USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Wilton > An address delivered at the centennial celebration in Wilton, N.H., Sept. 25, 1839 > Part 6
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' 1739' and ' 1839,' with other devices between them. The national banner had been raised high in the air, and its stripes and stars, borne on the now rising breeze, were floating gaily over the spa- cious pavilion, erected on the border of a pleasant field, a few rods east of the old meeting-house. Around the meeting-house stood handsome spruce trees, the growth of the night ; while within, it was beautifully ornamented with verdant boughs and wreaths, and a large chandelier of evergreen. The Common was at an early hour alive with people, moving to and fro, or collecting in groups ; and the fine appearance of the Miller Guards,- a company of volunteers, or- ganized in the town a short time previous, under the command of Col. Samuel King,- with the cheering music of the Band attending them, gave increased animation to the scene. And throughout the multitudes there assembled, the cordial greetings of old acquaint- ances, the hearty shaking of hands, the glad voices and speaking countenances, all testified to the overflowing pleasure and good feel- ing which reigned on the occasion.
About ten o'clock a procession was formed at the Brick Hall, under the direction of Col. Jonathan Parkhurst, the Chief Marshal, and was escorted by the Miller Guards to the Old Meeting-house, which, though large, was soon filled to overflowing. The performances there were as follows :
VOLUNTARY,- by the Band.
INVOCATION,- by Rev. Abiel Abbot, D. D., of Peterborough.
ANTHEM, "Great is the Lord," &c.,- sung by the Choir. SELECTIONS FROM THE SCRIPTURES,- by Rev. Warren Burton. THE NATIVITY,- sung by the Choir.
PRAYER,-by Rev. Abiel A. Livermore, of Keene. MARSEILLES HYMN, -- sung by the Choir.
ADDRESS,- by Rev. Ephraim Peabody, of New Bedford. AN ORIGINAL HYMN, sung by the Choir and the assembly. PRAYER,- by Rev. Samuel Barrett, of Boston.
GRAND HALLELUJAH CHORUS, - sung by the Choir. BENEDICTION,- by Rev. Nathaniel Whitman, of Wilton.
The Music was under the superintendence of Mr. Charles Abbot.
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ORIGINAL HYMNS, [Written for the Occasion.]
BY MR. LUBIM B. ROCKWOOD.
Father in Heaven, thy grace impart ;
Let gratitude inspire each heart ;
To thee our joyful songs we 'll raise,
Thy goodness claims our highest praise.
We hail this consecrated day ; Accept the tribute here we pay ; Let this Centennial Jubilee Wake in our hearts new praise to thec.
Let peace attend, a welcome guest,
. May filial love inspire each breast; Join, every voice, thie song, the vow, We're brethren all, our Father Thou.
Blest morn of Liberty, whose light Effulgent broke the shades of night,
To dry the weary pilgrim's tear, And bid him seek a dwelling here.
Sleep, " Pilgrim Fathers," and be blest ; We'll ne'er disturb your peaceful rest ; Long shall the grateful prayer ascend, While o'er your sleeping dust we bend.
Inspired with hope, we'll walk the road Of virtue, which our fathers trod ; Their praise shall every voice prolong, And loudest anthems swell the song.
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BY MISS SARAH W. LIVERMORE.
Almighty God! we own thy power, Which on the Pilgrim Fathers smiled ; The forests fled, and bloomned the flower Where all was sterile, drear, and wild.
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These fertile hills our fathers found, Their dwellings rose beneath thy care, They early sought for hallowed ground, And on it built a house of prayer. .
One hundred years thy guiding hand O'er us has held unerring sway, Dependant beings, still we stand, O, guide us on from day to day.
`Our labors bless, our garners fill, Our hearts enlighten by thy grace ; Our study be, to do thy will, While in this transient dwelling-place
And as each passing year shall sweep To their last rest, some friends we love, As joy shall smile, and wo shall weep, Prepare us for a home above.
