USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > History of Lapeer County, Michigan : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 17
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" 'To a land unclouded, Where they need no candle or sunbeam, For our God is its changeless light;
To a land celestial-
Where all former things have departed-
The sorrow, the pain and the tears.
Where no shadow shall bewilder, Where life's vain parade is o'er; Where the ship of sin is broken, And the dreamer dreams no more; Where the love that here we lavish On the withering leaves of time, Shall have fadeless flowers to fix on, In an ever bright spring clime. There they all shall meet and rest 'Mid the holy and the blest.'"
LAPEER POSTOFFICE.
About the year 1833, a postoffice was established at Lapeer and Dr. Minor Turrill was postmaster. He was succeeded by O. B. Hart. Other early postmasters were Silas D. McKeen, Col. J. R. White, Noah H. Hart, Henry Wheelock, N. B. Eldredge, R. G. Hart, U. D. Bristol. The early postoffice was a portable affair,
Webster Photo
proabit.
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
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and frequently inhabited the hat or coat pockets of the postmaster. The postal system was as primitive as the surroundings of its patrons; mail-carriers traveled on foot and postmasters would have found it difficult to tell at the end of the year whether their office had been a source of income or expense.
In 1861, Shad. N. Vincent received the appointment of post- master and held the office until 1883, when he was succeeded by John Abbott, the present incumbent. Mr. Abbott, upon taking the office, proceeded to equip it with all the modern conveniences that are now in use, and the people of Lapeer have thus been provided with greatly improved facilities for receiving their mail.
JOHN ABBOTT was born in 1833, in Beauharnois County, C. E. Came to Lapeer in 1856, and engaged in farming and lumbering. In 1868 he was elected register of deeds, and re-elected in 1870; held the office until January 1, 1873. During the time he was reg- ister he made a complete abstract of the county records, and since then has been engaged in the abstract and real estate business, also continuing farming. Was appointed postmaster of Lapeer Febru- ary 27, 1883. Married in 1862 to Alice Connell, of Utica, Mich. They have seven children living -- five daughters and two sons,
A MIRROR OF THE PAST.
A copy of the Plain Dealer and Lapeer County Democrat has survived the ravages of time and is an excellent mirror of the days of 1842. It is dated September 1, 1842, is a five-column folio, yel- low with age and ancient in its general appearance. It was pub- lished by J. R. Bennett, at $2.00 a year; office, corner Pine and Park streets, and edited by A. Merryweather. There is a good dis- play of advertisers, as follows: O. M. Evans, A. Merryweather, merchants; Robert Green, justice of the peace, two miles south of Lapeer village; Enoch J. White, justice of the peace, Eagle Tavern; J. S. Comstock, physician and surgeon, Farmer's Creek; Horace Hinman, county treasurer, office in the court-house; John Shafer, sheriff; J. Simmons, Chester E. Hatch, master builders; P. White, keeper of the Eagle Tavern; E. Taylor, R. Gates, tanners and cur- riers, boot and shoe makers; Henry Haskin, chair maker, section 15, Metamora; Moses Misner, attorney and counsellor at law, office in the court-house; Samuel Tomlinson, coach, wagon and sleigh- maker, office on Saginaw Street; "Our House," by E. M. Taylor; Bartow & Thompson, attorneys and counsellors at law and solici- tors in chancery, Flint River, Saginaw Street; Caleb Carpenter, physician and surgeon, residence half a mile south of the village of Newbury, Bristol, Lapeer County; John W. White, blacksmith, Saginaw Street; S. D. McKeen, land agent, attorney and counsellor at law, master in chancery, register of deeds and justice of the peace, corner Nepessing and Cedar Streets; Noah N. Hart, attorney at law, justice of the peace and county clerk, office 67 Nepessing Street; F. and C. H. Buel, Detroit, hats and caps, furs, &c .; G. Bennett, tailoring; the American Hotel, Detroit, J. W. Van Ander, proprie- tor; Orion House, Richard Brownson, proprietor; Hodges House, Pontiac, S. Hodges, proprietor; A Merryweather advertised a stock of shirts, bosoms, collars and money purses, the product of the "Female Benevolent Society," who would take in to make to order, articles of clothing as cheap as possible, and required all friends of benevolence to call and furnish work. This advertisement signed E. Hemingway, secretary. O. M. Evans will pay taxes in any part of the State; Henry Laure offers one cent reward for Christopher Houghton, aged 15, who ran away from him.
