Celebration at Burlington
Mr. Editor: I send you a brief notice of the celebration of the “Glorious 4th” at Burlington. It was mainly by the Sabbath schools of Burlington and with vicinity; including the two schools of the village and those of Perry Chapel, South Point, and Symmes Creek Chapel: small children, teachers, parents, and citizens, between 5 and 600 persons.
All the schools met in Burlington at an early hour and under the respective marshals, to the sound of fife and drum and with flags waving, were conducted to the Grove about a quarter of a mile from the village, a beautiful grassy spot between two giant hills
Here, after prayer by Reverend Mr. Higgins, the reading of the Declaration of Independence by Mr. H. Davidson, a “Junior,” fresh from the classic halls of Delaware, and a few remarks to the children by Reverend A. J. McMillan a patriot ordination was delivered by Mr. J. X. Davidson an alumnus of the Ohio Wesleyan University.
Of this address, the reporter cannot speak too highly. The theme was well chosen, and the style and spirit were just as suited to the day and the occasion. In whatever department of the literary field this young gentleman may choose to labor we predict for him abundant success
Next followed an address to parents and the patrons of Sabbath Schools, by Reverend J. Q. Lakin, the pastor of the M. E. Church, whose zeal and warmth would have carried him much beyond his allotted time had it not been for “the Doctor’s watch.”
After some more singing, fifing, and drumming, dinner was announced to be ready when with the utmost relish, all hands partook of a dinner that was bold both old fashioned in all the substantials and new fashion in all the delicacies.
After the dinner, there was:
Swinging and singing,
And walking and talking,
And dying and spying and shying,
And running and punting and gunning,
And hooting and tooting and looting and shooting,
And racing chasing and prisoner basing,
And promenading and cannonading the sugar tree shade in,
Until long enough the Grove they had stayed in,
Then all at once a thundering sound,
Of the sturdy old drummer who was still on the ground,
They took up their march and returned to the town.
After the above performance, a goodly number of the party, as many as still remained in the village, about 5:00 o’clock, by the generous invitation of Capt. Shute, went on board the RED CHIEF No. 2, which made a short excursion, first down the river as far as Catlettsburg, then up as far as Symmes Creek, landing its jolly passengers as they came into the vicinity of their homes.
Passing Ceredo, a gay couple appeared at the bank. If you were in the company, Mr. Editor, you certainly did feel, Yankee as you are, that the abundance of fun was on our side; and that we Buckeyes could justify feeling our superiority, for through our good Captain and his Chief we were masters of the sea as well as of the land.
We expected the Ceredo Sabbath School to celebrate the Fourth with us but owing to the observance of the day at Ceredo, they remained at home. This was right; though we would have been happy to have shared our festivities with them.
The Red Chief #2 is a new and beautiful little steamer, and the captain is a generous and clever fellow is what everybody says who knows him May the CHIEF carry many accompany of as happy faces as it had that day.
M.
SOURCE: Ceredo Crescent 9 July 1859
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