At the close of the exercises in the Church, the procession, with an accession of ladies, out-numbering the gentlemen, moved to the Pavilion, where the divine blessing was invoked by Rev. William Richardson, of Wilton, and about five hundred persons partook of a dinner provided by Mr. Joseph Newell. Meanwhile the sky became overcast with clouds and a few drops of rain fell, which suggested the expediency of retiring to a more comfortable place. Accordingly, the company rose from the table, and thanks having been returned by Rev. A. D. Jones, of Brighton, they marched back to the Meeting- house, where the proceedings were as follows :-
Deacon EZRA ABBOT, President of the Day, introduced the pro- ceedings with the following remarks :-
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,- It gives me pleasure to congratulate you on the favorable circumstances in which we are come together to cele- brate this grand jubilee of our native town. The hundredth anniversary of the first settlement of Wilton, furnishes an occasion for mingling our common sympathies, and for indulging in joyful and grateful recol- lections. The early history of the town must be full of interest to us all. Here our fathers endured hardships and privations, and we, their
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descendants, are now enjoying in peace the rich fruits of their labors. Favored by the smiles of Providence, they laid the foundation of those institutions under which the town has grown up to its present state of prosperity. I cannot but express the high gratification I feel in beholding all around me animated by feelings so much in harmony with the spirit of the occasion. And I trust that the memory of this day will long be cherished, and be ever attended with pleasing and profitable recollections.
At the request of the President, Mr. Eliphalet Putnam proceeded to announce the Toasts prepared for the occasion.
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Ist Toast. This Centennial gathering of the Wilton Family, - An occasion consecrated to grateful recollections, to cheering anticipations, and to social, frater- nal, and christian greetings.
[Glee,-" Hail ! Smiling Morn," -Sung by Mr. Charles Abbot and others.]
2d. Toast. The Metropolis of New-England, - Knowing how to appreciate wisdom in council, she calls to her high places the wise and gifted of the land.
Deacon SAMUEL GREELE, of Boston, rose and said,-
Mr. President,-I perceive by the significant nod of your head, that the sentiment just uttered has reference to myself. I further- more understand that this nod has an official bearing, directing me to address this assembly of friends and fellow-townsmen. As I have always been in the habit of complying with that apostolic injunction, which requires us to " submit to the powers that be," I will not refuse obedience to the legitimate authorities of this day, although I had much rather be a hearer than a speaker on the present occasion.
We have been told by the orator of the day, that the first grist-mill, erected in this town, was built by a remote ancestor of mine; and that the ancient inhabitants conveyed their wheat and their corn to this mill, to be converted into flour and meal. I wish it were in the power of his humble descendant, in return for the flattering compli- ment paid him this day, to bring to this " feast of reason and flow of soul," as well ground, and as well bolted flour, as the good old Dea- con Samuel Greelc, of a former generation, gave to his customers of a by-gone century, the primitive Wiltonians of his day.
Mr. President, - this day, connected as it is, with inany delightful reminiscences and associations, brings to my mind some tender, aot to say sad recollections. Forty-one years ago, this day, a beloved
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parent was summoned to another, and I trust, to a better world. The manner of his death,* equally sudden to himself, and unexpected by his family, is well known to the elder part of those now present. The delicate and kind ministrations of friends and neighbors, then made an impression on my youthful heart, which the finger of time can never efface. While most of those, who attended the funeral obsequies of my honored father, have, in their turn, been removed to the world of spirits, and relatives and friends have wept over their graves, it is my privilege and my happiness to behold among you, some, who at that time mingled their sympathies and their tears with those of the afflicted family. To them I would observe, that the af- fectionate interest, then expressed for me and mine, forms one of the links in that adamantine chain, which binds me to my native town.
I trust that these remarks, though somewhat egotistical and sombre in appearance, are not incompatible with the festivities of the occa- sion ; for, if I have not greatly mistaken the purpose of this celebra- tion, we have met to weave fresh garlands for the graves of the dead, as well as to express our fraternal regards for the living.
Many of the honored and lamented dead now come to my mind like warm, living realities. The two first pastors of this town, the strong minded and sincere Livermore ; the meek, modest and affec- tionate Fiske ; the generous, hospitable and exemplary Rockwood, one of the earliest physicians of this place, whose house was ever the resort of the enlightened and the good; these, and other venerable and venerated men, together with the virtuous and pious women of other times, now appear to my imagination, clothed anew in their earthly habiliments. The lessons which I received from their lips, are deeply engraven on the tablet of my memory.
