USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Maynard > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 30
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 30
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 30
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland, and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 30
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland, and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 30
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Maynard > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland, and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 30
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Close now these eyes to all the solar rays : From earthly sounds shut off the listening ear : And lo ! what pictures wait the inward gaze, What sweet-voiced harmonies, enrapt I hear !
The "Long ago " - its loveliest, purest, best, - Unfolds in tints like sunset glories, bright ; Forgotten love-chords, waking from their rest. Vibrate anew with tones of fresh delight.
* Written when in his eightieth year.
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My faltering footsteps, trembling, helpless hands, Gray hair, deep wrinkles, cheeks with pallor clad, My hour-glass token of swift running sands, " The last of earth " so near, and oft so sad, -
These are not me ; O no! they but enfold My being true, - that inner life of mine - Myself that cannot die, nor can grow old, But soaring upward, ever grows divine !
With gladsome heart may I then tread the way, Scattering the harvest grains of ripened truth For others' good ; and moving onward say Earth may grow old, but Soul abides in youth.
SAMUEL D. ROBBINS.
WAITING.
Yes, I can wait the hour sublime,
When Love shall triumph over time ; When Truth's bright banner all unfurled Shall banish Error from the world.
Yes, - I can wait th' appointed hour, When Right shall be enthroned in power ; When every form of wrong shall cease, And rainbows span the earth with peace !
Yes, - I can wait till, darkness past, The brilliant dawn shall break at last, Fair herald of that better day, When evil shall be done away.
Yes, - I can wait ; for in His hand All things are safe ; - by whose command The harvest never cometh late ! Patience ! my spirit, Work and Wait!
FAITH AND SCIENCE.
Tell me not, brothers, that I should not pray To God above, Nor on his holy altar lowly lay My lips of love ;
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That there is no parental car that hears My carnest cry ; No eye of mercy to behold my tears Of agony ;
No hand to hold me in the narrow way. And lead me right. Or sun of righteousness to send its ray Through death's dark night :
That only law is ruler, cold, austere. Without a soul ; That evolution builded sphere on sphere, And guides the whole ;
For still my heart cries out, and not in vain, To God for bread, And blessings like this mild descending rain On me are shed.
As from the gardens round, the flowerets lift Their petals white. Grateful to greet the glad'ning summer's gift Of soft sunlight,
So from my spirit's depths to Him uprise Affections sweet, Till my life blossoms like a paradise His smile to meet.
Faith sees what science never can impart : Life breaks the seals ; And perfect Love, unto the pure in heart. Its God reveals.
Written for " The Commonwealth."
EUTHANASIA.
The waves of light are drifting From off the heavenly shore ; The shadows all are lifting Away forevermore ! Truth, like another morning, Is beaming on my way ; I bless the Power that poureth in The coming of the day ! I feel a life within mne That years could never bring. My heart is full of blossoming, It yearns to meet the spring.
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Love fills my soul in all its deeps, And harmony divine Is sweetly sounding from above - A symphony sublime. The earth is robed in fresher green, The sky in brighter blue, And with no cloud to intervene, God's smile is shining through. I hear the immortal harps that ring Before the sapphire throne ; And a spirit from the heart of God Is bearing up my own ! In silence on the Olivet Of prayer, my spirit bends, Till in the Orison of Heaven My voice seraphic blends.
LYDIA MARIA CHILD.
TO THE TRAILING ARBUTUS.
Thou delicate and fragrant thing ! Sweet prophet of the coming spring ! To what can poetry compare Thy hidden beauty, fresh and fair ?
Only they who search can find Thy trailing garlands close enshrined ; Unveiling like a lovely face, Surprising them with artless grace.
Thou seemest like some sleeping babe, Upon a leafy pillow laid ; Dreaming, in thy unconscious rest, Of nest'ling on a mother's breast.
Or like a maiden in life's May, Fresh dawning of her girlish day ; When the pure tint her cheeks disclose Seems a reflection of the rose.
More coy than hidden love thou art, With blushing hopes about its heart ; And thy faint breath of fragrance seems Like kisses stolen in our dreams.
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7
Thou'rt like a gentle poet's thought, By Nature's simplest lessons taught, Reclining on old moss-grown trecs, Communing with the whisp'ring breeze.
Like timid natures, that conceal What others carelessly revcal ; Reserving for a chosen few Their wealth of feeling, pure and true.
