USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Reading > Centennial celebration, together with an historical sketch of Reading, Windsor County, Vermont, and its inhabitants from the first settlement of the town to 1874 > Part 4
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bet his white mare that he could go blindfold to it; all three went but failed to find it; after a seven days' wonder, Benoni Buck Esq., found it and marked the trees around it; afterwards he was there and found the marked trees, but lo, the stone was gone! this proved that diabolus had a hand in it, and that the stone was the sentinel to guard a hidden treasure; after making assurance doubly sure, by other efforts and experiments they determined that the sentinel was occasionally relieved from duty like others of that profession.
Elisha Smith who was a son of Vulcan of Pucker Street, a son- in-law of the prophet on Tattle Street, and withal deeply versed in magic and sorcery, ciphered out the problem and determined that steel placed on the bark of the sentinel would dissolve the charm and render the treasure available. He went there, put his old Barlow knife on the stone, and left; he soon looked back, as did Lot's wife, and saw a headless man in hot pursuit, with the knife in his hand, telling him to take it back; how he could talk without a head is a mystery to this degenerate generation, but he took it back, and returned to the manufacture of jews harps.
The question being then thus doubly settled, diggings were from time to time prosecuted to find the treasure, and respectable men were engaged in it for a long time; and at last by one ebony son of Africa, who had a magic ball suspended from a silken cord, which through magical attraction indicated the direction of the treasure by swinging towards it.
No word was spoken while digging, lest it should frighten the treasure and it should depart ; with all these cautions they failed, but made a large excavation, large enough now, to bury half this assembly in.
A like deposit was supposed to be made on the Jo. Morse farm, and still another in the hill east of Solomon Keyes', but old Nick holds the whole, even unto this day, showing that
"The best laid scheme o' mice an' men Gang aft agley."
The first practicing attorney here was Titus Brown, in 1816, fterwards member of Congress from N. H., after him, Crocker, William Watkins, Uriel C. Hatch, Josiah Q. Hawkins and G. A. Davis.
The second physician was Woodbury Marcy, a small man, who as called Dr. Bulky; he was tried for burning the meeting house uly 4, 1810, and acquitted to the manifest chagrin of the inhab- ants.
When Deacon Weld first came to Reading in 1778, he procured ›rage for his small stock, from Beaver Meadow, on M. E. God- ard's farm.
Mrs. Dr. Whiting and Mrs. Abiah Rice are supposed to be the vo oldest persons who ever died in town.
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Alvin Hatch aged eighty-six, and Mrs. Nancy Keyes Goddard, eighty-five, are the two oldest persons living in town who were born here.
Joseph Call was said to be the strongest man who ever lived in town which was no small compliment, considering the muscle of the men of his time.
Many regrets are indulged in at the steady dimunition of the population of this town which is over 600 in the last half century, and all but the true reason therefor is assigned; when boys were regarded worth $1000 and girls $500 each, they were profitable stock to raise ; but now they are regarded as an expense to about the same amount.
Where are your families now, like Reuben Rist's of eighteen children, Maj. Wm. Townshend's of seventeen, Benj. Hathorn's and Jas. Robinson's fourteen each, John Hewlett's and Mr. Pope's of thirteen each, with numerous others, of eight and above, and few below ? With ample means to support families, with fathers and mothers enough, where are the babies ?
Large families are out of fashion ; and if this continues to rule we must look to a foreign market for a supply ; the Emerald Isle will be our hatching ground, and "The Glorious Green Mountain Boys" will mostly be born in Ireland.
I do not propose to attend your second Centennial, and will therefore take my final leave of the subject, with thanks for your kind attention.
Honestus Stearns Esq., read the following original poem. He has since its delivery added verses so as to make the whole number one hundred, and published the same in a neat pamphlet.
A POEM .- BY H. STEARNS.
Hail! sacred dny, soon numbered with the past, Day to recount a century's hopes and fears ; Time, on his viewless wings, proclaims at last The consummation of a hundred years.
Since Andrew Spear first settled in this town, Upon the slope of yonder northern hill, In lofty gra deur forest branches frowned, . Bidding defiance, e'en to an iron will.
In a low cabin, on the rising ground,
Hard by a bubbling spring nud lone wood road ; Contentment there a residence has found, And wedded love, a humble, rude abode.
