USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Reading > History of Reading, Windsor County, Vermont. Vol. II > Part 9
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In the college or university, the student will find that after all he must do the work, the studying, the thinking. That is equally true now, as it always has been. When the young man or young woman, from force of circumstances cannot go to college, he or she must gain the knowledge, mental culture and training on the farm, at the fireside, aided by books from the public library and the friendly aid of educated people to be found in every community.
Under the school laws of Vermont, every child is entitled to a high school education either in his own town, or in some near by town with his tuition paid from the public funds. This is his birthright. Parents
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and scholars should not overlook this great provision. There is then, no valid excuse for any Vermont boy or girl, with requisite health, coming to majority without a high school education
With the right of free transportation, distance from the school-house is no excuse. I want every father and mother to understand this. Transport the children to the school, or bring them to some boarding place near the school-house, and pay their board at the public ex- pense. This is a step in advance. Ignorance, then, in Vermont, is almost a crime. Certainly, it is inexcusable.
Some of the greatest men of this Republic have had little more than a common school education. You will readily recall such illustrious names as Henry Clay, An- drew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Justin S. Morrill, William McKinley and a host of others. Let me come nearer home. Only one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Vermont, is a college graduate. Of the present delegation from Vermont in Congress, Senator Dilling- ham and Representative Haskins are in the same list, together with Judge Hoyt H. Wheeler, of the U. S. District Court, and the U. S. District Attorney,
And in the same list, let me place Dwight L. Moody, the famous Evangelist ; Andrew Carnegie, the steel magnate, and the founder of so many public libraries ; Thos. A. Edison, the great scientist and discoverer in electrical appliances, and J. Pierpoint Morgan, who has just given $1,000,000 to Harvard University. Don't misunderstand me. the college graduates have equally honorable records.
The end and aim of all study, whether at the univer- sity or at the fireside, is the strengthening and develop- ing of the intellectual powers.
At the university the boy stands on his own merits. He is tested by frequent examinations, and he is dis- graced, fired or rusticated, sent back home, if he does not do honestly the work required of him.
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So at the Home Circle University, which I advocate, he must be measured and tested by his own honest rules for self measurement. The same results can be ac- complished in either case.
In the great strife of civil life, the questions are, -- What can a man do? What is he capable of? Not whether he has a diploma, or a rich father, or a distin- guished uncle. I gave my son a chance to acquire a uni- versity education, admonishing him that he must im- prove the chance or fail.
The 1039 young men and women who secured di- plomas from Harvard on the 26th day of last June, and the 576 of Yale graduates and the hundreds of others from small colleges, must enter the arena, and win suc- cess on their merits alone.
Abraham Lincoln's equipment was won by honest effort by the light of a pine knot, and in the forensic con- tests of his earliest years, and the political debates of his more mature years, with the great debater, Stephen Douglas, as an opponent.
"In life's earnest battle, they only prevail,
Who ever press forward, and never fail."
After music by the Band, this was followed by an address by Rev. Homer White :-
DEAR FRIENDS-OLD FRIENDS,-I may say, for there are some faces here now grown old which I well remember when they were younger than they are now and when my own hair was not quite so light colored as it is at present. I am happy to be here on this occasion, not that I may indulge in throwing boquets at myself, but that I may share in your pride and pleasure in this beautiful library and help you to do honor to those distinguished sons of Reading-"native and to the manor born," whose names are inscribed on this tablet and whom you all respect. I am myself but an adopted son, but that is honor enough for me.
There are some noble names on this tablet-names
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of men whom I well knew and to whose talents and vir- tues I am able to bear witness. Two of them, Calvin L. Robinson and Frank Robinson were my teachers -- the latter in the old school house here which was then almost a new school house, where I attended when I was sixteen years of age and where in company with some. others, I struggled with Latin and Algebra. These teachers are both now dead. Far from Reading and from these green hills which they loved and whose strength seemed to have entered into their characters, they died-one in the far South, the other in the far West. I would that they might be here today, to utter words befitting this occasion. But though dead they yet speak to us by the examples they left behind them- examples of worthy ambition, energy, painstaking and consequent success.