The southern mail was advertised to leave Royal Oak every Monday and Thursday at 12 o'clock m., arriving in Lapeer next day by 12 m. Leave Lapeer every Thursday and Friday at 1 p. m., arrive at Royal Oak next day by 11 a. m. Eastern mail, via Bristol and Romeo to Mt. Clemens, arrive Wednesday at 6 p. m., leave Thursday at 6 a. m. Western mail direct to Flint leave Fri-
day at 6 p. m., arrive Saturday, at 6, p. m. J. R. White, post- master.
We find that Mr. John Sawtell was married to Mrs. Jemima Johnson, at Nauvoo, August 24, and that on the 6th ult., E. J. White, Esq., married Calvin Stiles to Miss Mima Farnsworth.
Isaac Goodale died August 23, after a short but severe illness, aged 62 years, formerly of Northampton, Mass.
In the news columns we find that Mr. Tyler was president and "that Mr. John Q. Adams in the house of representatives, with the violent temper that characterizes the man," had "declared war" on the President because he "would not meanly submit to the Clay dictation, and sign an important bill, which is not mentioned by title," the paper further states that the "ultra Whigs seriously con- templated expelling Mr. Adams from the House for having presented a petition to dissolve the Union. It was a monstrous outrage, and would, beyond doubt, have led to his expulsion, but for consid- eration of his advanced period of life and the high station he form- erly held."
Speaking of the August election, the result is summarized: In North Carolina the Whigs have re-elected Gov. Morehead by a di- minished majority; both branches of the legislature are Democratic -last year Whig-and a U. S. senator is to be chosen in place of Wm. Graham, Whig. In Indiana both branches of the legislature are Democratic by increased majorities. In Kentucky both branches of the legislature are Whig as usual, but the newly elected members are relief men, and Mr. Clay is opposed to that measure. A United States senator is to be chosen in the place of Mr. Crittenden, Whig. In Indiana probably Democratic majority on joint ballot. Senator to be elected in place of Mr. Smith, Whig. In Illinois, Ford, Dem- ocratic governor; both branches legislature Democratic. Senator to be elected in place of Young, Democratic. In Missouri we have elected the five members of Congress; a senator is to be elected in place of Linn, Democratic.
In Rhode Island it is stated that nearly 1,000 suffrage men been been obliged to leave to save themselves from arrest for no offense save that they voted for the constitution.
The expenditures of the government for the first half of 1842 were $16,813,613, which is within $6,000,000 of the whole of last year's expenditures, and the people find that they have gained nothing by giving power to the Federal Whigs.
But where are the men of the nation or the men of Lapeer, who controlled events forty years ago? A very few of the former are living, and of the latter "old pioneers" we see now and then one on whom the flood of years has left the furrows of time, and the activities of life have relegated to decrepitude and obscurity. But most of them have gone forward to the other side and their memo- ries linger only with a few survivors of their generation. Oh, glori- ous time! it buries us all in oblivion in a brief space, and our weak- nesses are forgotten with our good deeds.
Forty years from now and the pomp and vanities, the work and toil, the loves and hates of this day will be forgotten like a story that is told.
LAPEER NEWSPAPERS.
A local newspaper is one of the first enterprises to be established in a new community, and in 1839 the leading men of Lapeer ar- rived at the conclusion that a local journal was necessary to the in- terests of the county seat. Messrs. A. N. Hart and others joined and purchased printing material, and the Plain Dealer was started as a Democratic paper with E. H. Thompson, now of Flint, as editor.
Soon afterward the Whigs thought their political interests re- quired a champion, and the Sentinel was started with W. H. Will- iams as editor.
