Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 139, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1912 — A Birthday Feast. [ARTICLE]

A Birthday Feast.

Sunday Mrs. Sarah Pruitt’s home was literally packed with the more than a half a hundred guests who had gathered to help her celebrate the enghtieth anniversary of her birth. Her birthday is really June 10th, but that fact <did not detract from the joyousness of the occasion. Children were there whose ages ran from one to eighty-two and over; and truly they were all children together. Grey hairs were as thick as roses in June, yet age seemed to slip from the hill side under the warming rayseof an April sun. We were forcibly reminded of the three following verses from Oliver W. Holmes’ beautiful poem, “The Boys”: “Has there any old fellow got mixed •with the boys? If there has, take him out, without making a noise. Hang the almanac’s cheat and the catalogue’s spite! OIA Time is a liar; wA’re twenty tonight We’re twenty! we’re twenty! who says we are more? He’s tipsy, young jackanapes! show him the door! “Grey temples at twenty£i Yes, white if you please; Where the snow flakes fall thickest there’s nothing can freeze) Was it snowing I spoke of? Excuse the mistake! Look close, you will see not a sign of a flake! We want some new garlands for those we have shed, And these are white roses In place of the red.” Truly it Was a happy gathering and spoke eloquently of the popularity of the hostess. At the first table sixteen persons sat down, whose aggregate age was over 1200 years and whose average age was 75 3-5 years; the youngest was 65, and the eldest over 82. At about 11 o’clock dinner was announced and truly it was a most sumptuous feast, to which all tried to do ample justice. But, O! how the chicken yard must have suffered! The tables fairly groaned beneath the weight of the good things with which they were ladened, and we groaned after vainly trying to relieve them of their inviting burden. Those who came to do hondr to the occasion were relatites and friends of Mrs. Pruitt from In and around Rensselaer; fourteen, however, were from the vicinity of Goodland. Your reporter would „ have been glad to have secured more detailed and definite information regarding the guests but, what with the chatter, the clatter and the delightful business in nanu, rt was out 01 tutj quesnuu. Each and all were unanimous In wishing that "Aunty” Pruitt might have many more happy and for themselves the privilege of enjoying the feast on each returning one for the next twenty years to come: Contributed.