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17

[[newspaper clipping]]
IN MEMORIAM —— WEIRD MEMORIES.
To the Editor of the CHRISTIAN LEADER:——
I have been called to attend two funerals, during the present week, in two adjoining towns both of which were fraught with interesting historic associations. One of these was in Reading, at the funeral of Charles Buck, who died Sept. 7th., aged 92 years. On April 13th., 1825, he married Hannah Sawyer, sister of Thomas J. Sawyer D.D. a woman of great excellence of character. Mr. Buck was a man of strong mind and sound judgment, a prominent and influential citizen, throughout his entire active life. Mrs. Buck died Nov. 28th., 1887. Both funerals were held in the same house where they had lived during their wedded life. This was the birth place of the Sawyer family, and one of the sisters, Mrs. Pierce, now residing in the west, was present at the funeral. On the walls of the room, occupied by the immediate friends, hung the portrait, painted in oil, of Dr. Sawyer's father, said to be a very correct likeness. Several aged people were present and gave some reminiscences of the Sawyer family who were once very prominent in the town, and are very kindly remembered and spoken of. The old hotel building, where Dr. Sawyer's brother used to keep "tavern," as it was then called, is also standing. He has a brother who is a lawyer in the west. All the associations connected with the funerals of Mr. and Mrs. Buck——I attended hers also——were very interesting to me, and many things were said quite as pleasant to be remembered.

The other funeral was that of Jonathan Keith, in Pomfret, who died on Tuesday, aged 83 years and six months. He was buried from the house in which I.D. Williamson was born. The preliminary services were held in the same room where Dr. Williamson first saw the light of this world. I could almost feel his presence in the services. I had heard Dr. Williamson tell of the place of his birth, its surroundings and scenery, but never saw it before. It is beautiful for situation among the hills. I sipped a cup of tea at the nearest house, and found that to be the birth-place of O.D. Miller, one of our best known scholars and writers.

So this has been a week that I shall long remember, having been called, for funeral services, at the birth-places of Drs. Sawyer, Williamson and Miller, all eminent men in our communion.
B. M. Tillotson.
Woodstock Vt. Sept. 14.
[[/newspaper clipping]]

alone. Looking at the portrait of a lady in my book called "Art Gems" Sara said "Gertrude would have made quite as striking a picture and she said the whole air and bearing of the figure so reminded her of Gertrude. I have often thought so myself and I can see that my love for Gertrude did not exaggerate in my eyes her grace and charm of person and manner. Indeed she was in every respect one of the most winning and charming of women. -- Several people have been up on the hill today and Capt. Van Keuren and two or three others were in the garden looking at the lots he so foolishly failed to secure. If it were left to my decision I would not let them have them now for less than a thousand dollars each. We gave them an opportunity to buy them at 20 pct. between what we considered them worth. They made a combination to get them for less by which we lost at least four hundred dollars on Crosby's lots who was ready to pay $1000 each, and now I am decidedly of opinion that it is weak to sell them at our low upset price. -- Sadie Curly? called on us just as our dinner was ready. We tried to have her stay to dinner but she declined. I wrote to Eastman today. Tonight it is still and I fear we will have frost.

Monday Sept. 23" 1889. Splendid, brilliant morning and a glorious day, most welcome after the stormy weather There was frost in the Mohawk Valley but none I think hereabouts. I wet down and made a number of purchases for my camping trip and then rode up to Kingston to see Kenyon about the mortgages which I am trying to fill out but which I do not understand. I found I had reversed the "parties of the first & second part" He had received the releases from Booths lawyer but had had to return them for county clerks certificate or some thing of that sort. They will however be here in time and now there is plain sailing. I rode down to the West Shore Station where I stopped and found out about the trains to Boston and from there to Mattawamkeag and walked from there down to Rondout to do some more buying. This afternoon I made out the mortgages for Miss Elliot and Louis Hoysradt. This evening Sara and I called at "Dandy" (Jansen) Hasbrouck's and found his wife at home. Their house was very pretty and pleasant as far as I saw it and though this house has been built a great many years I never was in it before. From there we went down to Mr. Crosbys and called on them and Mrs. Keaton nee Carrie Moore who is there from Rock Island visiting a few days with her children. She is nearly 40 years of age and a very sweet, pretty looking woman. I had a letter today from Mrs. Dailey from the Willey "house" somewhere near the Keene Valley in the Adirondacks. 

Tuesday 24" A letter from Eastman who is going to Nantucket tonight and has everything arranged for our trip. Have been packing my things today. Tom and I moved out the sitting room Franklin and cleaned the back of the fire place as the Franklin. I did not [[?]] the chimney which was done last year. Wrote to Mrs. Dailey at Claymont where she is to be next week. Fanny Sheffield and Ettie and Mamie Livingston called.

Wednesday 25. Threatening weather and rain in the afternoon. Down town to do the last of my shopping for the woods and have packed most of my bags so that I am ready now to go tomorrow if necessary. This afternoon Sara and I began to recover the old lounge in the parlor with Turkey red as the buffalo bugs eat up any muslin stuff. Calvert came this evening thus completing my arrangements. We go down to Girards office tomorrow to sign the deeds and receive payments. Crosby at the last moment wants his deed made to his wife. I am afraid it is too late. 

Transcription Notes:
can't make out last name of Sophie who comes by as dinner is ready in first entry or one of the purchasers in the second entry; Mattawamkeag (second entry) is a place in Maine Turkey red - a type of fabric