I am glad and proud to be with you-not proud be- cause I am a college graduate, but proud because my name has been thought worthy to be placed among the names of those more deserving of the honor. Reading honors them because they have honored Reading. It has been left to another adopted son of Reading to per- petuate their names and memories in enduring bronze, and in thus doing honor to true merit, he is unconscious- ly doing honor to himself. But what shall we say of Reading herself, the mother of these "immortals", the mother who bore and nourished them, and trained them for their life-work ?
"Let good old Reading's praise be sung : Her hills and men stand high ; Her noble women, old and young, Content the gazing eye.
Her sons have done her honor high ; Her maids are beauty-crowned ; And where beneath the dome of sky Can fairer homes be found ?
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With past secure, with present fame, Her future let us see
So filled with noble deeds and names, More tablets there will be.
And on them written will appear Some names, now all unknown,
Whose sheen will dim the ones now here Which Reading calls her own.
And in that time so good and grand, May Reading have, as now,
A Davis-one whose generous hand Twines laurel on her brow.
Mr. White was followed by Prof. Fred W. Shattuck, of Boston, Mass., who spoke as representative of those whose names appear upon the tablet. This concluded the morning's exercises, and then until two in the after- noon, was devoted to a basket picnic, with the village lawns and houses serving as a picnic ground for old friends or strangers.
At two, the band again called the people together at the Valley house, and preceded them to the Baptist church, where the exercises of the afternoon were to. take place. Although this is the largest church in town, it was inadequate to the occasion, many being obliged to stand during the speaking.
The exercises were opened with prayer by Rev. P. M. Bauknight, of the Baptist church. Geo. D. Burn- ham, with a few timely remarks, then introduced B. M. Newton of Felchville, who gave the welcoming address. Mr. Newton was followed by Ira B. Hathorn, of Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Hathorn apologized for leaving the town so long ago, sixty years, when he was but six years of age. He said for that reason that about all that he knew of Reading and its people came from his father and mother who though miles away in body, never ceased to live in mind among their old Reading friends.
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Thomas Curley, of Waltham, Mass., said that he was not old enough to give reminiscences that would be interesting, so he chose another word beginning with R, and said he was going to ramble. This he did in a happy manner, touching on the two great modern "in- ventions," trusts and telegraphy, and also on the "eye- opener" Vermont has just received along political lines.
Gilbert A. Davis then interested and enlivened the audience with a short, keen speech, with good natured hits at current events. Mr. Burnham here surprised Otis C. Sawyer of Sharon, by calling him from the audi- ence for a speech. Mr. Sawyer was equal to the occasion, and told stories of his boyhood in Reading ; how he earned his first money wheeling shavings for Mr. Davis, for three cents a barrel, and how big the three cents look- ed to him. He concluded by reciting one of the popular jokes, used by George M. Clark and "Hank" White, when traveling with Whitmore and Clark's minstrels, an organization dear to the heart of every true son of Read- ing.
Rev. Homer White of Randolph, was the next speaker, and in order to vary the program, instead of a speech, recited an original poem entitled, "The Ballad of Bennington Battle."
THE BALLAD OF BENNINGTON BATTLE. (By Homer White. )
The Hessians they are coming on With Indians in the van ! Was the latest news at Bennington Told to that spunky man, Whom Molly Stark called husband then, Some hundred years ago, While he with few but valiant men Was waiting for the foe.
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For Burgoyne's gaunt and hungry horde Upon the Hudson lay And longed for the provisions stored In Bennington that day. 'Twas told that Col. Baum, who led Five hundred Hessians more, Would soon with yelling braves ahead Be knocking at the door.
For Col. Greg sent out to fight A handful of red braves, Was now returning in full flight His small command to save. He'd found behind the Indian vail The Hessian troops arrayed- Men hired by gold o'er seas to sail ; For warfare was their trade.