High expectations banished every fear; In summer shade beneath those grand old elms, Plain sustenance served up with smiling cheer, Gave health and strength to conquer nature's realms.
Lond rings the axe, redoubling strokes on strokes, The groaning thickets echo back the sound ;
On all sides round, the hemlocks and the oaks, Fall, tumbling headlong, crashing to the ground.
Ambitions still with firm and dauntless breast, They ply the torch to dry and withered leaves ;
The flames, uproarious, vonch to do the rest, And blackening embers site the place of trees.
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And in due time the cereals appear, And waving grain inspires them with delight, Where wildwood gloom reigned o'er the former year, Lent deeper blackness to the moonless night.
Cold, cheerless winter now comes on apace, The wind-gods frown from off the murky sky; Dull, dark forebodings stare them in the face, Perhaps in this wild home they're left to die.
Cold! bitter cold, the frost-king bears the palm ; The maddening winds howl dismal o'er the lea ; The piled-up snow-drifts lend a doleful charm; The blazing hearth alone can comfort thee.
But like the snow-flakes, glistening in the sun, Hope scintillating bore them on their way ; The snow, and blast, and sleet. their race had run, And opening spring brings on a better day.
Events of general interest, we recall, Within the period now in our review, Pertaining to our state, so much enthralled By double claimants, and a warlike crew.
Heroic Allen with the birchen seal, Dispersed the Yorkers, Minions of the crown; And held at bay a tyrant's iron heel, This sovereign state shall ne'er be trampled down.
The mind of Adams, towering to the sky, In tones of thunder that a tyrant smote, Proclaimed to live, to sink or swim, or even die; I, for the Declaration, give my vote .*
That great point settled, patriotic zeal Thrilled every worthy heart in this broad land; For fires of freedom and their country's weal, They leave their homes to join the patriotic band .
One heart, one mind, one purpose to be free, Repel the invaders from their sacred soil; The foe o'ercome at length were pressed to flee, Or stay with us as partners of our toil.
The dawning prospects of the news of peace, Brought to our borders, troubled not with fears, Jolın Weld, with others, sought now to increase The numbers of those hardy pioneers.
The sylvan shades, the hill-tops ever green, Sequestered nooks where laughing streamlets play, The balmy air and sparkling springs were seen, Whose cooling waters bade the traveler stay.
Some luxuries, too, not slighted in our time, The sacharine juices of the maple grove, The darting trout, the angler's hook and line Drew forth for rich repast and feast of love.
These social joys invitingly set fortlı, Enhanced the prospect of our little town, And numerous were the men of solid worth, Who, settling in our borders, won renown.
Intelligence, the blessing of our race, Demands a school-house of their scanty means : The record stands- we read it in its place, Assessed so many pecks of rye and quarts of beans.
John Adams' speech in the Continental Congress in favor of the Declaration of Independente
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From some bare hill-top you can now behold The landscape, dotted with more numerous farms, The burning slashes, brighter scenes unfold, The curling smoke rolls up, enchanting charms.
Some wore the homespun garb of frugal care, While others lived beyond their proper means;
Thus. in their wake, distraints, were nothing rare, And executions on their lands were seen.
" Let not ambition mock their useful toil, Their homely joys and destiny obscure, Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile, The short and simple annals of the poor."
For some ambitions of the lettered field, Essayed the depths of human ken to scan ; Their genius rose above them as a shield, And going forth became distinguished men.
And now to change the order of our lays, Our numbers prone to dwell on the long past ; Seek contemplations on more modern days, Though prospects may with clouds be overcast.
The old church on the hill with lofty spires, The place of song and penitential tears ; Time honored gift from our departed sires, Falls crashing down beneath the weight of years.
The farms, once fertile on the western glebe, Where once resounds the joyful harvest home; Abandoned now for Hocks and herds to feed, The dwellings razed, e'en to the old hearth stone
In dire disaster we have borne our share, Both fires and Hoods have devastation spread ; It might been worse, therefore, in grateful prayer, We'll render thanks that we're not with the dead.
A damning blot upon our country's fame, Plunged us in war and fratricidal strife, One noble boys sustained their goodly name, And many a son laid down his precious life.
Arıns on armor, clashing in the fray, Led by their Hag, rebellion to abhor; Onward to death ! they rode to win the day, Midst braying discords of the din of war.
