HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 45 



The Hon. Francis B. Hayes, President of the Massa- 

 chusetts Horticultural Society, responded for that associa- 

 tion as follows : — 



Mr. President, and Gentlemen, — You have as- 

 signed to me the agreeable duty of speaking for the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society on this interest- 

 ing occasion, and especially in reference to the con- 

 nection of our honored guest with it. 



Let us recall the past, and briefly recount some of 

 the incidents of his life. 



In an inland village in New Hampshire, at the 

 commencement of the present century, might be 

 seen a little boy instructed at his mother's knee 

 in the principles of morality and religion, which he 

 has never forgotten. Soon after, we see him a dili- 

 gent pupil in the district school. When old enough, 

 he engages in rural pursuits, until he Is induced, by 

 the laudable desire of supporting himself and Improv- 

 ing his condition, to engage In such business occupa- 

 tions as opportunity presents to him in his native 

 place. Growing ambitious to take a more prominent 

 position In life, he leaves his native town, with the 

 respect of all the neighborhood, and enters upon 

 a successful business career In this city ; passing 

 through all the grades of advancement by which the 



