The financial
conditions for marriage were not inviting. One pleasant evening, later
than this date as I remember it, we were all invited to the Pilgrim
House to a wedding of one of Mr. Dwight's sisters. Our friend Rev. W.
H. Channing officiated.
It was a homelike affair, and after the ceremony "the Poet" (J. S.
Dwight) was invited to speak to us; but no, he was not in the mood. He
was urged--for all liked to hear his kindly voice, and we thought this
a particularly pleasant subject--so he at last arose from his seat and
commenced with these words: "I like this making one." It seemed to
touch various chords in the minds of the hearers, for the applause and
laughter that followed silenced the rest of the speech and it was never
finished. Then some one proposed that all should join hands and make a
circle, as the symbol of universal unity, and a pledge to one another
that all were united in effort to continue and carry on the great work
of harmonizing society on a true and just basis of unity of interests,
attractive industry, mutual guarantees, etc.
"Come, let us join hands! let our two flames mingle
In one more pure;
Since there is truth in nothing that is single
Be love, love's cure,"
sang our Poet after this time in the _Harbinger_, and some said
with double meaning.
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