Drums beat to arms-with eager feet Men fell in line-the foe was near ! Their flints they pecked while pulses beat Without one throb of fear. Then forth they marched, brave men and strong, Their coming guests to meet. They carried death with them along, But not a thing to eat. Militia men from Berkshire came Just in the nick of time To heap on hired butchers shame And scourge them for their crime.
They followed where their chieftain led To check th' invading host Of savages both white and red Whom England's power could boast.
Five hundred men at Stark's command, Nichols and Herrick led Against the hungry Hessian band That fought for gold and bread.
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Those mountaineers whose cheeks were tanned, But never blanched by fear, Like waves that beat upon the strand Charged on the Hessian rear. Baum's Indian allies saw and fled And he was left alone
While fast his men fell round him dead And loud the wounded groaned. Yet still with stubborn will he fought To win both bread and glory And sullenly returned each shot Sped on its mission gory. The battle raged that August day For two long bloody hours : The grass was red where still forms lay And trampled were the flowers. The Hessian works were ta'en by storm- Their cannon ceased to play- St. George's flag was lowered and Baum A wounded prisoner lay.
The victors rest-a moment so- Upon the bloody field Where dead and dying, friend and foe, True courage have revealed. But hark !- that shout !- what does it bode ? See ! see ! what troop comes there. Rushing along the dusty road With cries that shake the air? More British ? No ; "'tis Warner, brave, And his Green Mountain Boys, Who come with such a rushing wave And such tumultuous noise. From Manchester they've marched with speed To share the fight now done, But only come in time to lead In cheers for vic'try won.
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But this they think a scant supply Of glory for the day,
When Breyman's troops they learn are nigh- But two short miles away.
Then "Forward !" rang the sharp command And quickly Warner turned
To teach the second Hessian band The lesson Baum had learned.
His gallant Boys were ready, all ; None thought of falling back,
But forward sprang at that first call Like hounds upon the track. A rapid march and soon they met The swift advancing foe Hasting to Baum-they knew not yet John Stark had laid him low.
No time they lose-no parley hold ; The battle-breeze was fanned
By men who battled not for gold, But home and native land. Seth Warner's Boys for action burned ; Their wrath was running o'er ; And sharp each rifle-crack returned The British musket's roar.
And when the sun that day did fade The red coats were in flight, Dispersed by men whose souls displayed The uniform of right. The fight was done-they cheered with will The double vic'try won, While echo told, from hill to hill, That saved was Bennington !
Now, we the sons of those brave men Who won that gallant fight Look backward to that field of fame
G.IL .
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And see young Freedom's light. We see it rise and spread and flame O'er mountain peak and vale, While cheers that rang so long ago Come like a rushing gale.
The last speaker of the afternoon was Adin C. Esta- brook, of Lunenburg, Mass., a gentleman who is a mag- ter of the art of story telling, who sent the audience away in good humor, chuckling at his stories of people, who, when he was a boy, helped to make Reading one of the prosperous towns of Vermont. The program of both morning and afternoon was enlivened from time to time with music by the band, the Verdi ladies' quartette, and a mixed quartette. Great credit is to be given to the various officers and committees, for the most satis- factory manner in which they carried through what they had undertaken for the pleasure of those present, and the good of Old Reading.
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES OF THE DAY.
Officers-Geo. D. Burnham, President ; Fred C. Fur- ber, Ist Vice President ; Mrs. N. E. E. Perkins, 2nd Vice President ; D. E. Washburn, Secretary ; B. M. Newton, Treasurer.
Executive Committee-W. R. Kinson, M. D., B. M. Newton, M. G. Amsden.
Program Committee-B. M. Newton, Geo. D. Burn- ham, Mrs. O. S. Holden.
Chaplains-Rev. H. Gertrude Roscoe, Rev. P. M. Bauknight.
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CHAPTER XI.
Cemeteries.