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
The editors of these rival organs carried on a brisk warfare, often emphasizing their utterances with ludicrous caricatures. Journalism in those days was not less precarious as a financial undertaking than at a more recent date. Mr. Thompson was suc- ceeded by J. B. Bennett, who conducted the paper for some time, and Mr. Williams was succeeded in the Sentinel by R. W. Jenny. Some more lively authority than tradition is necessary to trace out the checkered career of Lapeer journalism during its first thirty years. There was the Torsin with "Bill" Ryan as its editor; the Democrat, founded by Murvin Tinny, who died at East Saginaw. H. E. Purdy was at one time editor of the Plain Dealer. Now and then a solitary number of the early papers, tattered and yellow, tumbles from the dust of some pigeon hole, and speaks of other days, but there are no consecutive files in existence.
THE LAPEER CLARION.
In 1856 a number of the leading Republicans of Lapeer united in the purchase of material for the purpose of establishing a Repub- lican newspaper upon a sound business basis. The first number of the Lapeer Republican, with the late Colonel J. R. White as editor, was issued in January, 1856. Colonel White continued the editorial management of the paper about a year, when the office was sold to George S. Fletcher, of Detroit. Mr. Fletcher conducted the paper about four years, and during that time the name was changed to the Clarion, under which name it is still published. At the break- ing out of the war Mr. Fletcher sold the office to Samuel J. Tom- linson, and went into the army. Mr. Tomlinson is a son of Samuel C. Tomlinson, one of the pioneers of Lapeer, and learned the printers' trade of Mr. Fletcher. He was a young man but pos- sessed of great energy and good business ability. He enlarged and improved the paper, and has succeeded in doing what few newspaper publishers can boast of, that of making a handsome fortune from the printing business. About 1874 he erected a brick building expressly arranged to suit the convenience of a printing business. The Clarion is now a six column quarto, and one of the most pros- perous weekly newspapers in the State.
THE LAPEER DEMOCRAT.
In 1872 this paper was started by J. B. Graham, now of Pitkin, Col., as a Democratic newspaper. He afterward sold it to L. J. Haddrill, G. C. Wattles and M. N. Stickney, who formed a stock company and published the paper with Calvin Thomas, now a professor in the Michigan University, as editor. They afterward sold the office to L. D. Sayle, now of Detroit, and after conducting it for a time he sold to George H. Pond, now of the Caro Advertiser. The office changed hands several times, and was finally bought by Kudner & Phelps. Mr. Phelps soon after retired, and H. C. Kudner became sole proprietor. Mr. Kudner has brought the Democrat up to a paying basis, and is making it a model newspaper and a finan- cial success.
INCORPORATION.
Lapeer was incorporated as a village by order of the board of supervisors, in 1857. Notice of application was signed and pub- lished as follows:
We, the undersigned, legal voters of the township of Lapeer, do hereby give notice that we will apply to the board of supervisors for the county of Lapeer, on the 12th day of October next, for an order to incorporate as a village, the whole of section 5, in township 7, north of range 10 east, in the county of Lapeer, and State of Michigan, under an act to provide for the incorporation of villages, approved February 17, 1857.
William H. Cockett, Wesley Vincent, John W. Smith, W. H.
Jennings, H. H. Riley, N. B. Eldredge, George C. Bidwell, Alex- ander McLennan, A. V. West, M. B. Smith, Orin Brown, Melvin Brewer, Robert King, Charles M. Walker, W. I. Wilson, F. S. Taylor, Harry Griswold, A. S. Hatch, George H. Swift, J. R. White, S. Tomlinson, R. G. Jennings, John M. Wattles, C. M. Davis, Isaac Broughton, R. Clark, Charles Rich, H. D. Tomer, C. S. Hicks, George H. Henderson, George B. Gregory, Lyman Jarvis, J. M. Taylor, Jr., H. Loomis.
Lapeer, September 15, 1857.
The officers first elected were for the year 1858. The village officers were as follows for the several years:
VILLAGE OFFICERS.
1858-President, N. Buel Eldredge; clerk, Wesley Vincent; treasurer, Charles M. Davis; assessors, John Sands and Hubbel Loomis; trustees, George C. Bidwell, Charles Rich, Ward H. Jen- nings, John M. Wattles, Miron B. Smith and Noah H. Hart.
