There were very nearly four hundred gathered upon the floor, the
majority of them being horny-handed sons of toil, or, more properly
speaking, independent New England farmers.
When Jeremiah Spinney, the oldest man in town, who had reached the age
of ninety-two, and who declared that he hadn't "missed a town meetin'
for seventy year," called the meeting to order, a hush fell upon the
assemblage. In a cracked, but still distinct voice, he called for a
nomination for Moderator of the meeting. Abraham Mason's name, of
Mason's Corner, was the only one presented. The choice was by
acclamation; for it was acknowledged on all sides that Deacon Mason was
as square a man as there was in town.
The newly-elected Moderator took the chair and called upon the clerk to
read the warrant for the meeting. This was soon done, and the
transaction of the town's business begun in earnest. It will be, of
course, impossible and unnecessary to give a complete and connected
account of all that took place in town meeting on that day. For such an
account the trader is referred to the columns of the "Eastborough
Express," for it was afterwards acknowledged on all sides that the
account of the meeting written by Mr.
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