The first burying ground in Reading, so far as is known, was situated a short distance north of the "David Hammond" place, occupied of late years by Edmund S. Hammond. In this, there are about 75 graves, marked by rough, unlettered stones.
The inscription on two of the stones are still legible : one marks the grave of Maj. Ezra Fay, the other marks the grave of a daughter of David Hapgood.
There is another cemetery on the east side of the old highway, leading from the "Eastman farm" to the "Washburn farm," now occupied by Mr. Rowlee.
This ground was not very extensively used, many of the graves here being also unmarked. In the so called "'Chase District" near the Woodstock line, is a burial ground which was in use at one time, and there some people by the name of Pope are interred.
In the western part of the town there is a burying ground near Lowell Ackley's, but this has not been in use for a great number of years. There is a small burying ground on the Simeon Buck farm. Abiah Rice, his wife, and two children are interred just westerly of the Ham- mondsville hotel, near the brook and highway. These graves are surrounded by a wooden fence.
The cemetery in the eastern part of the town, near Merritt G. Amsden's, was given to the public by Abel Amsden, about the year 1800. On the 23rd day of June, 1804, John Weld deeded a parcel of land for a public burying ground, containing one acre and two rods, near Benjamin Sawyer's. On the 13th day of Sept., 1831, Nathaniel Swain deeded to the town of Reading, a par- cel of land for a burial place, containing 60 sqr. rods.
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This was in the Brown school house district, and contains about 20 graves that were marked with head- stones. On the 19th of April, 1831, Moses Spear of Windsor, deeded to the town of Reading, a parcel of land for a burial ground, near Marcellus Bryant's, in the northeastern part of the town.
On the Ist day of May, 1808, David Hapgood deed- ed to the inhabitants of the town of Reading, a parcel of land for the purpose of burying their dead, east of Bailey's Mills, and now used for that purpose.
The cemetery at South Reading, was deeded by John Sawyer, to the inhabitants of the "Vernon school district," Oct. 9th, 1816. The Felchville Cemetery Asso- ciation was organized under a special charter, granted by the legislature in 1858. The land now in use by that association was conveyed to it by Orpheus Coburn, under the date of Nov. 18th, 1858.
The grounds were laid out into lots, with avenues and walks, and a tomb erected. The site commands a fine view of the valley south of Felchville.
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CHAPTER XII.
Gilbert A. Davis.
Gilbert A. Davis, the son of Asa and Mary ( Hosmer) Davis, was born at Chester, Vt., Dec. 18, 1835. His an- cestry on the Davis side, and his descendents are as follows :-
(1) William Davis, of Roxbury, Mass., born in 1617, (who was of Roxbury, in 1642). A tradition held extensively in the family is, that he came from Wales about 1635. He married for his third wife, Jane-, born at Roxbury. He had eleven children.
(2) Of these, by his third wife, Jane, Ichabod Davis, was b April 1, 1676, m Bethya -, baptised -, was deacon of the Congl. church at Roxbury, Mass., and by trade a tailor. He d March, 1754.
(3) Of their children, Jacob Davis, b Oct. 8, 1706, m Jemima Healey.
(4) Of their children, Jacob Davis, b Sept. 17, 1742. 111 Dorothy Baker.
(5) Of their children, Stephen Davis, was b at Rox- bury, Mass., March 20, 1765, m Martha Tiles- ton, of Dorchester, Mass.
(6)
Of their children, Asa Davis, was b at Roxbury, Mass., Aug. 22, 1789, m Mary Hosmer. Oct. 12, 1815, at Chester, Vt., d Jan. 13, 1873, at Read- ing, .Vt., at the home of his son, Gilbert A. Davis. He was a hatter by trade, and arrived in Chester in 1812, and resided there the remain- der of his life. He, with his wife, were mem- bers of the Congregational church for very many years. He was an Anti-Slavery man
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from the organization of the party, and voted for James G. Birney in 1841, for President and for every successive candidate of that party. He aided fugitive slaves to escape, and enter- tained them at his house and helped them along to Canada, by the "under ground railroad."
