USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Lyndeborough > The history of the town of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire,1735-1905 > Part 54
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"Oh, scenes in strong remembrance set ! Scenes never, never to return ! Scenes, if in stupor I forget, Again I feel, again I burn."
Good-bye. I do not want to say any more.
Mr. Woodward. I did not commence my task with an apol- ogy which perhaps I should have made; but it is very dis- agreeable to commence the exercises of any occasion with an apology. But we expected and hoped that His Excellency the Governor would be here to-day, and he gave a partial assurance that he would be here, but he did not come. It would be a very pleasant part of my task were I able to read a letter of regret from him, but I cannot do so for he sent none.
The concluding sentiment of the day is to the first settlers of Lyndeborough. Plain, hardy, intelligent. Contending with the forces of nature, enduring privation, they hewed out for themselves homes, and left for us a legacy of freedom. As the fathers live in their sons, may their sturdy courage and faith be ours. I have the honor and pleasure of introducing to you Mr. Rufus Blanchard of Chicago, Il1., who will respond to this toast. He has acquired a reputation as an author and pub- lisher and is an old son of Lyndeborough.
Mr. Blanchard. Fellow-Citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen : I wish I could call more of you " fellow-citizens," practically, than is possible. When I came here, as I first came over Perham's old hill, I could not help hum- ming to myself that old hymn,
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" Green hills of Tyrol, again I see My home and country so dear to me."
It would not have required any very great stretch of imagination for me to have become convinced in my own mind and to have actually be- lieved that I was to visit my old schoolfellows, and to take a friendly wrestle with them, or, maybe, a regular rough and tumble. But I am sorry to say that the truth dispelled that happy illusion very soon. In- stead of that I found a few grizzly old fellows, just like myself, some younger, some a little older. But as I grasped them by the hand I felt as if I could again take a regular rough and tumble with them. I re- member which of them could lay me on my back, and which I could lay on their backs. But I do not propose to try it now. There is a man that I wrestled with over there now. I never fought with him in the world. But I could pick out some that I have fought with, though I do not see any now. But if I could, I would feel a good deal as the famous artist, Healy, felt; he is the artist who painted the presidents of the United States, the greatest artist in the world to-day. I met him at one time with one of his old friends from Boston and had the honor to be intro- duced to him; and from the conversation that he had with the gentle- man, Mr. Higginson, I was led to say, " Why, you must be old friends ?'' " Oh, yes," he said, " we threw brick-bats at each other on the streets of Boston, when boys."
So began a life-long friendship. I felt something like that when I came to greet my old friends here. If we didn't throw brick-bats, we pummelled each other well, which was just as good proof of our courage. And we didn't tell our fathers of it, nor our pedagogues, nor our "school- marms." If we had, we would have got a second dose from Dr. Birch. It is right for boys to fight, rather than submit to degredation. It was the same spirit which actuated nineteen men to enlist in the revolution- ary war from our old town.
But, O Mercy ! don't let me make you a speech ! The thing has gone too far already. Everything that has been said has been good, but it is too late to make any more speeches. Therefore I will just read you a little sentiment that I felt impressed to utter, and I wrote it out because I couldn't help it. (The speaker then read a short poem.)
I thank you, my friends, for allowing me to greet you face to face. And if I have failed to respond to that beautiful, that laconic sentiment that was allotted me, you cannot doubt that it has been most ably re- sponded to already ; and you will excuse this as a light dessert, - not a heavy dessert, like a piece of mince pie, but the lightest dessert you could eat after a meal of solid meats. We will call it a roast apple.
Mr. Woodward. Mr. Chairman, that concludes the part which was assigned to me.
President Grant. I have been requested to state that on Thursday, the 12th day of this month, the scion of Lynde- borough which drew off a part of Salem-Canada, proposes, from what we have done here to-day, to see what it can do. Boys are apt, if their parents have done something big, to see
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if they cannot do something bigger. The people of Wilton propose to hold a celebration on the 12th day of the present month, and they invite all who are present at Lyndeborough to-day to come down and see them.
This meeting now stands adjourned for fifty years, and as many of you as possible are requested to come then.
In conclusion : The following poem, written by Dr. Israel Herrick in 1858, was not read on this occasion; but as it doubt- less would have been if it had been available, it is inserted here without apology : -
SCRAPS ABOUT LYNDEBOROUGH.