Like loving hearts, that ne'er grow old, Through autumn's change or winter's cold : Preserving some sweet flowers that lie 'Neath withcred leaves of years gone by.
At sight of thee a troop upsprings Of simple, pure, and lovely things ; But half thou sayest to my heart, I find no language to impart.
THE WORLD THAT I AM PASSING THROUGH.
Few, in the days of early youth, Trusted like me in love and truth. I've learned sad lessons from the years : But slowly, and with many tears ; For God made me to kindly view The world that I am passing through.
How little did I once believe That friendly tones could e'er deceive ! That kindness, and forbearance long, Might meet ingratitude and wrong ! I could not help but kindly view The world that I was passing through.
And though I've learned some souls are base, I would not, therefore, hate the race ; I still would bless my fellow-men, And trust them, though deceived again. God help me still to kindly view The world that I am passing through.
When I approach the setting sun, And feel my journey nearly done, May earth be veiled in genial light, And her last smile to me seem bright ! Help me, till then, to kindly view The world that I am passing through !
From a Photograph by A. W. Cutting.
HOME OF LYDIA MARIA CHILD, Wayland,
FROM 1. 52-1880.
An elm and willow towered above With boughs that interlaced in love As hearts entwined below.
Home Melodies.
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ALFRED SERENO HUDSON.
THE HOME OF LYDIA MARIA CHILD.
On sunny bank that sloped beside The Musketahquid's meadows wide, The low-roofed cottage stood.
Plain, unpretentious, kept with care, With garden decked with flowers rare, It smiled on passer-by.
An elm and willow towered above With boughs that interlaced in love, As hearts entwined below.
About the door the climbing vine Reached outward towards the soft sunshine That fell with gentle ray.
Not far away the lilies grew, With flowers of green and snowy hue, Along a placid lake.
The blackbirds on the meadow near Made music sweet both loud and clear At break of early dawn.
At sunset hour the shadows long Were mingled with their evening song, Till day's last fading ray.
When Autumn decks the far-off hills, And purple haze the soft air fills, The scene how sweet, how fair.
Soft clothed with gold and silver shades, The nearer landscape dims and fades On meadows broad and brown.
While on the river's winding stream The silent waters faintly gleam With light subdued and soft.
Near by the orchard, bending low With many a richly laden bough, Gave fragrance of rich fruit.
About the door the old folks sat At twilight hour for social chat, A loving couple true.
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Their life was simple, quiet, kind, As blessed influence left behind, When they had passed away.
Dear spot, by pleasant memories blest Of earnest hearts that sweetly rest After life's arduous toil.
A toil endured for souls distressed, For race afflicted and oppressed, When few would render aid.
From "Home Melodies " | 1890].
MYSTERY.
Breaking sadly on the sea-sand, Comes the moaning wave from far, Bearing sometimes on its bosom Piece of wreck or broken spar.
Whence it came, or what its story, What it means, or how 'twas sent, How long tossed on ocean hoary, In strange mystery all are blent.
But we know it means a something, Tells it of some distant land. Whence has sailed a ship in beauty. Fashioned by a master hand.
Fragment of it, tho' it may be, Long in clustering seaweed draped, Scarred and worn by many a tempest, Yet 'twas once in wisdom shaped.
So, when by life's heaving ocean, Hopes and aspirations grand Come cast up as gems most precious, Sent direct by heaven's own hand,
Tell they truly, that the Author Of our being here below, Formed us in his image, perfect, Him to love and him to know ;
And that in the drifting surges Of the seething tide of sin, We have almost lost the beauty We at first received from him.
From "Fireside Hymns " [1888].
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THE BROKEN HOUSEHOLD.
They are gone, the scenes of those distant days ; With life's merry morning they soon sped by ; Yet they linger in memory as sunset rays
Are reflected in beauty on evening sky.
The home that once sheltered that household band Was long since demolished from roof to sill ; Not a hearthstone escaped the destroying hand, The site of the homestead to point out still.
And they too are scattered who once drew near The fireside, as evening its mantle spread ; The circle is broken, the loved and dear Have joined the ranks of the silent dead.
The first, a fond mother passed over the tide, And we wept at the sound of the boatman's oar, As it wafted her out on the river wide, And we knew we should kiss her pale lips no more.
