The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-08-25
ANOT1EIs FAMILY REUNION.

the reunion of the family circle wher
once by the memorable fiat of time it has
been broken, sending each forth BY
| himself to grapple with the affairs OF
life.
/ When one has gone here, another
| there, to the East, to the West, to the
North, to the South; each having sep
arate interest to attend to, few have a
just conception of the difficulty of get
ting a large family together. One has
| a sick wife OF husband another, a sick
| child. One has important business that
can't be neglected. Some can come now,
but can't spare the time next month.
Other can come IN a week or so, but
not now, and so on cd infnitun,.
Overcoming all these difficulties, the
large family of our townsman, Mr.. n
B. Markham met under his roof, on
| Thursday last, the 22d inst, for the
| first time since the first separation, %
years ago, and all surrounded one table
At the first table were the aged patriarch
| and his honored vile, and their six sons,
three daughters and three daughters-in-
law +; one daughter-in -law and two-sons-
in-law were absent, and one daughter,
and one daughter-in-law have joined
the Heavenly throng above. All were
children again during the repast /; but
near it's close they were reminded that
time produces wondrous changes. They
were not children, but fathers and moth
ers, and tall sons and daughters claimed
their places, and SO a second table was
filed with the ten grand children, all
but one, who was engaged in business,
he could not leave.
Mr.. Markham is now in his 18th year;
is very strong and hearty, for ore of his
age, and what is very remarkable, has
never used glasses, and car now read
the finest print with ease.
His estimable wife is 70 years old, a
woman of rarest good sense, whose at
tainments far out-strip those of her time
and one Of whom it car truly be said,
none knew her but to love, none
named her but to bless"
Three years ago. as our readers will
remember, they had reunion, and all
the children were present, except one.
Of those who were then present, one has
gone home and sucn was the purity OF
her life, the angelic sweetness of her
temper, that if any distinctions are
made in Heaven in favor Of the purely
good, Mary will occupy an exalted posi-
ton
The present occupation Of the mem
bers of this family are four sons are
lawyers, one is a jeweler, and one
nurseryman. One daughter married a
merchant, another physician, and the
third is unmarried. Two sons and two
daughters reside in Manitowoc and Vi
cinity one son in Aver, Mass; two
in Milwaukee, and one in Neenah. One
daughter resides In iowa.
Most Of them are prosperous in the
accumulation of this worlds goods, and
all are in comfortable circumstances.
In disposition, more jolly set never
met. Dull care picks up his '<auds''
and ''skedadles'' wherever they are, and
it is morally certaiza, he was not even in
hearing distance on this happy occasion.
We can only approximate guess of
what occurred after the dinner was over.
We were assured however, by some
members of the party, that it YVES one
of the rost enjoyable events that could
be imagined.
They lived over their childhood days,
recounted their mad psanks of fun and
frolic, related to the Old gentleman, the
countless times they had aloaced HIM to
believe In their moral purity. and free
dom from guile, while guilty of the,most
fragrant breach of paternal law ;, the
Jokes upon each other, and upon neigh
bors children; talked of the more serious
affairs Of life, after each had gore into
the world for himself; recalled to men,
DRY old school mases, discussed their
prospects and whereabouts and then
came the parting, end the sad thought
that as this was the first time all had
been together since arriving as mans
estate, so in all human probability it
would be the last
It is ever so joy, and sorrow, go hand
in hand and sorrow at parting destroyed
much of the pleasure Of the feast.
IF there is family in our community
that is more highly esteemed in every
respect, than each one OF the Narkhams,
we do not know it ; they are honoHed
and loved wherever known, and we
only express the heartfelt wish OF all
that know them, that their days may be
long and happy here, and their reunion