Our town is a regular crescent-like swell,
Made up of mountain, and hill, and dell, With here and there a small level spot, Sufficient to build a snug, humble cot, A barn and a shed, with a yard for the kine,
A coop for the hens, and a pen for the swine.
The surface is stony, and hard, and rough, The tilling of which is toilsome and tough, Discounting to man and beast his food, If only the proper labor is made, With plow and harrow, shovel and spade,
Crowbar, bush-hook, axe and hoe, Laid on smart by a freeman's blow. Our ancient domain was ample and bold, Such as yeomen delight to purchase and hold, And build up a home for themselves and the brood Very soon to come forth, for the great public good. Thirty-six square miles, with a southern decline, Well timbered and watered, with prospect sublime, Was the price paid King,* with his bold soldier clan, To hunt and shoot down his red fellow-man, And Frenchmen to boot ; 'twas a sov'reign say, And flunkeys, as now, were quite sure to obey. But this goodly grant was soon to be marred By godly neighbors, and hackled and scarred, That they might enlarge their scanty dominions And gratify will, as well as opinions. First, Wilton came in for a two-mile slice To make up a town, so snug and so nice, With Masonian lands, which they had on hand, And then take a notable public stand. Next Temple presented a Blood-yt request, And after contention, 'twas thought to be best To let them take off a three-cornered bite,
* Capt. Samuel King. See pp. 21-25 .- ED.
t The late General Blood, with his well-known shrewdness, got up a petition, put it through the Legislature, and procured the grant.
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And keep it, rather than quarrel and fight. Next Greenfield requested a rather large strip, To make up a town with their barren old slip. And rather than see them look meager and sullen, And get their subsistence from sorrel and mullen, We granted their prayer, as is plain to be seen, And let them have lands that looked healthy and green. Frances-town next craved a very small bit, To make her phylacteries come snug to a fit, And give her proportion, as plump and as fair As the maiden* whose name they so cheerfully bear. Mont Vernon came last [and got what she wanted. ]
*
* * ** * * *
Thus we have been pinched and hackled all raw. Which leaves us in shape of a circular saw With a piece broken off ; and yet we are here, And keep on our course in hope, without fear. With this slight digression, we'll pick up our traps, And hasten along with the rest of our scraps. Our streams of water are nothing but rills, Greatly deficient for driving of mills, Except when swollen by showers or thaws, And then you may hear the clatter of saws Cutting up lumber- yea, fingers and paws ; Yet not a spoonful of meal's to be had, Though hens, ducks and turkeys - yea, women - run mad, And cackle and scold, quack, gobble and squall, For grain can't be ground, the streams are so small. Churches we've two, and preachers the same, Where sinner and saint, the blind, halt and lame May go and get good to their souls, if they will, And learn to avoid the eternal down hill, Where old " Nickey Ben," that famous old rip, Stands ready to give them a crack with his whip. One doctor ! good luck ! now I'm free to engage - Were there none, few would die except of old age. No lawyert save one e'er yet had the pride To think he safely our yeomen could ride ; And he was thrown off with his ill-gotten treasures, To earn his own broth by making peck measures. A full baker's dozen of squires have we, Who serve for the honor, instead of the fee ; But Justice ! bah ! their number's so small, 'Tis safer to say we have just none at all. Schoolhouses we've nine, tho' one at a peep Would surely be taken as sheds for the sheep,
* Frances Deering, wife of Gov. John Wentworth. See Francestown History, p. 39 .- ED t About 45 years ago Esq. E-y opened an office in this place ; had no business, and went to making wooden measures. He was good at that. For in the granaries of many of our careful farmers you may find sets of measures made by this wise lawyer.