Another was summoned, a father dear, Who had lovingly cared for that household band, And our souls were sad as again drew near The boat, that would take him to far-off land.
A brother was next to pass from our sight, And narrow the circle more and more, And again came the shadows of sorrow's night, As he too embarked for the golden shore.
Thus one by one they have broken away, The fond, loved links of that golden chain, And been taken to realms of endless day, Until only two in this life remain.
But somehow we feel that that household dear In another home will sometime be found, Where the boatman's oar we no more shall hear, And friendship unbroken will there abound.
So waiting, we sometimes sit and think Of what we have seen, and yet may see, And trust, that when gathered beyond life's brink, We a happy household once more shall be.
From "Fireside Hymns."
PART V.
RESIDENCE OF JAMES S. DRAPER,
Built 1856.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES AND
HISTORY OF HOUSES.
BIOGRAPHY.
The following are Biographical Sketches of persons who have been residents of Sudbury, and whose portraits are in this volume, and of Dr. Thomas Stearns, to whose collection of historical manuscripts reference has repeatedly been made, and whose home- stead is herein represented.
REV. JOSIAH BALLARD.
Josiah Ballard was born at Peterboro, N. H., April 14, 1806. He learned the mason's trade, and worked at it for some years. Completing his studies at Munson Academy, he entered Yale College and graduated in 1833 He studied theology two years with Rev. John Whiton, D.D., of Antrim, N. H., and was licensed to preach in 1835. The same year he married Elizabeth D., daughter of Dr. Whiton. He was settled at Chesterfield, N. H., then at Nelson, N. H. He was installed at Sudbury, March 3, 1841, and dismissed April, 1852. Ile was afterwards settled at New Ipswich, N. H., and at Carlisle, Mass., at which latter place he died, Dec. 12, 1863, aged fifty-seven. Ile had two children, Edward O. and Catherine E., both born at Nelson, N. H. Mr. Ballard and his wife were buried at Carlisle, but were afterward removed and laid, in accordance with their desire, in the New Maple- wood Cemetery at South Antrim, N. H., occupying one of the fine family lots joining each other. Mr. Ballard was much esteemed in Sudbury. His influence was widely felt, and the remembrance of him was fondly cherished for many years after he left town. He was a reserved, dignified man, rather grave in manner and a hard worker.
CHARLES L. GOODNOW.
Charles L. Goodnow, son of Nahum and Betsy Goodnow, was born at Sudbury, Mass. He was educated in the common schools of his native town, and at the age of 18 went to Boston. For some years he was engaged in the produce business at Boylston Market, and known as an enterprising business man. After his retirement from business he remained in Boston seven or eight years, at the expiration of which time he went to Sudbury, where he lived until his death, which occurred Aug. 8, 1890. Mr. Goodnow was twice married. His first wife was Ruth Lapham ; his second Harriet Brigham of Boston. By his first marriage he had one child, Charles Frederick, who resides in Sudbury, and is engaged in the culture of flowers and vegetables. Mr. Goodnow was a descendant of the Goodnow family which came to America on the ship " Confidence " in 1638 (see pp. 2 to 10).
REV. ALFRED S. HUDSON.
Alfred Sereno Hudson, son of Martin Newton and Maria [Reed] Hudson, was born at South Sudbury, Mass., Nov. 20, 1839. He attended the common schools until about the age of seventeen, when he entered Wadsworth Academy, and soon after commenced preparing ยท for college. In 1860 he entered Williams College. In 1861, at the breaking out of the civil war, he enlisted for three months in the " Wadsworth Rifle Guards," the Sudbury company of the Second Battalion of Rifles, Mass. Vol. Militia (see pp. 29 and 30). The company
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not being called for that length of service, he returned to college to make up back studies and go on with his elass. From this time he met with various interruptions, occasioned mainly by a lack of funds, which necessitated an absence from college in order to proeure the requisite means for pursuing his studies. Senior year was more broken than any that preceded it. In the winter of that year he taught school in Philipston, Mass., design- Before the expiration of this term,
ing to join his class at the end of three months.