Our slave-stained shield, washed bright with human gore Survivors seck their own dear native bowers ; the thunders hushed and quiet as of yore, Established peace and victory was onrs.
Now peace and plenty everywhere abound, These blessings rare should never be despised ; Bright visions of the future ali abound, Beam brightly forth, we read them in your eyes .
Our institutions, permanent and great, Shall live through time's all devastating flight, Un destiny our glorions ship of state, Sails proudly forth, a shining, blazing light.
And in the cycle of these rolling years, The ebb and flow of fortune is our lot ; ''is hoped u cloudless sky will banish fears, And "Auld acquaintance" never be forgot.
Thus we review a century of the past, We feel to say our pleasant task is done, The dawning future speeds you down at last, The dark, dim vista, of a hundred years to come.
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Rev. Samuel A. Davis, of Hartford, Conn., a native of Reading, who has attained an enviable reputation as a Clergyman of the Uni- versalist denomination of Christians, appeared upon the platform, by invitation, and made an acceptable speech. Owing to the late- ness of the hour, and the large number of speakers, he omitted a large part of what he intended to say. The following is the sub- stance of his remarks :
Mr. President and Friends-It is not an easy task to make an after dinner speech, especially after such a dinner as the ladies of Reading, have prepared for the natives of the town, assembled on this occasion. Some one has said that an after dinner speech should be full of fun, that it may help settle the dinner. Now it would be hardly proper for me, a minister, to say funny things to make the people laugh, on this occasion, as the ministers and people of a hundred years ago, thought it a sin to be merry. Besides which, I am one of the sad kind, the initials of my name being all S. A. D. But I am reminded that I must be brief. My invitation to speak here said distinctly, a brief speech; now this word brief is not very definite when applied to a speech, but as it came from a law- yer I suppose I may give it a lawyer's definition ; so if any one of you know just how long a lawyer's "brief" is, you may know just how long I am permitted to speak. But I will not take advantage of the "lawyer's brief," as I feel that I should not occupy much of the time of this blessed day. It gives me great pleasure, friends, to meet you-to meet so many friends of my youth on this hun- dredth birth day of our native town. Though nearly forty years have passed since the last of my father's family left the town, I have ever retained pleasant memories of my earliest home. I am thankful to the citizens of Reading for the invitation to come to this reunion of old friends. It was a happy thought to celebrate this anniversary. It is an event to be remembered during the remainder of our lives. Many are here to-day, who, perhaps would never have seen their native town again but for this celebration. The occasion brings up many reminiscences of the past-memorie of old scenes and old friends crowd upon us to-day. Some are sad, but many are joyous memories, and we are all glad to be here. Many who are not with us to-day in person are with us in spirit, their hearts and sympathies are with us on this joyous occasion, I know, for none ever forget the home of their childhood. A poet has well expressed the feelings of many hearts:
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"The sad wanderer in a foreign land Gazes at night on other stars than those Which blest his boyhood's eyes; hears other sounds Than those of home-yet feels within his heart, That the same God is over all; and there, Upon the soil his kindred never pressed, He prays for blessings on his far off home."
And friends, I believe many are with us here to-day whom we do not sec-our fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, and many loved ones who have fallen by our side along life's journey-yea, all the
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early settlers of the town. Yes, I believe they are all here to-day. sympathizing and rejoicing with us on this festive occasion.
The changes in the town are not striking, to those who have re- turned after a long absence, except in the people-many of our friends have passed away, and others from whom we parted in youth, arenow silvered with the frosts of age. This reminds me that we are all growing old, and as seems appropriate to this thought, I close with the following poem:
GROWING OLD.
We are growing old-how the thought will rise When a glance is backward cast, On some long remembered spot that lies In the silence of the past. It may be the shrine of our early vows, Or the tomb of early tears; But it seems like a far off isle to us, In the stormy sea of years ;
O wide and wild are the waves that part Our steps from its greenness now, And we miss the joy of many a heart, And the light of many a brow; For deep o'er many a stately bark, Have the whelming billows rolled ;
They steered with us from that early mark, Oh! friends, we are growing old.
Old in the dimness and the dust Of our daily toils and cares, Old in the wrecks of love and trust Which our burdened memory bears. Each form may wear to the passing gaze, The bloom of life's freshness yet, And beams may brighten our latter days, Which the morning never met.