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Instead of a place where the tender young mind Should learn to shoot forth, " as the twig is inclin'd." Yet some are now getting the better of self, Believing that mind is quite equal to pelf ; And give, by refitting, those sheds such an air, As makes the whole district with wonder to stare, And two-penny souls half determined to swear. We've a pond of small size, surrounded with bogs, Well stored with leeches, pickerel and frogs, Bull-paddocks, water-snakes, shiners and pouts, Suckers and pollywogs, turtles and trouts - Enough in all conscience to get up a treat For half of the bipeds that come short of meat. We've a town hall, too, of modern cut, Where orators, poets and sporters can strut ; Where lyceums meet, great questions to settle, And brave politicians to show off their mettle ; And singers to sing, and laugh and prattle, And boys to run, and scream, and rattle, As if the imps in the old black pit Were all seized at once with colic or fit. Half a century gone by, or nearly that space, California fever broke out in this place ; By some cantrip slight, the fact had been told, That Scattaquog's* bowels were all filled with gold. So at it they went, to digging and blowing, To carting and wheeling, shov'ling and hoeing, From winter to spring, through summer and fall, And all that they got was just nothing at all. So, many who now are raving for riches, From Mexican hills will return poor as witches, And wish they had staid on their own native soil, To gather their gold by slow, patient toil. The red man free once ranged our hills, To shoot down the deer, or fish in our rills, Little dreaming that he and his blood must give place, With his land and his hut, to a white, selfish race, And turn his sad face to the West for to roam, No more to return to his sweet, native home. Near our speck of a pond was his summer retreat, Where he feasted on fish, if the chase gave no meat, And gathered the grape, the wild pear and cherry, That he with his friends might be joyful and merry. 'Twas here, too, he sickened and died,
And here he was buried, t close down by the side
* The name of the eastern spur of our mountain. About the commencement of the present century a company was organized in this town, through faith in the Divining- rod, to mine for silver. Much time and money were expended for naught. The ex- cavation, though now partly filled up, is plain to be seen.
t In the fall of 1848, as workmen were removing a sand inound at the west end of " Badger " Pond, so called, the bones of an Indian were disinterred. Others may yet
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Of this little pond, and the tall waving trees Sang his requiem, mov'd by the soft western breeze. Fain here would our muse gently cower her wing, Nor 'tempt furthermore to flutter or sing- Yea, fain would avoid the sad task to fulfil ; But oh ! the vile serpent, the " worm of the still." That reptile's been here, with his poisonous breath, Beguiling its victims to premature death ; Gently and softly the heart he coils round, 'Till all the affections forever are bound. Father and mother, fond hearts have been pained To see their loved offspring so foolishly chained ; Sisters have wept for a brother's sad fate, Who fain would avoid, when, alas ! 'twas too late, The place where this reptile was kept to decoy The doom'd one from virtue, honor and joy. Alas ! oh, alas! no tongue can e'er tell The sorrows that flow from this offspring of hell. If once he succeeds in wounding the brain,
The doom'd one will seek him again and again ; Will sacrifice freely companions of youth, Probity, honor, religion and truth - Father and mother, health, children and wife, Sister and brother, yea, e'en his own life. Alas ! he will peril his own precious soul, If he but for once can quaff from the bowl The poisonous liquid so sure for to kill, That comes from that reptile, the " worm of the still." Our muse is a blundering, careless old jade ; The fact is, she never yet half learn'd the trade.
What should have come first is left until now - We hope the fair ladies won't scowl up their brow ;
We have lots of them here - some young and some old ; Some handsome, some homely, some modest, some bold.
They all are adopting the odd modern plan, When dress'd, to resemble a broad, open fan, Or rather a tunnel, with generous crop
At the nose, and a something stuck on near the top. Some want to get married, some say they do not, But this is a fib I will wager a grot. Not want to get married ! I'd just as soon think A miser would flee from the rattle of chink ; Or our little pond, with all its live stock, Should start up the mountain, to take a short walk.
Live single ! when widowers, bachelors and beaux Stand ready and fix'd, in their best Sunday clothes, To give them a call and make quite a stop,
rest there. The first settlers of this town found around this pond many domestic and other implements of Indian construction. There is no evidence that they ever made this region a permanent residence, but very probably it was a favorite hunting-ground.
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Yea, e'en to hitch up, and the question to pop? Not want to get married ! 'tis all fudge and feign, They just kind o' say so, their object to gain, And then, oh, " by cracky!" they'll put on the clips, And make ye stand round like a basket of chips. Yet some are more honest, are willing to own That going through life's crooked path all alone Was never designed in Nature's great plan To be the sad lot of woman or man. And so they are willing to join in and go Through Time's little journey of sorrow and woe With him they have promis'd to love from the heart, Till death the fond union asunder shall part. Then ho ! ye single old scissors, don't cry!
