\'Three Score Years and Ten\'
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Charlotte Ouisconsin Van Cleve >> \'Three Score Years and Ten\'
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_CHAPTER XXII._
THE GOLDEN WEDDING.
In the month of March, 1886, we sent to our many friends far and near
the following invitation, and the hearty response which we received
made March 22d a day never to be forgotten by ourselves and our
children:
_Lieutenant Horatio Phillips Van Cleve, U. S. A.,
and
Charlotte Ouisconsin Clark,_
MARRIED
_March 22d, 1836,
Fort Winnebago, Michigan Territory._
------
_General and Mrs. H. P. Van Cleve,_
AT HOME
_March 22d, 1886,
603 Fifth Street S. E.,
From 3 until 10 o'clock P. M._
_No presents._
The weather seemed as if made for the occasion, the sun shone brightly
till its setting, and the old house, which has been our home so long,
that we all love it, in spite of its old-fashioned appearance and its
entire lack of style, was fitly prepared and adorned by loving hands.
A thatched roof over the bay window, prettily arranged, bearing on its
front the dates "1836" and "1886" in carnations of two colors, made a
canopy under which the old man and woman were to sit and receive the
congratulations of their friends. Over the mantel, opposite them, were
arranged the battle flags of the beloved Second Regiment of Minnesota
Volunteers, with the sword and sash and insignia of rank of its
Colonel, who led them into battle, and the house was tastefully draped
with the "stars and stripes" and many beautiful, significant emblems
sent by friends and children. A beautiful bank of fifty golden
rosebuds on a background of green, baskets of lovely, fragrant
flowers, one of orange blossoms from Oakland, California, a pot
containing a tall Bermuda lily with two large blossoms and several
buds, and many bouquets of rich, rare flowers gave to the
reception-room a brightness and loveliness which cannot be fitly
described. At 3 o'clock the survivors of the old regiment came in,
under command of our dear friend, General J. W. Bishop, of St. Paul,
bringing hearty congratulations to their old Colonel, and after a
short time spent in a pleasant converse, the General, in a most
appropriate address presented to him, whom they honored, an elegant
gold-headed cane, bearing the inscription: "Presented to General H. P.
Van Cleve by surviving members of the Second Regiment, Minnesota
Veteran Volunteer Infantry, Golden Wedding, March 22, 1886." This was
a perfect surprise, and the gift was acknowledged in a few fitting
words. After a pleasant chat of old war experiences and some light
refreshments the veterans said "good-bye" and departed, leaving very
grateful, pleasant thoughts in the hearts of those whom their presence
had honored and made glad. Another surprise awaited us. Our little
grandchild Pauline Van Cleve, a year and a half old, side by side with
her cousin Rebecca, a few months older, toddled up to "grandma" and
presented her with a cluster of fourteen golden rosebuds, one for each
grandchild, and our granddaughter Charlotte Van Cleve recited very
sweetly "The Old Man and His Bride," by Dr. Holland. Many sweet poems
and loving letters from friends far and near, and many valuable,
beautiful presents from dear ones, testified their love and kind
regard for us, and are treasured by us among our most precious things,
to be highly valued by our children when we shall have passed away.
Cake and coffee were served through the evening, the fruit cake being
baked in the same pan which was used fifty years before, when I, a
girl of sixteen, made my "wedding cake." It has been in constant use
ever since, and is a plain affair which shows the marks of time, but
which, with ordinary care, will last through at least another
generation.
Our friend, Rev. Dr. Neill, spoke to us in his usual felicitous
manner, and his address was full of pleasant reminiscences. Our
pastor, Rev. Dr. Stryker, recited a poem composed by himself for the
occasion, and the evening passed most enjoyably, and, with many
wishes that we might keep our diamond wedding, our friends bade us
"good night" and went their several ways.
Then came to us a full realization that we had walked beside each
other half a century, and our thoughts went back to the old quarters
at Fort Winnebago, where side by side we stood in the freshness of
youth, with life all before us, and promised "to have and to hold from
this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in
sickness and in health, to love and cherish each other till death us
do part," and as we looked into each other's eyes, heart answered to
heart, "We have kept our vows."
"And looking backward through the years
Along the way our feet have pressed,
We see sweet places everywhere--
Sweet places, where our souls had rest.
For though some human hopes of ours
Are dead and buried from our sight,
Yet from their graves immortal flowers
Have sprung, and blossomed into light.
Our sorrows have not been so light,
God's chastening hand we could not trace;
Nor have our blessings been so great
That they have hid our Father's face."
And we thanked Him that He "had mercifully ordained that we should
grow old together." And now, laying down my pen, I say to all who have
followed me through these memories: "Good night, dear friends. God
bless you every one."
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes
The Table of Contents does not appear in the original book.
Minor punctuation errors and the following typos in the original book
have been corrected to reflect the author's intention.
Pg. 23: Hzzaard to Hazard (son-in-law, Mr. Hazard,)
Pg. 42: lenghtening to lengthening (lengthening shadows)
Pg. 60: parent's to parents' (parents' murder)
Pg. 78: off to of (telling of the Sioux scalps)
Pg. 105-106: decased to deceased (respect for the deceased, this)
Pg. 115: fondnes to fondness (for consistency; fondness on pg. 28)
Pg. 160: nd to And (And the harbor-bar be moaning.")
The following inconsistencies were left as is.
Pg. 56: Mrs. Apthorp's seminary
Pg. 102: "Mrs. Apthorpe's School for Young Ladies"
Pg. 34: Mitch-ele-mack-i-nack
Pg. 101: Mich-e-li-mac-i-nac
All other questionable spellings were left as in the original book.
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