My heart now prompts me to pay a passing tribute of love and respect, to the memory of one, more recently removed from you, but whose virtues are enshrined in all our bosoms. I refer to the beloved, the honored, the lamented Abbot.t His attachment to his native place, led him with others to propose and plan the Celebration in which we are now engaged. Many of the institutions of the religious society, in which he worshipped, and of the town in which he was born and in which he lived, are monuments of his warm-hearted at-
* He was instantly killed by the falling of a tree, when on his way to attend a town-meeting, in the year 1798.
t Samuel Abbot, Esq. who died Jan. 1939.
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tachment, as well as memorials of his enlightened zeal in the great cause of human improvement, and of Christian virtue. It was my privilege to be one of his instructers, when in early life, a member of Philips's Academy in Andover. I well recollect his untiring industry, his amiable and correct deportment, his unwavering allegiance to the dictates of duty and of conscience, whichi pointed him out as a pat- tern to the other members of that venerable seminary of learning. To adopt the expressive language of scripture, "he seems to have been sanctified even from his birth." It is fully known to you all, how well the fruits of his mature life corresponded with the buds and the blossoms of liis early years. If the spirits of the " just in Heaven " take cognizance of human affairs, we trust, that his benignant spirit is now looking down on the festivities and solemnities of this day, with joyful approbation.
I have spoken of one of the reasons of my attachment to the town of Wilton. Another reason I doubtless share in common with my friends, who, like myself, have been led to seek their fortunes in other towns and cities. It was here, that we received our primary educa- tion. And let me ask, sir, what is so well adapted to develope the whole complex being of man, to give a healthy tone to the body and the mind, as attendance on the district school, with occasional labor in the field and on the farm. It is here, that the storehouse of the imag- ination becomes enriched with its most gorgeous imagery, and the boy is trained to those liabits of industry, to that self-dependence and self-control so serviceable to the man in after life. Do you think, Mr. President, that the genius of the reverend gentleman, who has de- lighted us this day, by his eloquence and learning, could have taken such lofty and excursive flights, if it had been hemmed in, during early life, by the brick walls of a dusty city ? I venture to assert, that he drank in the inspiration, which has welled up at this time in his own bosom, and which has made our hearts thrill with gladness and joy, from the pure fountains, which gush from your sunny hills, and which meander in purling streams through your deep valleys, and your green meadows. Do you think that another reverend gentle- man, now in my eye, could have so well gratified and instructed his numerous readers, by pointing out, in a manner so peculiarly his own, the advantages and the defects of the district school, if he had not himself been an actor in some of those juvenile dramas, which he so beautifully describes ?
Do you think, that the talented lady, who has given proof of the
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versatility of her genius, in the composition of the solemn hymn, just sung with so much effect in your church, and of the merry song, which (to speak in parliamentary language) now lies on your honor's table for future use, could have so charmed us by the sweet warblings of her gentle muse, if she had been fluttering and flaunting in early life, in the rustling silks of the city, and promenading its Broadways and its By-ways, instead of amusing her leisure hours, in culling the wild flowers of the fields, and in listening to the music of the feath- ered songsters of the groves ?
A knowledge of the elements of agriculture, which forined an im- portant part of our early education, may be the means of future sup- port, as well as an agreeable and healthy recreation to some of us, who are now otherwise occupied. What a resource must it be to the scholar, the merchant, the physician, the lawyer, and the clergy- man, who have been reared on the farm, -what a resource, I repeat, must it be to them to feel, amid the fluctuations of the times, the ca- prices of popular favor, and the discouragements of professional life, · that, should fortune frown on their efforts for the support of themselves and their families, they can return to their native soil, and draw nour- ishment from that bountiful mother earth, which gave them birth. Should this be the fortune of any of us, I now bespeak from my kind friends, in his behalf, an interchange of agricultural labors, and other friendly offices; and I venture to promise, on his part, earnest co-op- eration, in building up the literary and religious institutions of the town.
I respect the hard hand and the sinewy arm of honest labor, as much, sir, as I despise the hand of indolence, though it may be as white as the lily of the field, and as soft as the head with which it is connected. This labor, when prompted by the pure and pervading motive of supporting a loving wife, educating affectionate children, and contributing to the social and religious institutions of the times, rises to the high dignity of a moral and Christian virtue.