(7) Of their children, Gilbert A. Davis, was b Dec. 18, 1835, at Chester, Vt., m Delia I. Bolles, April 13, 1862, at Turner, Ill., and now resides at Windsor, Vt.
(8) Of their children, Charles Esek Davis, was b at Reading, Vt., Jan. 10, 1864, and d at Turner Junction, (now West Chicago, Il1.) Aug. 24; I865.
(8) George Gilbert Davis, was b at Reading, Vt., Dec. 7, 1866, and d at Reading, Sept. 5, 1868.
(8) Mary Isabella Davis, was b July 1, 1872, at Read- ing, Vt., m Stanley Carlton, at Windsor, June II. 1895. Graduated at Smith College, North- ampton, Mass., in 1894.
(8) Gilbert Franklin Davis, b at Reading, Vt., June 19, 1877. Graduated at Harvard university, 1901, and is now a student in Harvard Law School.
(9) Gilbert Davis Carlton, son of Stanley and Mary (Davis) Carlton, b at Oak Park, Ill., Nov. 23, 1901.
Gilbert A. Davis' ancestry on his mother's side, is as follows :-
1
(I) Wm. Hosmer, b - 1728, d March 26, 1802, aged 74 years. Anna Hosmer, wife of Wm., d July 7, 1818, aged 86 years. Their children were : (II) William Hosmer, b -1757, d March 23, 1813, aged 56 years.
(II) Amos Hosmer, b Nov. 9, 1759, m Sybil Parker, Sept. 1, 1764, and d at Chester, Vt., Jan. 18, 1831, aged 71 yrs., 2 mos., 9 days.
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(II) Lucy Hosmer, b - -1762, m Bemannuel Pratt, of Townsend, Mass., and d at Chester, Vt., March 7, 1845, aged 87 years, at the home of her daughter, Susan, who had m Dr. Ptolemy Edson.
(II) Oliver Hosmer, b --- 1764.
(II) Name unknown, daughter, m Mr. Stimpson.
(II) Name unknown, daughter, m Mr. Boutwell.
(II) Anna, m Mr. Joseph Stickney.
(II) Reuben
The descendents of William Hosmer (II), were,-
(III) William P. Hosmer, b at Chester, Vt., m Susan Augusta Paddleford, May 22, 1845. Their children were :--
(IV) Jesse Heald Hosmer, b May 8, 1848.
(IV) Maria Eusebe, b Sept. 1, 1856.
Amos Hosmer (11), b Nov. 9, 1759, son of Wm. and Anna Hosmer, m Sybil Parker. Their children were :-
(III) (1) Polly, b Sept. 18, 1785, d Jan. 29, 1787. (2) Randolph, b May 6, 1787, d May 18, 1795.
: (3) Amos H., b Jan. 26, 1789.
(4) " Sybil, b Jan. 5, 1791.
(5) Lovina, b Aug. 28, 1792.
(6) Mary, b March 21, 1799.
Sybil (Parker) Hosmer was b at Chester, Vt., Sept. 1, 1764, and d Oct. 4, 1833, at Chester, Vt., aged 69 year's, I mo., and 3 days.
Amos H. Hosmer (III), removed to Baltimore, Md., where he raised a large family, and died honored and re- spected. He was a strong supporter of the Union cause during the Rebellion.
Sybil (III), m Samuel Jordan Feb. 18, 1811. (This family removed to Adrian, Mich.)
Lovina, (III), m Roswell Earle, 2ud, Oct. 15, 1812. (This family resided in Chester, Vt.)
Mary, (III), m Asa Davis.' (This family resided in
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Chester, Vt.)
