Facts and Fancies of Family History (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911 Excerpt: ...then taken up and carried on in country towns, and in the early years of his practice he was a member of the church choir; wrenching from some small instrument, presumably a fife, with evident contortions, the sacred music of the hour of worship. It is said that about this time he began the construction of a pipe-organ. Among the treasured relics, in the house of one of his descendants, hangs, above the mantel, his violin, forever silent and sacred to the memory of a man who throughout a strenuous public career, was never found too busy to discuss music or poetry. Dr. Edgerton was of generous proportions, a most manly man; but if nature cast him in a somewhat ruder mould, she also balanced her ledger with a heart of gold. He was possessed of a delicate and subtle humor, the result of his philosophic habit of mind and genial disposition. An incident will illustrate this trait. I was spending a few days at his house during convalescence from severe illness. Frank, the only child, was then a little fellow. Boiled eggs were served at breakfast, and, childlike, he expressed a preference. "Well," said the doctor, "you seem to have detected a difference that has escaped my observation. However," and suiting the action to the words, "it is very easy to exchange." He began tiptoeing upon his somewhat heavy footgear as soon as he approached the threshold of a patient. We all understood the clumsy attempt at quiet, and followed the suggestion. His laugh was characteristic, spontaneous, a gurgling chuckle like the purling of the hillside brook over it's rocky bed, the overflowing effervescence of good nature. One incident recalls his scholarly habit of thought. When I was ten years of age my father had a long and dangerous illness. A consu...