But oh! the changes we have seen, In the far and winding way ; The graves in our path which have grown green, And the locks that have grown gray ; The winters still on our own may spare The sable and the gold ; But we've seen the snows upon brighter hair, And friends, we are growing old.
MR. IDE'S SPEECH.
Simeon Ide Esq. of Claremont, N. H., the veteran printer, pub- lisher and editor, made the following speech :
MR. PRESIDENT :- I was taken somewhat by surprise by the announcement that my name was on your committee's programme, as one of the speakers. I am no public speaker, and never have been. But, with your permission, I will read to you a little of " what I know about" a few of the early settlers of Reading.
About twenty-five years after the first tree was felled in town, with the view to a permanent "clearing," I was brought here, as tradition has it, a helpless infant-and it is due to the memory of its first settlers, that in this connection I acknowledge my indebted- ness to them-to their early erection of school-houses, and their
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excellent teachers, (who didn't scruple to secure perfect order and subordination among their boys by a liberal use of the rod, when necessary) for nearly all the school instruction I ever enjoyed. We all know it was a matter of conscience with the hardy pioneers who laid low the forests, and subdued the rugged soil of this Green Mountain State, that School-Houses should every where spring up among them, simultaneously with their own private dwellings. To this wise provision of its first settlers, not only Vermont, but the nation at large, is indebted for the many distinguished patriots, jurists and statesmen, who have wandered from her fold in early life, and who first inhaled her vital air, and received the rudiments of their education, in her common schools.
Nor were they wholly unmindful of the importance of religious instruction. I have a pretty distinct recollection of being taken to Old Deacon Wells' barn, one Sunday in the summer of 1798, (I think it was) where were assembled a respectable congregation of men, women and children for public worship. This was in the Sawyer district, in the westerly part of the town. My impression is that the barn was a framed building, and the house was built of logs-and that the first settlement in town was made here by the predecessor of Dea. Wells. My recollection is not very distinct as to the teachings of the sermon-but of the no less important particulars I am confident-the demeanor of the assembly was do- vout, and the number small of those who went there to show off fine clothes and rich jewelry.
About seventy years ago my father, a poor mechanic, moved from another part of the town into what was then, and is perhaps now known as the " Sawyer District" He had a wife and four children to provide for. Through a series of misfortunes he had become somewhat disheartened. At this critical juncture he was taken by the hand and aided in the purchase of a small lot and tenement, by one of the Sawyers, whom we children were allowed familiarly to designate as our " Uncle John." By this generous and unsolicited assistance my father was encouraged to put forth redoubled efforts in providing for his family ; and, my friends, per- mit me to add, sacred was and is the memory of Uncle John in the hearts and affections of father, mother and children of that family.
I need not tell all my brother townsmen here present, for some of you know it already, that such a neighborhood and community as the Sawyer School District is not to be found everywhere, now- a-days. In those times of primitive simplicity, we were virtually but ONE FAMILY, so far as the wants of the sick and needy, and the happiness of every member was dependent on the kind offices and sympathy of each one for the others.
MY FELLOW-TOWNSMEN, FRIENDS AND BRETHREN : Although sixty-three years have passed since, in any strict sense, I ceased to sustain this relation to any of you, yet, for the purpose of our present re-union we meet to revive and enjoy for a time this en-
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dearing relation. I have not words to express the pleasure it has given me to take by the hand, once more, some of the companions of my early childhood. True it is, this lapse of sixty-three years since I left the shelter of the paternal roof, and entered an ap- prentice to the " Art of all Arts," has greatly thinned the ranks of my boyish associates. But a few of them still linger, with me, this side that "bourne from whence no traveler returns," to enjoy the pleasure of re-visiting those rural localities which recall to mind so many associations, scenes and incidents of early life. But not longer, with those personal reminiscences, to detain my friends from a more sumptuous repast before them, I will propose-
The Sawyer School District-A model Community of the Early Times : May its sons and daughters, who are now settled, or who propose to settle, in new and formative regions, re-construct many others like it, and live long to enjoy the fruit of their labors.
Short speeches were made by the following gentlemen :
Mr. F. G. Weld, of Greenfield, Wis., a grandson of John Weld, one of the first settlers of the town then spoke, telling about his journey to Wisconsin, occupying a whole summer, and his return, upon hearing of this meeting, but two days. He spoke particular- ly of Vermont as a good place to raise men.
