HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MEDFORD, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT, IN 1630, TO THE PRESENT TIME, 1855.
Charles Brooks, Ed.

[490] The introductory service concluded, the plight of vows was made, the union declared, and the benediction pronounced; and then the whole party journeyed back together, rejoicing in the poetry appended to the great event.

Autograph of Thomas Brooks.

Medford was represented in the General Court by a conscientious and trustworthy man, who had fallen into the habit of sleeping after dinner. Sleep he must, and sleep he would. Medford had petitioned the Legislature for a grant of certain rights touching the fishery in Mystic River. This gentleman had presented the petition; and the day was fixed for its consideration by the house. That day had arrived; and the Medford representative was all alive to the question, and had prepared his speech for the decisive moment, in defence of the petition. Two sessions were held that day; and the Medford fisheries were to come up immediately after dinner! How, then, could our representative get his nap? He went to his seat in the house at a very early moment; and soon his next neighbor came and sat beside him. It now occurred to him that he might safely secure a short nap, by asking his neighbor to wake him when the subject of Medford fisheries was called up. His friendly neighbor promised to do so: therefore Medford went to sleep. The house soon came to order; and it was then proposed to pass another bill first, because no debate would be needed upon it. The bill was for the suppression of houses of ill-fame. It was not debated; and the vote upon it was about to be taken, when our representative's next neighbor thought that his friend would like to vote on the occasion, and therefore awoke him suddenly. He had hardly got his eyes and wits fairly open before the speaker cried out, in the usual phrase, “Is the house ready for the question?” Medford sprang upon his feet in an instant, exclaiming, “Mr. Speaker! I must ask the attention of the house for a few moments to some remarks on this important and interesting question; because, Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents get their living by this very business.” A roar of laughter burst from every quarter of the house. The Medford representative stood aghast in raw wonder. As soon as quiet could be restored, the speaker said to him, “Do you know what the question before the house is?” “Why, yes: t's fishing in Mystic River, ain't it?” Another peal of laughter convulsed the assembly.

March 5, 1792.--Isaac Floyd chosen sexton. This is the first time an officer with this name appears on our records. Jan. 1, 1794.--Voted that the selectmen purchase a new cushion for the pulpit. They accordingly purchased “the green velvet one,” which some of us, who preached our first sermon from it, remember with all the distinctness that people remember the time when they had “that great fever.”