But lift up your heads- your redemption is nigh ;
Another good half you can get, without fail, And then cut like something, - so here ends our TALE.
THE LAFAYETTE ARTILLERY COMPANY'S CENTENNIAL CELE- BRATION, SEPTEMBER 9th, 1904.
BY REV. D. DONOVAN.
A century of continuous existence is not a trivial matter to either a man or a military organization. A review of the great changes in our situation and in that of our familiar friends, in that of our country, and especially its relations with other coun- tries, the " battles, sieges, fortunes " we have passed through, even within the bounds of half a century, cannot fail deeply to impress us. But if the occurrences of half a century affect us deeply, how much more those of a full century. It was only appropriate then that the Lafayette Artillery and the town in which they had flourished for more than two-thirds of a cen- tury, should seek to celebrate worthily the centennial of their organization.
To this end, the town at its meeting in March, 1904, voted to observe Old Home Day, and appropriated two hundred dollars to expend for this object, and also appointed a committee of ar- rangements to carry out its vote.
The Lafayette Artillery also appointed a committee to make suitable arrangements for the celebration of their one-hun- dredth anniversary.
The two committees above named united in deciding to com- bine both the celebrations into one. The committee chosen for the celebration of Old Home day were : -
Fred A. Richardson Charles L. Perham F. B. Richards
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The Lafayette Artillery's committee were : -
Capt. Andy Holt Lieut. Edward Ross Walter S. Tarbell
Charles L. Perham Fred Moore
It was understood at the outset that the Artillery Co. were, most appropriately, to have the chief place in the day's doings. Consequently, the main part of the work in making the ar- rangements devolved on their committee. This took the lead and had the principal oversight of the whole. It appointed the following sub-committees : --
Grounds .- J. A. Blanchard, C. L. Perham, Jos. A. Johnson.
Speakers and Exercises .- Capt. Andy Holt, Jacob A. Woodward.
Decorations .- Lieut. Edward Ross, chairman.
Invitations .- Chas. H. Tarbell, Capt. Andy Holt, Jacob A. Woodward. Salutes .- A. S. Conant and members of the gun squad.
Music .- Lieut. Fred Holt, Roy N. Putnam, Jason Holt.
Dinner .- W. S. Tarbell, A. W. Putnam, Charles H. Tarbell.
Transportation .- Fred Moore, John C. Carkin and Edgar A. Danforth.
The committee on music secured the services of the First Regiment Band of Nashua; that for dinner hired the Page Co. of Lowell, Mass., as caterers; and that for transportation se- cured the extra train service from Nashua and way stations for both day and evening.
At the meeting, June 4, 1904, the company voted to request the general committee to prepare a programme to be presented at the next meeting. It was presented as follows : -
Sunrise salute by the gunner's squad Receiving Gov. Bachelder and invited guests by salute Parade of military Band concert Dinner Speaking by the governor and others Dress parade
This program was accepted by the company, subject to amend- ment if necessary.
That the arrangements thus projected were handsomely car- ried through, will be learned from the press reports furnished by the Manchester Union, Sept. 10, 1904, and also from the Mil- ford Cabinet of Sept. 15, 1904. We cite freely from both such portions as suit our purpose :
" Everything connected with the great celebration at South Lyndebor- ough was successfully carried out, and barring the weather, was satisfac- tory and pleasing to everyone, both to those who had the details in charge and those who were the guests of the town and the company for the day. There may have been more people in South Lyndeborough on some
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previous occasion, but it is certain there never was a time when there were so many umbrellas in evidence as on Friday, for it commenced rain- ing early in the morning and there was hardly a cessation until nightfall. This could but be a damper on the outdoor exercises, for the bright sun was necessary to show up to advantage the decorations which were so abundant and so artistically displayed. It was really a remarkable sight to see such a universal decoration. Hardly a house but had its stream- ers and bunting flying. It was a pretty sight as it was, but with the sun's bright rays it would have been most attractive."- Cabinet.
"The celebration began with a salute of twenty-five guns, fired by a gun detachment of the Lafayettes, under the command of Albert S. Conant. The historic brass six-pounder, the only piece in the state service left for use at the outbreak of the civil war, at the sunrise hour boomed out the announcement of the Lafayettes centennial until the entire Pack Monadnock range echoed the message, and the whole countryside knew that New Hampshire had a military company a full 100 years old.