1859-President, James Turrill; treasurer, Charles M. Davis; assessors, Hubbel Loomis and Alonzo S. Hatch; trustees, Miron B. Smith, Charles Rich, John W. Bancroft, N. B. Eldredge, Lester E. Waterbury, George C. Bidwell.
1860-President, Jonathan R. White; clerk, George C. Bid- well; treasurer, Charles M. Davis; assessor, Henry Wheelock; trustees, James Turrill, Harry Griswold, John W. Bancroft, Noah H. Hart, Curtis T. Dodge, John M. Wattles.
1861-President, Noah H. Hart; treasurer, Charles M. Davis; assessor, Charles Rich; trustees, Jonathan R. White, Ward H. Jen- nings, Alonzo S. Hatch, William Hemingway, Stephen S. Hicks, John W. Bancroft.
1862-President, Ward H. Jennings; clerk, George C. Bid- well; treasurer, Charles M. Davis; assessor, George C. Bidwell; trustees, Elias R. Emmons, William Hemingway, Rodney G. Hart, Stephen S. Hicks, Silas B. Gaskell, John W. Bancroft.
1863-President, Ward H. Jennings; treasurer, Charles M. Davis; assessor, Alonzo S. Hatch; trustees, Elias R. Emmons, John W. Bancroft, James Turrill, Stephen S. Hicks, Silas B. Gas- kell, William Hemingway.
1864-President, Charles Rich; clerk, Geo. C. Bidwell; treas- urer, Charles M. Davis; assessor, Geo. B. Gregory; trustees, Silas B. Gaskell, Ward H. Jennings, James Turrill, Peter Van Dyke, John M. Wattles, Henry L. Horton.
1865 -- President, John M. Wattles; treasurer, Charles M. Davis; assessor, Alonzo S. Hatch; trustees, Shadrach N. Vincent Jonathan H. Hicks, James Turrill, Hubbel Loomis, Peter Van Dyke, Ward H. Jennings.
1866 -- President, Myron C. Kenney; clerk, Ulysses D. Bristol; treasurer, Charles M. Davis; assessor, Stephen M. Hicks; trustees, Robert King, William Hemingway, Columbus Tuttle, Alonzo S. Hatch, Peter Van Dyke, Charles M. Hemingway.
1867-President, Myron C. Kenney; treasurer, Charles M. Davis; assessor, Miron B. Smith; trustees, Charles M. Hemingway, Robert King, Shadrach N. Vincent, William J. Loder, Harmon D. Pike, Stephen V. Thomas.
1868 -- President, Myron C. Kenney; clerk, Thomas H. Collins; treasurer, Charles M. Davis; assessor, William Hemingway; trustees, Charles M. Hemingway, Stephen V. Thomas, Alonzo S. Hatch, Oliver Nichols, Robert King, Stephen S. Hicks.
1869-President, Oliver Nichols; treasurer, Jonathan H. Hicks assessor, Rodney G. Hart; trustees, Ward H. Jennings, William W. Barber, Stephen V. Thomas, Alexander McLennan, Derastus Holmes, Robert King.
Lapeer was incorporated as a city in 1869, and the officers have been as follows:
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
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CITY OFFICERS.
1869-Mayor, James Turrill; clerk, Samuel J. Tomlinson; aldermen, Rodney G. Hart, Charles M. Hemingway, H. L. White, Silas Wright, Columbus Tuttle, Lester E. Waterbury, Myron C. Kenney, Geo. B. Adams.
1870-Mayor, Jasper Bentley; clerk, Samuel J. Tomlinson; aldermen, John W. DuBois, Maynard Butts, Joel D. Kenney, William J. Loder.
1871-Mayor, Rodney G. Hart, clerk, Samuel J. Tomlinson; treasurer, Oliver Nichols; aldermen, George W. Rood, Lester E. Waterbury, Maynard Butts, Allan A. Sage, Joel D. Kenney, M. B. Smith, William J. Loder, Benjamin B. Redfield.
1872-Mayor, Myron C. Kenney; clerk, Samuel J. Tomlinson; treasurer, Curtis T. Dodge; aldermen, John M. Wattles, George B. Gregory, M. B. Smith, Rodney G. Hart.