Anna Hosmer, (II), daughter of Wm. and Anna Hosmer, m Joseph Stickney, at Ipswich, N. H. Their son, George Washington Stickney, was b at Ipswich, N. H., Oct. 25, 1804. The family removed to Andover, Vt., in April, 1806, bringing with them their son George, and aside from one season, which was spent in Mass., his entire life was passed on the farm on which he died, the Stickney homestead. He received a common school education, and in his class always maintained an ad- vanced position. He was married in Nov., 1832, to Roxcelana Burton. Eight children were born to them, four of whom are still living, and were with him in his last hours. Mr. Stickney was a marked character in the affairs of town, county, and state, a man of large intelli- gence, strong and honest convictions, well read in his- tory and current events.
He was called to town office at the age of twenty-five, and from that time constantly served in some capacity as a town officer, six times representing the town in the leg- islature, being a member of that body, when called to- gether by Gov. Smith, to ratify the 14th amendment. He was elected a Justice of the Peace when he was about thirty years of age, which office he held up to the time of his death, with the exception of two years. He early espoused the anti-slavery cause, and upon the organiza- tion of a temperance society here, became an active, worthy member, and vice president. He was emphatic- ally an honest man, and to all who have known him in- timately, his character stands forth like a granite pyra- mid, not dazzling, but strong and enduring, and will not gather moss as the years roll on. His funeral was largely attended, not only by the people of his own town, but of the neighboring towns also.
He died Aug. 6, 1894, aged 89 years, 9 mos., 12 days. Rev. R. T. Sawyer, of Merovale, Mass., attended his funeral.
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CHAPTER XIII.
The Gilbert A. Davis Family Record.
(1) Wm. Davis (1) of Roxbury, Mass., bin 1617, had three wives. See Davis' Genealogy, a book compiled by Hon. Chas. A. Davis, of No. An- dover, Mass.
His children by Jane (his third wife) were :-
(II) Ichabod, (2) b April 1, 1676, d March 16, 1754.
(I.I) Ebenezer, (2) b April 9, 1678.
Ichabod Davis, (2) (son of William and Jane) was baptized April 2, 1676, m Bethya --. Icha- bod Davis d 16 March, 1754, aged 77.
(III) Of his children, Jacob Davis, (3) m Jemima Healey, who d Feb. 26. 1704, aged 22.
(IV) Among their children was, Jacob Davis, (4) b Sept. 17, 1742, m Dorothy Baker, Oct. 30, 1764, of Dedham, Mass. Jacob Davis d July 1, 1809, aged 67 years. Jacob Davis was a Lieutenant of Capt. Moses Whiting's Company of Roxbury Minute Men, and responded to their company's call. April 19, 1775, and did good service on that memorable occasion, serving 28 days. This company was at first made a part of Col. Heath's regiment, and then of Col. Greaton's regiment. serving through the campaigns of 1775 and 1776. Jacob Davis was a farmer and butcher, and re- sided at Jamaica Plains, Roxbury, Mass.
(I)
Children of Jacob (4) and Dorothy (Baker) Davis :- Stephen Davis, (5) d March 22, 1821, aged 56 years. Loachada Davis, (5) b Sept. 22, 1776, d Nov. 6, 18II, m John Davis. (No relation.)
(2)
(3)
Abigail Whiting Davis, (5) b June 10, 1768, d April 2, 1815, m Joel Gay, and settled in Mont- pelier, Vt.
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(4) Asa Davis, (5) b Feb. 10, 1771.
(5) Lemuel Baker Davis, (5) b Jan. 16. 1774, m Relief Tileston, d March 3, 1815, had a son, Ichabod(6).
(6) Anne Davis, (5) b Nov. 7, 1775.
(7) Jacob Davis, (5) b Oct. 4, 1779.
(8) John Davis, (5) b July 22, 1781. m Thankful Reed.
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(9) Nancy Davis, (5) b July 12, 1783.
(v) Lochada Davis, (5) m John Davis, (no relation) and d Nov. 6, 1811.
Children of Lochada (5) and John Davis. Abigail Willard (6).
Martha, (6) b Jan. 21, 1804, m Geo. B. Davis, son of John (5), grandson of Jacob (4.)
John Amory (6).
(VI) Lochada, (6) m Francis Dana, currier, and had four children, two sons and two daughters.
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