however, his brother, John P. Hudson of the Seventh Mass. Light Battery, returned on a furlough. and soon became prostrate with a fatal discase which he had contracted during the hardships of army life. Mr. Hudson, after finishing his school, went to Sudbury and took charge of his brother until his death, which occurred March 7, 1864. IIe then returned to college to make up " baek studies " and prepare for Senior examinations prior to graduation, which occurred the following July, after four years of contention against such circumstances as perhaps but few have encountered in pursuit of a liberal education. He entered college with means insufficient to meet the expenses of a single term, and worked his way through with no assistance except that afforded by the college and the Education Society to students who were fitting for the gospel ministry. A few days after graduation he started for the South in the service of the United States Sanitary Commission. On arriving at New York he found the way to Washington was obstructed by the raid of the Confederate forces upon Baltimore, under the leadership of Col. Harry Gilmore, and so long was he detained there that his scanty funds gave out, and but for the exchange of some old silver eoin which he happened to have with him, and which brought nearly three times its value in "greenbaeks," he would have been obliged to return. He took the first train South after the rebel raid and passed over Gunpowder river, the bridge of which the raiders had partially destroyed, on an extemporized way. After a short stay in Washington he was ordered to the Army Hospital at City Point, Va., at the junetion of the James and Appomatox rivers, and a short distance from Petersburg. While at this place he saw some of the horrors of war, in the seenes in and about that large Hospital which received the sick and wounded of a large part of the Federal forces, along the line at the front. The day was ushered in by the roar of artillery, and evening was heralded by the same dull, heavy sound. During his stay at City Point the famous " Burnside Mine" was exploded. It was early on a still Sabbath morning that the event occurred, and almost simultaneously arose the sound of scores of batteries along both the Federal and Confederate lines which made for a time an almost unbroken roar, such as has perhaps seldom been known in the history of war.
After his service in the Sanitary Commission Mr. Hudson returned North and entered Andover Theological Seminary, joining the smallest elass of that institution since the year of its establishment, he being the fourth member, notwithstanding he entered after the com- mencement of the term. During his theological course he spent one vaeation and part of the following term in the service of the Maine Home Missionary Society, laboring with a small church in the town of Denmark, Me. In 1867 he graduated with his class, and shortly after entered upon the work of the ministry in the Congregational Church at Burlington, Mass., where he had preached a short time previous to his graduation. December 19 of the same year he was there ordained and installed as pastor. After a pastorate of about six years he became acting pastor of the Congregational Church at Easton, Mass., where he remained about two years. He then returned to Burlington somewhat impaired in health, where he remained nearly two years, preaching occasionally in various churches. His third pastorate was with the Maplewood and Linden Congregational churches in Malden, Mass., during which both churches erected their first houses of worship. In 1883, after remaining in Malden about six years, during the most of which time he had the joint charge of both
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churches, he moved to Wayland, but in the Fall of the same year he received a call to become pastor of the Congregational Church at Ayer, Mass., which call he accepted, and which position he still holds. While in Malden he began the work of preparing a " History of Sudbury," which he subsequently worked on at times for years. He also occasionally gave lectures in his native town on the subject of town history. While at Ayer, at the request of the committee, lie wrote a history of the Congregational Church of that place which contained about one hundred and fifty pages ; and also prepared a new code of By-Laws for the church which were adapted to its conditions as an incorporated society, which it became under Mr. Hudson's administration. The "History and By-Laws " were published by the church in 1887. In 1888 he wrote a small collection of poems entitled "Fireside Hymns," which were published the same year. In 1889 the town of Sudbury published his " History of Sudbury," which contained about seven hundred and fifty pages. In 1890 he wrote a small book of poems, on subjects mostly relating to objects and events connected with Sudbury and Wayland, entitled "Home Melodies ; " also an article on the " Home and Home Life of Lydia Maria Child," which was published in the New England Magazine. The same year he was engaged by Lewis & Co. to write the histories of Sudbury, Wayland and Maynard for their " History of Middlesex County." This work having been completed, he commenced the preparation of a township history, to be entitled "The Annals of Sudbury, Wayland and Maynard," which was published in 1891. During a somewhat busy life as pastor and writer, the subject of this sketch has several times been interrupted by short but painful seasons of illness On one occasion a severe attack of rheumatic iritis was the occasion of several weeks of very severe suffering, attended by such inflammation of the brain as caused his life to be despaired of, and necessitated several weeks' absence from home for treatment. But upon the removal of the local cause he returned to his former robust condition of health and again went on with his usual work. In connection with other duties he has found time to give special attention to the great cause of temperance reform, and was for several years president of the Northwest Middlesex Temperance Union.
