HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 285 



Resolved, That our thanks are especially due to the Marys and Marthas of 

 the village who spread the feast of good things before us and ministered to 

 our inner wants, giviDg to each a reserved seat at the banquet board, and where 

 the last of the wine was kept for the best of the feast; and while Martha was 

 busying herself about many things on our account, Mary was choosing her bet- 

 ter half or words to that effect , and finally 



Resolved, That our thanks are due to the angels and our lucky stars that we 

 have been taken so unanimously unawares and have been so highly enter- 

 tained; that our souls are so enchanted and filled with musics's charms that 

 they are bubbling over with hallelujahs — Excelsior. 



J. T. Grimes. 

 Frank Burnett. 



The resolutions were adopted. 



President Elliot. I must say that as far as I am concerned, 

 personally, this has been a very pleasant occasion. I have been 

 very mu^h gratified with the hearty good-will and good-cheer that 

 we have all had given us here and I hope that we may have many 

 such gatherings, and that we shall strive, wherever we go, to try to 

 give the people the best entertainment that we know how. And 

 while on our part we appreciate what they have done for us, I 

 hope that as we leave them they will feel that we have not labored 

 in vain to do whatever has been our purpose. I hope that each 

 one, as he takes the train here, will bid them a hearty good-bye, 

 and wish that he can come back to them again on some future oc- 

 casion, 



Mr. Allen. I would like to add one word. When I enlisted 

 here to defend our country, the recruits were delayed at Philadel- 

 phia, and of course we had to remain there two or three days, and 

 the people of Philadelphia some way or other were so cheerful and 

 so bright, and made everything so homelike for us, that it made 

 me a better union man, a better man to fight for the Hag. So af- 

 ter this meeting here at Excelsior, I can go on and be a better 

 horticulturist than I have ever been before. 



REMARKS BY J. S. HARRIS, OF LA CRESCENT. 



It is always expected that the old man will say something. 

 I have been much pleased, very much gratified with this meet- 

 ing at Excelsior. My sons have come up here, and they have 

 behaved themselves nobly. They have responded in earnest; and 

 shown that they are going to follow the old man's advice and 

 after he is laid aside they are going to keep this work rolling 

 along. My eldest son Mr. Somerville is here; he towers above 

 me in many things, and he has done better work here, than he has 

 ever done before, and I hope he will be a bright and shining light 

 that will shine over our heads. He is a farmer, and not a pro- 

 fessional man, but he is a man that talks from genuine experience. 



To the citizens of Excelsior: — We came here as xiiissionaries to 



