ing behind the active, stirring scenes of life, some to clasp the hand of living friends, fondly welcoming them; others, to drop a tear over the graves of departed ones-all to commemorate the virtues of the founders of Woodbury. "Although I mingle with you but as a grandchild, of this good old town, yet I doubt not my appreciation of its growth and prosperity will be as true, and my relish for these exercises as keen and hearty, as of the children and immediate heirs; from all of us a tribute of admiration and respect is equally due to the virtues, the true nobility and the undying energy of its founders." In closing, he gracefully alludes to the fathers: "If the spirits of those good old men, who, two hundred years ago, stood on Good Hill, surveying the prospect before and about them, could be brought back to-day, and placed upon the exact spot where first they looked upon the valley of Woodbury; if they could look upon these side hills, all luxuriant with vegetation, these valleys all dotted over with beautiful residences; if they could hear the hum of industry from mountain top and valley, and above all, could they look upon this immense concourse of their descendants, prosperous, happy and contented; if their view could be extended over the thirty-three States of this confederacy, teeming with a population everywhere busy and active, just now engaged in commemorating the birth-day of the government whose protecting power guarantees to all its citizens life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, they would feel that their first prayer offered up in this then wilderness, had become prophecy, and that their great faith had been more than realized in its results. Such were our ancestors, the founders of Woodbury; they did well the work alloted for them to do, each in his own sphere. Erect for them the monumental stone! Cherish well their memory in your hearts; above all, guard with fidelity their principles which you have inherited, that on our government may be inscribed "Esto perpetua." "A word more, and I have done. It is said that communities, as individuals, when they commence to exist, commence to die. With reference to this, I will close with offering the sentiment"WOODBURY.-Its head-stones in 1659, may its foot-stones be in eternity." The whole audience then united in singing, with great enthusiasm, the following ODE. BY MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS. Tune-"America." All hail our brothers, friends! Come neighbors, come! Two hundred years ago, Old men, with heads of snow, Bared to the breeze, 'Mid a wild Indian band By the red council brand Grasped the proud chieftain's hand, Soon the log cabin stood, Deep in the hemlock wood, Hid by its green; Sons rose to aid the sire, Red shone the" fallow fire," Up rose the rustic spire, Peaceful, serene. As forest leaves are shed, Under the sod; There follow'd sire and son, Each when his race was run, And all his work was done, If angels wander by, When hearts beat warm and high, Our sires are here; Thankful that liberty Has set their children free Smiling with sympathy, Gladness and cheer. Sons of that pilgrim few! Our union is glorious, Our strength all vlctorious, God reigneth over us, Praise Him alway! Hon. Charles Chapman, of Hartford, a grand-son of Woodbury, next responded to the sentiment, "The grand-children of Ancient Woodbury." We have looked this speech through carefully, to see if we could make an extract, which would accomplish at once the purposes of this volume, and, at the same time, do justice to one of the most valued, warm-hearted, and genial friends, the author has ever possessed. He has now passed the "bourne whence no traveller returns," and no more beautiful and graceful garland can be placed upon the grave of the gifted and eloquent speaker, than to present his offering of friendship and love entire. He said : "Having been called to respond to the toast last announced, I ought perhaps to imitate the example of the politicians, and 'define my position.' The nearer we can approach to the common grand-mother, on this occasion, the better pleased we are; but, truth to tell, I am but a great-grandson of 'Ancient Woodbury.' The difference, however, may be of minor importance, (if the Governor' will excuse the use of the word in that sense,) inasmuch as all the grand-children are great grand-children to-day. "There is in the human heart an instinctive love for the place of one's nativity. The youth who leaves the paternal roof to seek his fortune elsewhere, keeps the old homestead in view, toils on to acquire a competency, and when he has achieved the end for which he has labored many years, returns to the place of his birth, repurchases the paternal acres, which have passed into other hands, and rears a more expensive edifice upon the spot where the old mansion stood. He adorns and beautifies the old farm, enriches the old fields, plants hedges where the old walls