Mr. Hudson is descended from a somewhat hardy and long-lived family. On his father's side he is of the family of Hudson who early resided at Lancaster, Mass., some of whose children were killed by the Indians in their raid on that town; and on his mother's side he belongs to the old Reed family of Sudbury, of which Thomas settled at Landham in 1654, and occupied land there which he purchased of his uncle, Rev. Edmund Brown, Sudbury's first minister. Sept. 26, 1867, he was married to Miss L. R. Draper, daughter of Ira and Eunice [Rutter] Draper of Wayland. Mrs. Hudson is a descendant, on her father's side, of Ira Draper, a former resident of Weston and a prominent inventor. On her mother's side she is a lineal descendant of John Rutter, who came to America in the ship "Confidence " in 1638. She has been a ready and efficient assistant in her husband's pastoral and literary labors, and has given a greatly added value to most of his published works. For thirteen consecutive years Mr. Hudson has spent a part of each summer at Wayland.
SAMUEL B. ROGERS.
Samuel Barstow Rogers, son of Walter and Betsey [Barstow] Rogers, was born at Waltham, Mass., Oct. 15, 1813. His natural inclination early led him to engage in business, and a fondness for commercial activity and the promotion of manufacturing and mercantile .enterprise in the community has characterized his useful life. For some years he was engaged in the transportation and sale of western hogs, and before the construction of rail- roads he caused droves of swine to be driven over the country roads from Ohio to the market
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at Brighton, Mass. After the building of railroads he did an extensive commission trade in both live and dressed hogs in New York City. About 1867 he retired from the hog trade and became the head of the firm of S. B. Rogers & Co., manufacturers of " Leather Board and Shoe Stiffenings." By judicious management this business has been a marked success; so that from the modest beginnings at South Sudbury it has become a prominent and profitable concern. Mr. Rogers has also been engaged in various other business enterprises ; he has been a grocer, a grain dealer, and at one time the owner and manager of Pratt's Mill, West Sudbury ; and at present is one of the firm of " Hurlbut & Rogers." manufacturers of " Cutting-off Lathes," whose machine shop is at South Sudbury. Few men in such a long business career have been better known for generous and fair dealing than the subject of this sketch. By personal influence and substantial contributions he has sought to promote the thrift of the community in which he has long dwelt. In polities he is an ardent Republican, and among the town offices to which he has been repeatedly elected are those of treasurer and collector. In 1840 he joined the Congregational Church, and has been a faithful stand-by of the Gospel ordinances, with a heart and hand always ready to promote what he considered its best interests. His habits have been exemplary, and notwithstanding the temptations in the early times for drovers to use spirituons liquors, as they followed the large droves of live stock in storm or sunshine over the rough country roads, Mr. Rogers proved a total abstainer. While engaged in this business he was once on his way from South Sudbury to Brighton, when, upon descending Sand Hill to the causeway over the meadows of Sudbury river, he found that the flood of water was up to his horse's breast, and it being early morning and cold weather, was covered with thin ice. It was not characteristic of the man to take a back track if the way could be opened in front, so taking his "steelyards," which were used for weighing hogs, in his hand, he walked into the cold water and beat a path through the ice the entire length of the causeway. He then returned for his team, and walking beside his horse led him safely across. When he arrived at the "Pequod House " in Wayland, cold and wet, the landlord urged him, as a precautionary measure against sickness from such exposure, to take a glass of "spirit." He took it, but instead of emptying it into his stomach emptied it into his boots.
On Nov. 30, 1837, Mr. Rogers married Eliza Jones Parmenter, daughter of Noah Parmenter of Sudbury, and has had four children, - Alfred S., Bradley S., Melvina A., Atherton W. Atherton resides at South Sudbury, has held various town offices and is at present chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Samuel Rogers has for the most of his life made South Sudbury his home, going and coming in his earlier years as business would allow. His father was born at Marshfield, Mass., Aug. 6, 1767, and came to Sudbury from Braintree in 1805. He purchased land which was formerly of the George Pitts place, which was disposed of by the "Proprietors of Sudbury" in 1715. The old farm is at present owned and occupied by Walter Rogers, a brother of Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel B. Rogers reside at their pleasant home at South Sudbury, and both, in their long, useful lives, have gained many friends and have the univeral respect and esteem of the community.
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