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The TALES you probably never heard about

DAVID MISENER’S BIRTHDAY

[People’s Press. 8 May 1900]

On Saturday last between fifty and sixty relatives gathered at the old homestead to celebrate the 77th anniversary of David Misener, and a right good time was had. The following is a bit of poetry composted by one of the “kids”:-

In the merry month of May,
And on Uncle Dave’s birthday,
A party was invited down the creek,
And some that got the dodgers
That were sent by Mrs. Rodgers
Said, “We’ll get there, and that double quick.”

From the east they came and west,
All dressed in their Sunday best,
So that each one now did look so neat and trim,
For it seemed their only thought
To put on the best they got,
Or perhaps they’d not at all be in the swim.

Now, Frank was near the field
When the rigs all in there wheeled,
And he gazed upon the party with a stare,
Then he says, you just can bet
They’ll put up with what they get,
But then again I s’pose they do not care.

When he saw the horses all,
Why he says I have no stall,
But, I’ve concluded for to tell them what to do,
Just tie up to the fence
And feed at your own expense,
Is the only way I see of getting through.

Now, it was market day,
And Emma was away,
For to get some cotton clothing for the kid.
When she got in sight of home
Her thoughts began to roam,
But we can never tell you what she said.

There came aunts, uncles, cousins
And others, too by dozens,
And many with a basket on their arm;
They had coffee there from Java.
And chicken with the gravy,
With many things that grow upon the farm.

Now, they brought all sorts of victuals
That were cooked in different kettles,
And they placed them on the table all together,
Then each took a bite and sup
Till they ate the wheel thing up,
They said, “We’ll surely now have better weather.”

But the greatest fun of all
Was to see the girls play ball—
How they’d run and skip and caper to the base,
When the boys would give a shout
And be sure to bat them out,
And then, of course, they’d have to take their place.

All too soon it came on night,
But the thing came off all right,
And no one of the party seemed vexed;
So we bade them all good-bye,
With a twinkle in our eye,
And wonder where the meeting will be next.

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