the chignecto isthmus and its first settlers-第24节
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leased with his Yorkshire descent； and was very sorry that Mr。 Batty； who was to tell sometime of Yorkshire at the present day； was not present。 Mr。 Howard Trueman； who was then called upon； told something of the settlement of the Truemans； the building of the house； the clock two hundred years old that was still keeping good time； the chair that came out from England with the family； and the bench there on the platform that came from the first Methodist church built in Canada； a stone church that stood by the Point de Bute Cemetery。
〃Mr。 J。 L。 Black spoke of his first visit to the old house。 When not more than fourteen years old； he had been put on a horse and sent to the mill with a bag of wheat。 On telling who he was he was sent to the house and fed with gingerbread and his pockets filled with cake。 Mr。 Black paid a high tribute to the sterling character of the men of the old days； but was of the opinion that the men of these days scarcely were their equals。
〃Dr。 Ganong； Mr。 Milner and Mr。 George not responding。 Dr。 Brecken was called upon。 He claimed Yorkshire descent and supposed the stubbornness his wife complained of was due to the Yorkshire blood in him。 He sometimes wondered； as Mr。 Black had done； whether the race was not degenerating。 He certainly could not stand as much exertion as his father could。 The style of oratory was also very different from what it used to be。 We have few of the finely finished speeches that characterized the old days。
〃Dr。 Allison said： 'All the speakers claimed some connection with the Truemans or Yorkshire； but he had not a drop of English blood in his veins； using English in its narrower sense。 None； however； had a keener appreciation of the Yorkshire element than himself。 Charles Allison； the founder of the Institutions； the one who had done more than any other to make the name of Allison to be remembered； chose for his partner in life a member of the Trueman family。 Mankind was not degenerating。 Wonderful things have been accomplished since this country was first settled。 Divine providence has not constructed the railway and telegraph； but man。 Dr。 Brecken was just as good a man as his father； and a much greater orator than the men of those days。 The men of the past suited the past； but a different type is required to…day。
〃The chairman then announced that lunch would be served； and the other speakers would say a few words later in the afternoon。
〃After lunch Judge Trueman； of Albert； took the platform。 He said it gave him much pleasure to be at the picnic； not only to meet so many friends； but to see the old place where he was born and spent his youth。 He knew every knoll and hollow of the old farm。 He thought everyone who had the Trueman blood in him ought to feel on excellent terms with himself after hearing so many nice things said about the family。
〃Prof。 Andrews； who followed； agreed with Dr。 Allison in thinking the race was not degenerating； and claimed if the people to…day would spend as much time out of doors as did their fathers； they would be even stronger。 He gave some proofs that actually the race is improving physically。 In the old times the weakest all died off； and only the tough old nuts remained。 He told some remarkable stories of what he had undergone when a young man； that he claimed to be saving for his grandchildren。 It gave him much pleasure to attend this celebration which would pass into history。
〃Rev。 Mr。 Batty； of Amherst； was introduced by the chairman as a true bred； native…born Yorkshireman。 Mr。 Batty said； judging from the number around him； if all the Yorkshiremen had prospered as the Truemans there would be a new Yorkshire more prosperous than the old。 He had not realized what kind of a picnic this was until he saw the lines of carriages driving through Amherst。 On inquiring he found it was the gathering of the clans at Prospect。 He considered these historic gatherings most important in the development of a country。 He then gave a most interesting account of Yorkshire and Yorkshire Methodism。 He had never seen a wooden house until he came to this country； and it stirred old memories to stand again under the shadow of a brick house that reminded him strongly of his grandfather's house in Yorkshire。 If people here want to see Englishmen come to Canada they must do away with snake fences； sulphur matches； and bad roads。 Agriculture is done for in England； and the fathers realize that their sons must come to Canada。 No Westmoreland man would complain if he knew how well off he was。
