214
��IN TROD UC TION
��cation of the town library she had caused to be erected. To preserve here some incidents of the occasion which I think gave pleasure even to her shrinking and modest spirit, I must cite my private record of it : " At Belinda's invitation, I met her at the Fitchburg Station at 1 1 : 03 A.M., to go to the dedication of the Randall Library at Stow, which is built with $25,000 from John's estate by her act. Met Mrs. R. B. Storer and Miss Fanny Storer, also John's friend Mr. Harris, cashier of the Bank of Commerce, who were going to Stow for the same pur- pose. Belinda was accompanied by Miss O'Reilly, Mrs. Aymar, and Annie Kelleher. B. was very glad to see me. We were met at South Acton and driven in two carriages to Stow Centre. The chairman of the committee, Mr. F. W. Warren, of Stow, gave us all eight a very nice lunch at his house at one ; and at half past one we all went to the Town Hall packed with the inhabitants of the little village. All the speaking was by local worthies, chiefly ministers. Rev. G. F. Clark, once Unitarian minister there, best expressed the town's gratitude to John —
- God bless his name ! God bless his memory ! ' Deacon
Goodale, after all had spoken, said that one thing had been left unsaid — no mention had been made of the sister who had joined in the great benefaction. Then Rev. W. W. Colburn, the chief speaker, came forward and said : * Our lips have all been padlocked. We have all had her in our hearts — we all think more of her than you do ! ' This was well said, for Belinda has striven to keep her name unmen- tioned. The occasion was crude, awkward, inelegant, but it was very sincere and grateful — which gave it grace and made it a success. At 3 : 40, we all went to the pretty building itself hard by ; all is in excellent taste, and a beautiful monument to John and Belinda in the blessing of the old tov/n. Portraits of John and Belinda, of old
�� �
