304 BARNSTEAD REUNION.
After the address there were toasts, hours of the morning, when the compa-
and responses by several of the promi- ny separated, happier and better for hav-
nent gentlemen present, including Judge ing renewed their old time friendships,
Clark, Hon. John P. Newell, Dr. H. C. and rekindled the memories of youthful
Canney of Manchester, Col. J. Horace associations.
Kent, Charles S. George of Barnstead, Following we give the poem and ad-
and Hon. John G. Sinclair, prolonging dress, which will be read with interest
the delightful occasion into the small by not a few of our patrons :
��POEM.
��BY MRS. N. G. CARR.
The stream of time, as has been often sung, Ne'er pauses or flows backward in its way ;
And we, upon its surface swiftly borne, Must aye " move on," though fields elysian lay Along the banks and woo a longer stay.
Yet, ever, as we glide adown the stream, A wond'rous artist hovers at our side,
And with swift, magic fingers, scene by scene, He paints them all — the landscape spreading wide, The homes where living, speaking forms abide.
These pictures, crowded close in Memory's halls, We bear along through all the changing years ;
And oftentimes when present pleasure palls, And we grow sick of humdrum cares and fears, They lead us back to life's first joys and tears.
I wish each native of the olden town,
Whose name we honor, coming here to-night,
Might bring their Barnstead views and lay them down Like stereoscopic pictures, that we might Scan them at leisure and their charms recite.
Scenes from our childhood days we love the best ; The pasture brooks — the ledges where we played —
The long, long road to school — the half-way rest On the big rock within the old tree's shade — The ivy patch down in the forest glade,
The raspberry bushes by the pasture wall— The distant corners where the blackberries grew —
The merry beechnut parties in the fall — The apple harvest with its jolly crew; Their p«als of laughter come to us anew.
The huskings, quiltings, apple-bees and all The rustic customs of our youngest days !
How strange the contrast with the formal calls, The stilted manners and the put-on ways, The " kid-glove" parties of these modern days!
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