Progressive Batavian Batavia, Genesee County, New York State July 9-1875 -cont'd.- The Attica 'News' says:" "The M.E. church is receiving a new underpinning and a general overhauling. W.B. GOODWIN is raising the roof of his dwelling and will put a mansard on. "Con" SHEA is building an addition to the store occupied by Mrs. TITUS; also A.J. LORISH's residence on Main street is nearing completion. Miss Abbie ELLLINWOOD of Attica, graduated at the head of her class at Houghton Seminary, Utica, on the 24th ult. She was salutatorian of her class, and her welcoming address was in "Classic Latin." She then read her essay upon the "Influence of the Reformation upon Art," which the 'Herald' of that city highly commends. + Bethany.-Picnic, and Woodland Wedding.--The closing exercises of Miss Olive ERWIN's school, dist. No. 4, was held in the woods west of the county house, Wednesday afternoon, June 23d. The grounds were nicely cleared, seats and tables prepared, platform erected, carpeted, and surrounded with maple boughs, giving an artistic arrangement to the occasion. The motto-"Union forever"--was a little ambiguous to those uninitiated into the mysteries of the day; eliciting remarks foreign to the purpose that it was designed to represent, but before the day was over there were none but could acknowledge the appropriateness of the design. At 2 o'clock, a pleasant company having assembled, the teacher announced the opening exercise, greeting, thence followed declamations, essays, music, &c., by the members of the school, who acquitted themselves creditably, showing that the efforts of the teacher had not been in vain. At the close of the exercises by the school, to the surprise of many, an addition to the programme was announced by Rev. James E. WELLS, of Ontario, N.Y., in which he was to take an active party, though there were others who appeared deeply interested in the part they were to act in the drama, as at this point there appeared on the scene Mr. D.M. PEPPER, of Davisburg, Mich., as groom, Miss Olive ERWIN, of this place, as bride, Mr. Orlo ERWIN as groomsman, Miss Mary PEPPER as bridesmaid. After a few preliminary remarks to the audience, Mr. WELLS clasped the chain that united the destinies of two lives in one, then to the utter surprise of the bride, three young ladies came forward, and Maggie BLOEDT read a poem addressed to their teacher, which, with the author's permission, I subjoin: School Address We have gathered in the woodland, >From this busy world away, Where the summer breezes whisper, And the stealthy shadows play. Where with fairest flowers blooming, And with gayest birds in tune, Every cheek and brow is brightening With the breath of rosy June. We have gathered here to mingle With your own our voices free, And to wake the woodland echoes With our joyous melody. Each to read a composition, Or selection to rehearse, Be it faltered in the accents Of some sweet, child-chosen verse, For our summer school is over, And its closing hour is here, And our childish bosoms render First a smile and then a tear Smiles and tears, for we are grateful For the progress we have made For your kindly spoken precepts, That can never, never fade. For the golden words of wisdom That you gave us every day For your prayers and fond persuasions That we never go astray. And we ask you to forgive us When, in childish thoughtlessness We have given you, dear teacher, E'en a moment of distress. For we never meant to grieve you, Though we often tried you so-- But because you love your scholars, You'll forgive it all, we know. We have heard that as a teacher We shall never meet you more, That each summer school-room sojourn And each teaching day is o'er. And in pride of our position That we are the very last Of the many scores of scholars That your discipline have passed We have put our mites together And have brought some tokens true Of the love and fond affection Which your scholars feel for you. They are poor, and small and simple, When compared with what we would Do; to prove how much we love you, If we only, only could. But they sometimes will remind you Of the little schoolhouse hive, Where you passed the early summer Of dear eighteen seventy-five. And when you are snugly settled In your happy Western home, When the thoughts of this occasion To your musing memory come. Let the sugar-spoon remind you That we wish for you to-day Heaven's sweetest, brightest blessings All along your wedded way. And the cream-spoon, too, may tell you That the very cream of life Mr. PEPPER now is skimming, As he takes you for his wife. And the cream of every comfort, Every pleasure may you know And the sunny land around you E'en with milk and honey flow. You will never be forgotten By the ones assembled here Oft with smiles we shall recall you, And still often with a tear. For we know that you are going-- Eyes see that you are gone >From the rosy realms of girlhood That you now look back upon. And your loving heart had hidden This surprise from us away, And we knew not we were bidden To your blissful bridal day, You have gathered us to witness What we hoped not to behold And the angels make the record High above in book of gold, And angelic choirs are bending Through the distant ether blue, And angelic hosts are hovering Round about and over you. We have gathered but to sever 'Neath these leafy arches dim, While the woodland warblers carol Now a sweeter, sadder hymn, For your bright school-life is over, And we sing its final tune At your glorious woodland wedding, On this twenty-third of June. Thence came introductions and greetings, followed by the sweetcake and pie, to which all did ample justice, yet none were too full for utterance, as each seemed in his merriest mood, and the best wishes for the happy couple were not the least subject of the occasion. It was a day of rare festivity, and each was pleased with the exercises of the school, the picnic, and the woodland wedding. Mr. and Mrs. PEPPER left the same evening, en route to Chicago, by way of the lakes, thence to Davisburg, their future residence, where we can want them no warmer, better wish than that worded by their own chosen motto--"Union Forever." + submitted by Linda C. Schmidt *********************************************