It may likewise be said, without disparagement to other employ- ments, that the labor of the husbandman is the basis of a nation's wealth ; for without it, the merchants and the banks would all fail, and the literary and professional men would all starve.
I love the country and its various pursuits. How often have I longed, when visiting the ancestral mansion, where I first drew my breath, to return to the paternal acres, to partake of the rural repast, under the branches of the wide spreading elin ; to drink water, fresh
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and cool, from the " old oaken bucket ;" and to join in the merry song of " harvest home !"
A generation has passed, since I bade farewell to my residence in this town. I now behold those of my companions, who like myself, were then playful, beardless boys, now, with the staid and grave de- meanor of manhood, filling the seats and occupying the stations of their fathers. The fatliers, where are they ? Alas! they have gone to their final account, and to their lasting home. But, thanks to Heaven ! they have left us the imperishable inheritance of their vir- tues. May we bequeath to our children, and they in turn to theirs, as goodly a name, and as fair a fame, as our ancestors have be- queathed to us; so that our posterity, who may join in the second Centennial Celebration of this town, may have as good reason to hal- low our memories, as we have had to hiallow the memories of those, who have gone before us.
Permit me, Mr. President, once more to express my heartfelt at- tachment to the good old town of Wilton. I call her old, for it must be allowed, that, as she has attained her hundredth year, she is now well out of her teens, and well out of her minority. May she ever possess, as now, that regard for order, that love of learning and re- ligion, and all those other virtues, which so well become her age, her character, and her station. She will thus be an example, worthy of imitation to her younger sisters of the Granite State, and throughout the land.
In conclusion, sir, I offer you a brief sentiment, which, I trust, will find a response in the heart of every one who hears me.
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Our recollections of the beloved, the honored, the lamented Abbot .- The memo- ry of the just and good will never perish.
3d Toast. The White Pine Trees, which his Majesty, in the town charter, reserved " for the use of his royal navy." -- The people of Wilton know how to make a better use of them, by applying them - not for the destruction of life - but to promote its comforts.
Original Song, by MISS SARAH W. LIVERMORE, sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle, by S. K. Livermore, Esq., of Milford.
This town was all a forest deep,
One hundred years ago, sir ;
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The vales were low, the hills were steep,
And rivers wander'd thro', sir.
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Afew brave men, a pilgrim band, Sought this far-off location,- They saw it was a goodly land, And here they fix'd their station. Chorus-Yankee Doodle, here's the place, Yankee Doodle dandy, We like the right old-fashion'd ways, They are so good and handy.
From time to time the settlers came, And many a spot was built on ; At length the town must have a name, And so they call'd it Wilton. Now wake the harp, and tune the lyre, To sing of ancient days, sir ; This rural theme the song inspire To sound old Wilton's praise, sir. Chorus-Yankee Doodle, &c.
Those good old days our fathers saw, Has fashion strangely alter'd ; From customs good, which then were law, How many widely falter'd ; The aged now remember when, All country folks must labor, And all who lived around were then, To all, a friend and neighbor. Chorus-Yankee Doodle, this was right, Yankee Doodle dandy, It help'd to make the labor light, When neighbors were so handy.
In homespun were the people drest, Of woollen, tow, or linen ; Their Sunday suits, which were the best, Were neatly made by women. And women then could wash and bake, And also were good spinners ; The maids could ply the hoe and rake, While matrons cook'd the dinners. Chorus-Yankee Doodle, &c.
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No draught from China's sultry land, At morning meals was seen, sir ; The black cow* gave a beverage bland, Few drank tea, black or green, sir ; And coffee was not tasted then, To make their cares seem lighter,
Altho', 'tis true, that most good men Thoughit rum would make them brighter. Chorus-Yankee Doodle, here we meet, Yankee Doodle dandy, With goodly cheer our friends to greet, But not with rum and brandy.
Our fathers raised a house of prayer, When few there were to build it, And every Sabbath, foul or fair, The people nobly fill'd it ; To meeting went, both young and old, "T was then but little trouble,
For none would keep a horse, we're told, That could not carry double. Chorus-Yankee Doodle, &c.
So all on horseback then did ride, Unless they went by sledding,t And e'en the bridegroom and the bride Rode double to the wedding .¿ And though the girls, we're told 't is true, Could not then dance cotillons, We know that all the country through, They used to ride on pillions. Chorus-Yankee Doodle, all could dance, Yankee Doodle dandy, No master then was brought from France, To make them skip more handy.