stood, and calls the place by a fancy name. "Of a kindred character is the regard which one feels for the home of his more remote ancestors, the spot where the family took root in the then new world. This sentiment will show itself in various ways. It crops out,' (in the language of the miners, I mean the miners in metals,) from time to time, and on this occasion may be observed upon every hand. The remote descendants of the early settlers in this lovely valley are here in great numbers, and others residing in distant regions have sent their contributions to this festival in letters, relics, and touching senti ments. "I have been commissioned by one of these descendants to present to the town of Woodbury some tokens of his regard, which I trust you will carefully preserve in the archives of the town. I will read to you my "Power of Attorney," (excuse the language of the profession,) and when you hear that, and the name of the man from whom it comes, you will regret with me, that he can not be heard from this stand, upon an occasion so well suited to his tastes as this is. You will recognize in him the historian of Hartford. "Hon. CHARLES CHAPMAN: "HARTFORD, July 1st, 1859.. DEAR SIR: In compliance with your solicitation, I take pleasure in sending, through you, some memorials for the forthcoming celebration of the settlement of Ancient Woodbury. They are, a piece of the wood of the far-famed Charter Oak, a view of this Monarch Tree as it looked in life, and a view of it as it looked in death, the morning after it fell. It was within the period of the birth of Woodbury-but a few years only after the Stileses, and Curtises, and Judsons, and Minors, first settled there-that Sir Edmund Andros made his impotent attempt to seize and invalidate that noble Charter under whose folds Samuel Sherman and his associates obtained liberty from the General Court "to erect a plantation at Pomperange "-and those, the early dwellers therein common with the Colonists of Connecticut at large-rejoiced, then in the olden time, in that gnarled old Oak, which protected their Constitution of government, and saved their liberties-liberties which have never since been overthrown-but which-consecrated by the sacrifices and services of her sons in the councils and on the battle-fields of the Union-are now, thank Heaven, "imperishable and impregnable." "Pleasant, therefore, I have thought it would be to the descendants of the first settlers of Woodbury, to receive the particular 1 1 Gov. Wm. T. Minor, who was sitting on the stand. memorials which I commit to your charge. A thousand interesting historic associations cluster around them. They vividly renew the Past. They point to an heroic age for Connecticut. They should incite patriotic emotion. They should teach us all to love and honor our State as it has loved and honored us. "I am myself, Sir, a descendant, in the fourth generation, of that worthy and distinguished divine, who, for nearly sixty years, ministered in Ancient Woodbury-the Rev. Anthony Stoddardand I therefore feel a special gratification in the fact that the birth of this town is to be duly celebrated, and that you, Sir—one of its grand-sons are to mingle, actively, in the "high festival." Few municipalities in Connecticut can point to a more historic past than Woonbury. Its Indian, civil, ecclesiastical and Revolutionary life-so admirably portrayed by its historian, Wm. Cothren, Esq. -place it among the first of our towns, and justify its good repute. That the celebration in which its citizens propose to indulge, may prove gratifying to themselves-may call up gladdening memories—may glow with the spirit of patriotism—and augment their love for their venerable and happy home, is the hearty wish of, Yours truly, I. W. STUART. [Then Mr. Chapman exhibited the block from the Charter Oak, the picture of the tree as it appeared when standing, and after it was prostrated by the storm.] There are others, and many others, who are neither inhabitants of Woodbury, nor descendants of those who were, who feel a deep interest in its history, and in these festivities, which mark the two hundredth anniversary of the exploration of this valley. Your industrious and talented fellow-citizen, William Cothren, Esq., has done much to create and foster this interest, by his carefully prepared work-a work that does honor to him and to you, and which is a most valuable contribution to the history of our State. Our own poetess, who is the poetess of Connecticut, par excellence, has committed to my hands a little "gem of purest ray serene" from her casket of jewels, which she has authorized me to present to you on this occasion. She rejoices in your history, as you do in her well-earned fame. Like another eminent lady who went from among you in her youth, (Mrs. Ann S. Stephens,) and who has contributed to this Festival by her presence and by her pen, she has risen to her enviable position in the world of letters |