〃In closing he thanked all for their attention； Mr。 Trueman for his invitation； and said he was going to write a full account of the gathering for the Yorkshire papers and send it at once。
〃Votes of thanks were presented to Mr。 and Mrs。 Trueman； the host and hostess； and to Dr。 Chapman； the chairman； after which all joined in the National Anthem。〃
The Chignecto POST had the following description of the gathering：
〃The oldest house now being occupied in this part of the Province is in Point de Bute； about seven miles from Sackville。 It was built in 1799； so that the structure is a hundred years old。 In a granite slab over the front entrance is the following： 〃June 14； 1799。〃 The main house is of brick and is a good solid looking structure yet。 It has stood well the blasts of a hundred winters； and judging from its present appearance it will be able to stand many more。
〃Some time ago the relatives and friends of Mr。 Trueman urged him to celebrate the 100th birthday of his house。 Circumstances prevented him from holding the celebration on June 14th； but on July 14th； last Friday； the event was celebrated in a manner that the two hundred people who were present will not soon forget。
〃It was Mr。 Trueman's intention that his guests should make a day of it； but unfortunately Friday forenoon was foggy and wet； and this no doubt prevented a large number from being present。 However； the rain did not interfere with the plans of some of the friends； for early in the forenoon they began to arrive from a distance； and they continued to arrive； although the rain came down in torrents。 But shortly after noon the cheerful face of Old Sol peered forth from behind a fog bank。 The clouds were soon dissipated； nature dried her tears； and everybody was glad。 A merrier throng it would have been hard to find than the one now gathered around the old brick house； everyone intent upon doing his or her best to celebrate the anniversary。
〃There were people present from St。 John； from Moncton； from Albert Co。； from Bay Verte； from Amherst； from Nappan； from Sackville； and from all the surrounding country。 There was the grandfather and grandmother； whose silvery hair and bent form contrasted strongly with sprightliness of the young toddlers who were very much in evidence。 But a smile was on every face and nobody was made to feel that he was a stranger。 From the top of the highest tree floated the Canadian ensign； while nearer the house the ancient folds of the Union Jack were spread to the breeze。
〃The old house was thrown open to all； and many persons had the pleasure of seating themselves in the chair which was brought to this country by the first of the name who touched upon its shores。 This article of furniture； together with a grandfather's clock； are the property of Mr。 Trueman； and； needless to say； are very highly prized by him。 They are remarkably well preserved； and the clock still keeps excellent time。
〃On the grounds； quite near the house； a platform had been improvised； and during the afternoon short addresses were made by Howard Trueman； Jos。 L。 Black； Judge Trueman； of Albert Co。； Rev。 Mr。 Batty； of Amherst； Prof。 Andrews； Dr。 Brecken； Dr。 Allison and others。
〃Tea was served on the grounds in true Bohemian style； but everybody enjoyed it。 The evening passed very pleasantly with vocal； instrumental music； etc。 It was a fitting celebration； and one which both old and young will no doubt often be pleased to look back upon。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Trueman and the members of their family dispensed the kindest hospitality and did everything possible to make the event what it was； a grand success。〃
The names of the children and grandchildren of William Trueman and Elizabeth Keillor； with other records of the families：
HARMON TRUEMAN； born Sept。 27； 1778 Married CYNTHIA BEST； born Sept。 7； 1787 Jan。 8； 1807。
THEIR CHILDREN。
NAME BORN M。 TO WHOM MARRIED CHILD。
Stephen B。 Feb。 17； 1808 1836 Eliza Wells 7 Amy E。 April 17； 1810 1837 John W。 McLeod 1 Sarah Aug。 27； 1812 1835 Rev。 A。 W。 McLeod 6 Martin Oct。 30； 1814 1843 Bethia Purdy 5 Louisa C。 Aug。 30； 1817 1841 Mariner Wood 2 Silas W。 May 27； 1820 Did not marry Eunice Dec。 18； 1822 1872 Thomas Moore 0 R。 Alder Aug。 22； 1825 1854 Mary Jewett 2 N。 Amelia Sept。 28； 1828 1857 Rufus Black 5
WILLAM TRUEMAN； born Nov。 22； 1780 Married JANE RIPLEY； born April 25； 1788 Jan。 22； 1806。
THEIR CHILDREN。
NAME BORN M。 TO WHOM MARRIED Child。
William Jan。 9； 1807 1831 Esther Ripl
