Temperance > Autobiography and personal recollections of John B. Gough

133
the 2d of December, when I went to Portland, Maine, and
again returned to Boston, speaking in the course of the
month sometimes for the Washingtonians, and sometimes
for the Ladies’ Benevolent Society,—but principally under
the direction of my friend Deacon Grant, and the Boston
Temperance Society,—under the judicious management of
that gentleman, who then acted as its president.
My services were nowin requisition at Concord, N. H.,
where I spoke in connection with Franklin Pierce, after¬
wards President of the United States; then in New Bed¬
ford, Nashua, Gloucester, Marblehead, and Eockport; and
I made a trip into the old colony of Plymouth, where the
Pilgrim Fathers lauded; and visited also the towns of
Newburyport, Newport, E. I., and many other places,—
returning occasionally to the city and speaking to large
audiences there.
On the 23d of November, 1843, I left Boston for Boyl-
ston, for the purpose of marriage; and on the next day,
the 24th, I left the house of Captain Stephen Flagg of
Boylston with Miss Mary Whitcomb, who had consented
to become my wife. It was early in the morning, raining
heavily, that we started in a carriage hired in Worcester
for the occasion. There were no bridal wreaths or gifts;
no wedding ring or cards; no bridesmaids or grooms,—
only we two, agreeing to walk the journey of life together,
We were driven to the house of Eev. Mr. Smalley of Wor¬
cester,—a gentleman who from the first had been my
friend,—and found him at breakfast. We stood up to¬
gether, and left his house husband and wife; proceeded
at once to Boston, where Deacon Grant met us and escorted
us to Eoxbury, where we rented one room, and boarded
with Mrs. Fuller.
When I had paid the minister five dollars, and our fare to
Boston, I had just three dollars and a half left; but Mary