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.