* Black Cow .- The milk of the black cow was a quaint name for bean-porridge. t Sledding .- Sleighs were not in use ; people rode to meeting in winter on sleds.
# Wedding .- It was the custom for the bride to ride to the minister's behind the bridegroom to have the ceremony performed.
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And now the times, we say, improve, And learning is more plenty ; At railroad pace the people move, And when they're five and twenty, They've gone the rounds of learned lore - Are fit for any station - Then quickly pass, are seen no more, And thus goes on the nation. Chorus-Yankee Doodle, &c.
This season be a land-mark strong, To guide us on our way, sir, And as we pass through life along, Let us not go astray, sir ; To good old days we'll bid adieu, And so we'll travel on, sir ; We'll wish for all, good hearts and true, And will wind up our song, sir. Chorus-Yankee Doodle, let us sing, Yankee Doodle dandy ; Old time is ever on the wing, Improve it while it's handy.
4th Toast. The State of Maine .- The fostering mother of many sons of Wil- ton,-prosperity attend them in their adopted home.
WILLIAM ABBOT, EsQ. of Bangor, Me. responded ; -
I thank you, Mr. President, for the kind manner in which you have welcomed those natives of Wilton, who have come from the State of Maine, to unite in the greetings and pleasures of this interesting occasion. The welcome is received by me, and, I doubt not, by all who are embraced in it, in the same spirit with which it is given ; and it adds another link to the chain which binds us to our beloved and native home. After long absence it is pleasant to revisit the scenes of our youth ; and that pleasure is greatly enhanced by the cordial reception of our friends, from whom we have been so long separated. The delight we feel in renewing our acquaintance with these scenes, can scarcely be realized by those who have always re- mained on their native soil, and to whom these scenes have become familiar. The lofty mountains which surround this town, and the
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streams which run through its valleys made, indeed, a strong im- pression on my youthful mind ; but it was not until after long absence, that I fully felt the beauty and grandeur of its scenery. Now I per- ceive something peculiarly interesting in the views presented fromn the hills, whence we see cultivated farins, as they rise gradually fromn the rivers flowing through the valleys, until they reach the tops of the mountains, in the surrounding towns. The grand outlines re- main faithful to my memory ; while the hand of labor and taste have filled up the picture with well-cultivated farms and convenient dwell- ing houses ; so that nature and art have combined to make Wilton one of the most picturesque and beautiful towns in the State.
Agriculture is, and will probably forever continue to be, the prin- cipal employment of the inhabitants of this town. No wise man can desire to have it otherwise. There is no business better calcu- lated to develope the physical, the moral and intellectual man than agriculture ; nor is there any which affords more pure and rational satisfaction to the mind. There has, indeed, existed, and perhaps there still exists, a foolish prejudice against those employments which are carried on by manual labor, and particularly agriculture. This has arisen from the idea which has prevailed, that education was not necessary for a farmer. But this erroneous notion is wearing away, and with it the prejudice against the business of a farmer. As the community becomes more enlightened, man is regarded according to the qualities of his heart and his intellectual cultivation, and not his profession or employment. Let the farmer be thoroughly educated, and let him be properly instructed in the art of agriculture, and pur- sue his business with intelligence and industry, and the labor of the husbandman will be no longer despised.
If any one profession or business is more respectable than another, agriculture may lay claim to it. 'The first employment of man was the cultivation of the ground ; and this was conferred upon him by God, who created him in his own image. Agriculture, therefore, can never be justly considered as less respectable in itself than any other calling. Adam was employed in tilling the ground, and Eve was made a help-meet for him. Let not the fair daughters of Eve despise their employments ; but let them consider it high praise to be qualified to perform their duty, in whatever situation they may happen to be placed.
A century has elapsed since the first settlement of this town. What has been done by our fathers and by ourselves during this
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period, now closed, is the property of the historian. No act, which has been performed can now be altered, but must remain, for good or for evil, forever. But the future is within our control. May we pursue the good and the true, in such manner, that when at the end of the present century, those who come after us shall unite in a celebration similar to the present, they may be justified in bestowing upon us, as high praise, as that which we now award to our an- cestors.
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