1873-Mayor, Myron C. Kenney; clerk, Samuel J. Tomlinson; treasurer, Curtis T. Dodge; aldermen, Lorenzo J. Haddrill, May- nard Butts, Joel D. Kenney, Alex. Mair, Harmon D. Pike.
1874-Mayor, Joseph B. Moore; clerk, Samuel J. Tomlinson; treasurer, Curtis T. Dodge; aldermen, Oliver H. Wattles, George B. Gregory, Henry K. White, John P. Roberts.
1875-Mayor, Charles M. Hemingway; clerk, J. Rollin John- son; treasurer, Curtis T. Dodge; aldermen, Lorenzo J. Haddrill, Maynard Butts, Joel D. Kenney, Ward H. Jennings.
1876 -- Mayor, William A. Jackson, Jr .; clerk, J. Rollin John- son; treasurer, Curtis T. Dodge; aldermen, Oliver H. Wattles, George B. Gregory, Henry K. White, William W. Varnum.
1877-Mayor, Chester G. White; clerk, Stuart Gorton; treas- urer, Francis R. Cutting; aldermen, William H. Stickney, J. Rollin Johnson, George R. Turrill, William F. Daley.
1878-Mayor, Chester G. White; clerk, Stuart Gorton; treas- urer, Francis R. Cutting; aldermen, O. H. Wattles, L. H. Tucker, S. T. Vincent, William A. Varnum.
1879-Mayor, Alexander McLennan; clerk, George W. Stone; treasurer, Harmon D. Pike; aldermen, J. K. Walters, Francis Mc- Elroy, James H. Vincent, Silas Wright.
1880-Mayor, William J. Loder; clerk, Norman H. Farr; treasurer, George B. Adams; aldermen, Lorenzo J. Haddrill, Lewis . H. Tucker, B. A. Tuttle, William N. Varnum.
1881-Mayor, John Heavner; clerk, William E. Johnson; treasurer, Fred. D. Johnson; aldermen, O. H. Wattles, Columbus Tuttle, Sampson R. Wilcox, Theodore B. Odle.
1882-Mayor, William J. Loder; clerk, William E. Johnson; treasurer, Fred. D. Johnson; aldermen, Lorenzo J. Haddrill, George B. Gregory, Jonathan Houghton, William N. Varnum.
1883-Mayor, L. W. Hinman; clerk, J. H. Palmer; treasurer, George B. Adams; aldermen, Rodney G. Hart, Andrew M. Thomp- son to fill vacancy, Charles Lombard, B. A. Tuttle, James A. Hun- gerford.
RETROSPECTIVE.
A local writer, speaking of the early years of Lapeer, says:
"In early years Lapeer made but slow progress in the way of improvement. It is true each year added its quota of population, but it must be remembered that the location was one remote from markets, and shut out from the advantages of transportation, save by the slow and laborious method of ox teams and lumber wagons. There was really nothing to stimulate or encourage immigration. The principal population of the surrounding country was that of Indians, and for several years trade with these dark sons of the forest consti- tuted no small item in the business transactions of our merchants. There were many annoyances and inconveniences to submit to,
many obstacles to overcome. The mails, for instance, put in an appearance quite infrequently, and were carried on horseback from point to point; and the arrival of the postman in those times was hailed as a gala day by the inhabitants.
"Yet, notwithstanding all the drawbacks, the toils and trials of the past, the town moved slowly but surely onward. Churches were organized, the Congregational being first, and those 'avant couriers' of 'the faith' were followed by others. Merchants were at- tracted, mechanics and all the various classes comprising the inte- grals of towns.
"Lapeer was incorporated as a city March 30, 1869. The con- struction in after years of the Port Huron Railroad was a source of great good to the town. It opened up new and hitherto unapproach- able markets, and placed us upon the great plane of equality with other and older cities. The more recent completion of the Bay City Division of the Michigan Central Railroad has also had the effect of a more rapid development of the county, giving us compet- ing freights, and developing the lumber traffic of this section, which has become an important feature in the business of Lapeer. Better than all, however, was the fact that Lapeer County contained within itself sustaining force. Its soil was of the richest possible charac- ter, its forest abounded in excellent timber, and it is peopled with a hardy and industrious people. Every tree that was felled was a step towards prosperity; every acre in cultivation was a guerdon of success; and so these noble men and women toiled on, creating for the generation of to-day an inheritance time shall not dim."
