says, "Good woman, get out of that chair and let Governor Spooner have a seat, if you please.
DUBARTUS WILLARD,
Known more familiarly by the name of Bartie Willard, in an early day resided at Essex, and was a wheelwright by trade. Ile was also a satirical poet, and prided himself on taking some one off in a short way. He was the first Rep- resentative of Essex, chosen in 1786, but not afterwards. The next day after he was chosen, he went to pay his respects to Gov. Chittenden, and the Governor had been informed who was chosen from Essex, but thinking to give Bartie a small shot, knowing it would be returned with in- terest, he asked him who they had chosen in his town for
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Representative ? Bartie answered, " for the want of better stock they took me." " Well," said the Governor, "it's a misfortune that we have got to be so poor in some of our towns about here, as not to be able to get iron, and have to use wood for wedges." "That's a fact, but misfortunes never come single," said Bartie. " It is a greater misfor- tune that the State is so poor as not to be able to procure a good, decent-made beetle, but be compelled to use an old basswood maul to drive them with !"
While at the Legislature, he was found by some of his brother members taking his rations at the bar before he had paid the wash-room a visit. They insisted that he should either treat the company or deal out some poetry. Bartie concluded that as money was more scarce with him than poetry, he would pay the latter, and did, as follows :
" Our forefathers were like the goats, First washed their eyes, and then their throats; But we, their sons, have grown more wise, First wash our throats, and then our eyes."
HOPPE
5990H
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