The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1879-06-26
SILAS GEORGES SURPRISE PARTY
On Hardin's Creek, Paint Township.

EDITOR NEws:-We know that report
ing surprise parties Is a little out Of date,
but as We have not seen anything Of the
kind from this unknown region, We hum
bly, ask you to publish this
About the middle Of May it was whis-
pered around among the children, that
they would 60 upSo on the oath and sur
prise Silas. So the necessary preparation
being made, about ten O'Clock on said day
the company began to assemble. Mr..
George has been confined to the house with
sickness all winter, but has been able to
walk about since warm weather, so he con-
cluded to walk up that morning to see a
sick lady, some half a mile distant. His
daughter told him that be had better not
stay long, as they were looking for Eliza
Ballard up 10 visit him that day. So be re-
turned about ten o'clock, to find the COM
pany, about 45 in number, assembled, and
to say that the old man was surprised
would be drawing it mild. His cup Of
Joy was full for once beyond utterance,
and it would have been q heart Of stone
indeed that would not have been touched
to see the old man standing there, sur
rounded by his children, the tears of ioy
Mrs. Georges surprise was even greater.
for she was heard to say, show win aRe
ever get dinner for all these people %
But when they began to carry in those
baskets she threw up her hands and ex-
claimed, 81 give it up! you fooled me this
timep
All things being ready, Mr.. and Mrs.
George, and all Of their children, were
seated around a table, loaded with the
fat" Of the land and beautifully deco
rated with flowers, an occasion they have
not enjoyed for many a year, and proba-
bly, never viii again.
OF the cakes your correspondent tasted
quite number, but no man of ordinary
capacity could have tasted all, and it is
only justice to say, that they were peerless
and did credit to the ladies skill in that
branch Of cookery.
Mr.. George has seven children, three
sons and four daughters, viz: Thomas,
William and Albert George, Mrs. J. W.
Grim, Mrs. w. W. Ballard, Mrs. Creamer
and Mrs. J. Banks; twenty-five grand
children and two great-grand-children, all
OF whom were present except two. The
only invited guests were Mrs Ladd, Mrs.
Barns, and Mr.. A. L. H. Mccoy. The la
dies present were voted rather handsome
the men as hOmely a lot as ever got
together, and how these extremes ever
met no one was able to say.
Mr.. George was born in Hampshire
county, Virginia, May "a, 1903, and is 76
years old was married July %, 1924, to
Nancy WssOn, and came to Ohio in the
same year, landing at Jonathan Barrett's,
on Hardin's Creek, Nov. 18th. BIr. G. has
been almost blind for the past 20 years, be-
ing scarcely able to recognize his own chill
dren, having lost his eye-sight from in
famed sore eyes. He was a great reader
in his younger days, and since he has not
been able to read time hangs rather heavi-
ly on his hands. He is a benevolent citi-
zen, kind and indulgent father, and has
lived a life of honesty and usefulness.
Mrs. G., who is 74years old, is as spught-
ly s a girl of 20, and goes about the du-
tie. Of her household, singing like a lark.
The gathering was not a formal one.
The afternoon was spent according to each
ones taste. The old valley was made to
echo and re-echo with the shouts Of child
ish Joy, and taken altogether the occasion
was one long to be remembered by those
present. It is a pity that such occasions
shOuld ever 60 out Of fashion, and right
here let me say, let US rally around those
old patriachs, and make them comfortable
and happy in their old days, for it is to
them we owe our homes and our country.
OF the ten voters present eight are Re
publieans, who will 60 solid for Charley
Foster for Governor this fall. B.J.