John L. Buck, Esq., an attorney at law, of Lockport, N. Y., spoke of his having been born upon a hill in the west part of Reading one cold night in the year 1802; expressed the anxiety he had felt to be present upon that occasion, and told some stories of the old settlers.
Hon. Julius Converse, of Woodstock, Vt., ( since Governor of Vermont, ) was introduced and was received with hearty applause. He said there were many "natives" who could speak to better acceptation than he, and with some pleasant and humorous remarks, excused himself.
Ex. Governor Ryland Fletcher, made one of those short, stirring, humorous speeches for which he is so justly famous, and which greatly pleased the audience.
A short speech by Hon. B. H. Steele of Hartland, Vt., was fol- lowed by the Rev. Horace Herrick of Wolcott, Vt., who though not a "native" chose an excellent and accomplished wife from among the "natives." He mentioned that the town had sent out eiglit clergymen, eleven lawyers, six or seven doctors, besides edit- ors and prominent business men.
Calvin L. Robinson Esq. of Jacksonville, Fla., was announced to speak, but being unable to be present, sent the annexed letter.
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LETTER FROM C. L. ROBINSON.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA., Aug. 22d, 1872.
Merritt E. Goddard, Esq. South Reading, Vt.
MY DEAR SIR :- It is with great regret that I find, at the last mo- ment, that I must relinquish my purpose of being with you at the Centennial Celebration of the settlement of our native town. Pro- fessional duties which cannot be neglected have frustrated a hope that I had entertained up to the present time, that I should still be able to join you on that most interesting occasion ; and I now write to assure you, and the friends who meet on that day, of my hearty interest in the purposes of the gathering, and to tender my most cordial greeting.
Permit me also to assure you that I feel the loss of the pleasure I had anticipated in this gathering, to be a great disappointment ; first, because it is always a great pleasure to me, at any time, to visit the scenes of my early life and to breathe once more the pure, bracing air of my beloved native mountains. How often during the stormy life it has been my fortune, for the most part, to lead-when worn and exhausted by crowding labors and heavy cares, have I gone to those quiet hills and breathed again my native air, and sat again at my mother's table and drank again from the same old spring which invigorated my early years-did strength and vigor speedily re- turn and with, as it were, a new lease of life, have I returned to battle with the world once more.
But I had hoped to be with you at this great gathering of the sons and daughters of old Reading, that I might look again on the faces of the friends of my early life, and renew acquaintances and associations the remembrance of which have been a living pleasure through all the maturer years of my life.
Yet the chief interest and pleasure of that day will arise from the historical incidents and associations which will so naturally come forth from the years gone by to fill up the moments and bless that rare occasion. The recital of these, the recollection of the sacrifices and the struggles of our fathers in the early time, the comparison of the social and material condition of the people at the different periods of the country, noting the progress of society, the improvements in the arts and in the comforts which the cour- age and labor of our ancestors have secured to us, the physical vigor and moral courage and uprightness which we have inherited From them, and gathering from these all the great lessons of duty and charity which they will so forcibly teach-will make the day in event of such abounding profit and pleasure as it is not often our fortune to enjoy in life.
You will doubtless, on that occasion, observe that the sons of Reading have been moved as by a spirit of missions and you may hote with interest and satisfaction, perhaps, the part they have acted, ind the influence they have exerted in the widely scattered fields n which they have taken up their abode, and you will observe in 6
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them the same spirit of independence and earnestness and the same uprightness of character that prevails among their native hills. The purity of the morals and habits of the people, as well as the purity and vigor of the mountain air, has established in all the sons of Vermont an integrity and strength of character that has always made them leading and valuable citizens wherever their lot has been cast. The first state in the Union in temperance reform, cursed with no large cities as festering centers of vice and indolence, her youth are brought up free from the contamination of these evils and become settled and fixed in habits of virtue and industry before they leave the paternal roof; and wherever you find a Ver- monter, whether amidst the lively scenes of the crude and growing west or the promising but slower going and more unfortunate south, or in the busy marts of the more settled states -- you almost invariably find a man who is making his mark in the world, one who is going for some object, and whose earnest, steady efforts surely win success.
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