A SILVER WEDDING AT TE WHITI, WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1291, 26 November 1896, Page 15

A SILVER WEDDING AT TE WHITI, WAIRARAPA.

Te Whiti was the scene of a most interesting silver wedding ceremony one day last week, when quite a large number of friends from all parts of the surrounding district and Masterton were invited to attend the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the wedding of Mr and Mrs Peter Gordon, who are old and highlyrespected settlers of that district. The home of the honoured couple, who were married in 1871 at " Kirkbride," Kircolm, Wigtonshire, Scotland, presented quite a festive appearance, when so large a gather ing of old friends met round the breakfast table, which, among other things, was adorned with a large and elaborate wedding-cake. The occasion was honoured in every way by host and guest alike, the Rev Rob't. AVood, of Masterton, conducting a brief service in which he congratulated Mr and Mrs Gordon on the many comforts which surrounded them, both of friends, home and family. The gifts made to Mr and Mrs Gordon were both numerous and handsome. The older friends, who spent a most enjoyable day in company with their hospitable hosts, on whom they bestowed their heartiest congratulations, left for their homes early in the evening, when the younger friends of Mr and Mrs Gordon and family assembled at their home and received a like hearty reception. The evening was most enjoyably spent by the merry party, who also came from all parts of the district, in many and varied ways, including a number of parlour games, music and singing, in which all took part. These younger guests did not leave until the early hours of morn, and, like the older ones who had been there during the daytime, went away rejoicing, and will long have cause to remember the occasion of Mr and Mrs Gordon's silver wedding and the hospitable treatment meted out to them. A young friend of the family, to commemorate the occasion, has written the following verses and sent them to tho honoured Scottish couple, in question : A CALM REFLECTION. 'Tis five-and-twenty yeais :>l;o, Love, On wild Caledonia's sh<re, Since we said we'd love ami eheri.-h. Each other for evermore. And we've kept our promise true, Love, Tho' we are ageing fast, Yet I prize Lime now, as then, Love, And will do till ihe last. We miss the happy friends of youth, Maybe they miss us, too ; Some yet there live, tho' some forsooth Have crossed the heavens blue. Our heavts go out to all this day That dwail 'mid Scottish hills, Those dear loved ones -so far away By river and by rills. We love them all, each one, as when We lived with them among The gladsome scenes of long ago To which Old Mem'ries clung. Yep, mem'ry brings them back again J In vision'b brisht recall, It seemed as when we crossed the main We said " Good-bye " to all. I In fancy doth the wild gull screech Arid hover to ai'.d fro, Along that wi'd and barren beach That we knew long ago. Heat'rtfc thou not, Love, the surges roar, As inwardly they s..weep O'er the ocean wide to Scotland's shore And 'gainst those cliffs so steep 2

Then blithe and gay were we, my love, In those dear d iys Ion.; past, Er* reached we that maturer ••.-.:& Whsn strength it f.iile.h fa.-t. Still, thou'rt a-= fair to me, rr.y Love, Ap rl*y when fhsfc we. tni' ; Too' Time ban lefr. on us his mark, We'll fret not nor regret. Yet those around, r»nfl those away In distant lauds we know, Fast wiUi'ring are, unto deca}', As Time and ivill show. Yet of this, wo"11 not c< mplain, Love, Kor tli' prei'.f God We trust Will bear our souls away, Love, When 'turn our frames to dust. In TTim we've trusted all th' years Of ibis our earthly life, And lie has freed n< from all fears And borne us thro' the strife. FL'h blessed us in our children's love For Him and u*, so true — Of all th' good-giftn of this life, They've been the best wa knew. We've made new friends in this dear land So far across the sea, But for a gliinpss of far-off frien.ls We'll have to " bide-a-wee." The above, in an humble way, gives a brief outline of the life and character as well as the associations of a couple of warm-hearted people from the " Land o' Burns."