" It was an interesting morning in this village this morning when the whole town and all the neighboring towns were turning out to enjoy the festivities of the Lafayette's anniversary. And it was a pretty picture which the village presented, even in the rain. The Artillery company was resplendent in new uniforms, a special suit combining some of the features of both the regulation artillery and marine pattern, and alto- gether pretty and appropriate for an independent organization. The pic- turesque artillery red was everywhere in evidence, but it was not long before the troopers of the Peterborough cavalry began to appear, and the yellow lining of their capes gave another touch of color to the pretty show. The village itself was a mass of red, white and blue. Artistic decorations were to be seen on every building. No pains had been spared to make the place beautiful, and the decorators found everybody anxious that no gap should be left in the color display."-Union.
"The special train bearing the governor and his party, the First Regi- ment Band from Nashua, the Granite Rifles. from Milford and invited guests from all directions, came about 9.30 o'clock, and the old cannon spoke its welcome to our chief. At 10 o'clock the governor and his staff, Gen. Tolles and members of his staff reviewed the parade from a stand erected in the square. The parade was an altogether creditable one, and consisted of a platoon of police from Nashua, First Regiment Band, Nashua, Troop A Cavalry, Peterborough, Granite Rifles, Milford, Lafay- ette Artillery Co., Lyndeborough."- Cabinet.
" As the Lyndeborough men passed the governor they marched like vet- erans, and their line called out a spontaneous burst of applause from the militia officers, who watched it with critical eyes. An interesting feature of the parade was the historic piece drawn by gaily caparisoned horses and surrounded by a detachment of the older members of the company.
" The parade over, the remainder of the time to the dinner liour was given up to sociability. Captain Davis had a good chance to put his troopers through some manœuvres and gave a half hour's drill, much to the delight of the crowd. Meanwhile the rain had set in again and there was a general scurrying to cover. Citizen's hall was filled with a jolly crowd. Captain Andy Holt's house contained a large company of distin-
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guished guests, and the stores and dwellings of the village were meeting places for large numbers. For a wet day it was as jolly a time as could be imagined. Just to put the finishing touch on the rainy day picture, ' Andy' Drum took his First Infantry Band on Capt. Andy Holt's veranda, and gave a fine concert. Almost everbody was there in a few moments, and the half hour before 'mess call ' was one of the most en- joyable of the day.
"At noon the old gun roared out another salute. The cavalry trump- eters sounded the familiar call to dinner and the troopers marched to the big tent as they do at camp. A quiet, cosmopolitan crowd, men high in political and military circles, militia men, civilians, all sorts of people, sat down to heavily laden tables and enjoyed a pleasant dinner hour, the members of the Lafayette Artillery company acting as waiters."- Union.
The post-prandial exercises consisted of speeches from the dis- tinguished guests, interspersed with music of a sweet, animat- ing and inspiriting character by the band. Mr. Jacob A. Wood- ward presided. The local pastor offered prayer, and after fitting remarks by the president, he introduced Gov. N. J. Batchelder, who spoke with characteristic ease and pleasantry of his many visits to the varied gatherings throughout the state. "But," he said, "among the things that a governor cannot do is to gov- ern the weather to his liking."
He had ordered fair weather for the day, but the council had not confirmed the order. He congratulated the Artillery Co. on the completeness of their arrangements for celebrating so impor- tant an event. He favored occasional retrospect by communi- ties as well as individuals ; and he favored also the tendency in these times to reverence old people, old homes, old organiza- tions; and he believed that the military of a state holds an im- portant place in fostering its patriotism.
Appropriate to these words of our governor, it may be stated that 135 men, who had at some time been members of this com- pany enlisted as soldiers in our civil war.
Congressman Currier followed in complimentary terms, saying that "it was remarkable that a company should retain its organization so many years as this had. A well regulated military company in a community gave a great sense of security." He referred to the part New Hampshire took in the great battles of colonial days, to the work of the Rogers Rangers, to the New Hampshire troops at Bunker Hill and Stark's vic- tory at Bennington .- Cabinet.
[Lyndeborough had the honor of sharing in all these. ]
Ex-Congressman Baker followed with appropriate remarks. Other speakers were Hon. C. H. Burns of Wilton, C. J. Ham- blett of Nashua and J. G. Crawford of Manchester.
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