Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-10-13
A Happy Surprise.

Mr.. EDTroR-Ify you admit any person.
al experiences into your columns, We
would desire to ada our testimony TO the
verify OF the Addage. "This wcrld Is not
so bad a world as some would like to make
It," suppose there were surprises when
we first beheld the light OF day, al least,
we have met with them ever since our
earliest remembrance.
Some surprises sadden the heart and
leave unmistakable traces oftheir destruc-
tive influence on the human system. 9th
ers, again, are very agreeable, falling In
line with our aims and purposes in.life,
we naturally feel a new animation Of body
and soul, and instinctively cry out, "you
may come again." An experience of this
latter class we wish TO relate.
1t was on Monday evening, Oct. 10, 1881,
the doors OF John Huddle's house having
been swung widely open, that, on sud-
den, great and small, old and young, came
rushing in on all sides, greeting the aston
ished inmates with brightest smiles and
many good wishes. And still they came
from the East and the West in one contin-
uous stream till their number swelled to
nearly one hundred. You will not won
der at our surprise when we tell you how
strange they appeared. Perhaps our own
strange feelings had some bearing on the
perplexing department of the visitors.
They were all neatly dressed in popular
costume, representing all stages of human
lite and all classes of general industry,
there were farmers and mechanics, teach
ers, clerks and druggists; milliners and
dress makers, merchants and undertakers
among their number, but it was their bas-
kets and bundles so richly filled, their pro-
digeous number andtheir harmonious
movements that struck us with surprise,
and soon convinced us that whatever
might be the issue of such a gathering
these were all messengers of love.
The programme begins: Miss Clara Knis-
ly ably presided at the organ while we sang
few of the songs of Zion from Gospel
hymns. Prayer was offered and singing
resumed in joyful spirit under good instru-
mental music at the hands of Misses Eva
Wheeler and Sarah Gearheart.
But our friends would not have us in the
days to come to forget that they had been
with us, so they set up their memorials
in our midst. Mr.. John Huddle, being
helped to handsome easy-chair, by Mr..
Patterson, was permitted to look on his
happy surroundings through beautiful
gold spectacles placed so dextrously astride
the ridge of his nose by Miss Dora Shoe
maker.
The pastor of the Evangelical Church,
who finds pleasant home in the Huddle
circle, had forcible demonstration of real
compliments of Many Friends" by the
donation of the following pleasant gifts:
few toilet articles of Mrs. Arnold Meyers;
slippers for his feet presented by Miss Co.
ra Huddle; an album for his pictures pre-
sented by Miss Dora Shoemaker; an ex-
cellent Oxford bible of the S. S. edition
handed him with expressions OF regard
from church and friends by Mr.. Lochler.
lu6 NdluO VI SlAto RlOoOhSSN 40 obooV
$25. 90; as tokens of good will we know no
standard of measure to express their val
ue. The Misses Hannah Peterson, Cora
Huddle and Dora Shoemaker did remark
ably well in collecting these funds. We
return our thanks to all the donors.
When the cry went forth from the portly
Mr.. Fast: "be seated and have something
to eat, it was evident that the order of
entertainment must be changed. Under
the able supervision of Mrs. John III uddle
refreshments were served in great variety
and rich abundance, and we verify believe
that the heart was made glad while the
mouth was filled with good things. We
now understood the import of those richly
laden baskets. All this "merry making"
to celebrate the birth day of Mr.. Huddle
and S. J. Gamertsfelder.
The participants have the best wishes of
the recipients of their favors. May we all
enjoy happy reunion in the Sweet
Beyond. SIG.