CHANGES OF TWELVE YEARS.
Changes which are observed as they take place, do not appear as remarkable as those occurring during an absence. Any one who has gone out from among familiar scenes and returned after a lapse of years, has been impressed with the truth of this, and will be in- terested in the following graphic description of the change of scenes which occurred in Lapeer, during an absence of twelve years. The writer says:
"The 17th day of June, 1874, found us once more in the venerable town of Lapeer, among the 'scenes of our childhood,' after an absence of twelve years, and how much the place has changed since then! At that time a quiet, old appearing country village, of perhaps 400 inhabitants, with three old-fashioned taverns, a few stores and shops, with no communication with 'the outside world,' save by the old-fashioned stage coach and lumber wagon, over bad roads, with Flint about twenty miles, and Pontiac over thirty miles distant, as the nearest market.
"But lo, what a change a few years have wrought! Large brick structures are seen, rows of business places, and dwellings extended on every hand, with two railroads coming in at different points,-in fact the whole place and surroundings have undergone a wonderful change i
"We looked in vain for those ancient landmarks-Hoffman's old store, the old jail on the commons, Forbes' tavern near the bridge, the old tanneries near the creek, the old blacksmith shop on the corner and Brown's shop opposite, where used to congregate such kindred spirits as John Brock, Edward Brown, John Warren, Big Joe Carpenter, and other muscular worthies of twenty years ago. But they are scattered, and these ancient buildings are known no more. One ancient landmark yet remains that looks familiar-the old elm tree just under the hill by the creek, under which A. N. Hart and family encamped in 1831, the date of the first settlement in those parts. The old tree is surmounted by a lightning rod for preservation, having been struck by lightning several times.
"The people have also changed, and comparatively few were those we knew, Uncle Forbes, Riley, Hoffman, Colonel Brant, of
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
Ardent memory; old Nobles the trapper, Uncle Simes, Jerry Hin- man and others, have since 'gone home,' and many others of those days are dead, or scattered far and wide. Bill Ryan, the red-hot editor of the Lapeer Tocsin fell fighting for the 'Lost Cause' on the bloody field of Gettysburg while leading on the 'Louisiana Tigers,'
"Politics raged high in those days, inasmuch as Democratic women refused to lend tea or sugar or associate with their Whig neighbors, and rice versa. * * * * * *
*
"We visited the old home just in sight of town, and it was lonely! The old house had gone to decay. The roof had fallen in; the ground hog burrowed beneath the fallen chimney; here the phobe builds her nest and rears her young; grass grew in the yard, and waved its rank heads before the ruined windows and in the open door; sounds of merry voices are heard no more, but desolate stillness reigns all around.
"The garden fence is seen no more; the apple trees are dying with age. The spring at the foot of the hill is nearly obliterated. . Two frogs jumped in at our approach. They are its rulers, now. We strolled along the creek near by. Two ducks flew up near the bend where we used to hunt them years ago, and with screams dis- appeared far up the stream. The thrush built her nest in the bushes near the banks, and sang her gladdening notes of old; the violets grow in the same shady nook, and the same old fence hidden with bushes skirted the brow of the hill, where wended the cow path, and wild plums grew, and we picked strawberries near the wild cherry tree in the meadow, the same spot where we had picked them twenty years before. As we passed the cat-tail swale in the meadow near the big rock, blackbirds flew upward with loud screams in defense of their young-those same looking black- birds with red spots on their wings, we used to rob of old.
"With musing thoughts on interesting spots along the way, we arrived at the old school-house, and were ushered in by the teacher, whose existence dates since we studied here. We took our same old seat, and a thousand memories of those earlier days crossed our fancied brain as we looked around upon strange faces, every one. After dwelling on familiar marks around the house we sought the woods near by, and threw ourselves under the shade of the old elm tree, where hung the swing of other days, and thought of those companions who once gathered there, and as each cherished re- membrance arose, involuntary words came forth-'Ah, those were happy days !- yes, would I were a boy again!' And with feelings of lonely sadness we arose and left the spot."
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