Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-12-20
A BIRTHDAY PARTY.
a Number of Friends Surprise Mr..
B.F. Nelson and Enjoy a Pleasant

Evening.
Thursday the 18th being the 4sth
birthday anniversary of our esteemed
fellow citizen, Mr., B. F. Nelson, few
of his old soldier friends conceived the
idea that it would be a graceful COM
pliment to give him little surprise
party and at the same time present
him with some light token of their
esteem as a reminder of their visit.
In pursuance of this plan a few OF
the old boys, with the full knowledge
and consent of Mr.. Nelson's estimable
wife, but entirely without the slight
est suspicion on his part that anything
unusual was going forward, gathered
at his residence at about O'Clock IN
the evening, having first sent one OF
their number to thestore to bring him
home little earlier than usual. This
was easily done as he had not been
feeling very well for some days and
was disposed to go home early.
Imagine his surprise on arriving
home to find gathered in his elegant
parlors Messrs. David Matteson, r A
Brown, A S Davidson, WI Davidson,
George Thompson, McDivitt, W r
Dunlap, E G Putnam, VIM Messenger
Frank Peters, w ID Robb and David
Higgins, all making themselves very
much at home. After congratulations
all around Mr.. A. S. Davidson called
Mr.. Nelson up and addressed him d:
follows.
"CoMRADE NELSON: 1 beg, of you
not to be surprised. l assure you We
have not entered your pleasant home
for the purpose of vandalism, nor ye1
for plumber. Our aspirations are or I
higher and holler order than this. W.
are here as friends bound together by
a bond of friendship, the origin o.
which was love of country; but those
| troublous times have passed. and II
their stead you and your comrades art
enjoying the fruits of lasting peace
too precious to be lost. We are here
to testify to the pleasure it affords III
to greet you upon this your 4oth birth
day, and to make this the occasion o
one of the bright spots OF an eyentfu
life. We congratulate you upon you
usual health, your business prosperity
and express the wish that your las
DAYS may be the most pleasant an,
happieSt of your life. In order that IL
the future you may look back over thu
record of the past and call to mine
pleasant instances, a few of your ole
friends and comrades have JOINED
together and decided to present 70 yOl
this gold pen and inkstand, will
which to jOt down from time to time
the things you care to remember, which
l, as the chosen spokesman, now hanC
to YOU in token OF our friendship ant
esteem, and in remembrance of tn
MANY hardShipS we have all endured
battling for the cause of right and OIL
commonwealth"
1t is safe to say that Mr.. Nelson wa
the most surprised man in ten States
The beautiful gift, the friends arount
him in his own pleasant home, al
affected him very greatly. He, how
ever, soon recovered, accepted the gift
returned words of heartfelt thanks anC
gave his old comrades and friends {
hearty welcome, although confessins
frankly, that he was more nearly CAY
tured and demoralized than in all biz
army experience.
At this stage of the proceedings his
| good wife, ever on the alert, looking
after his welfare and comfort and fear
ing he might be induced to surrender
Internationally, announced supper
This was a surprise for the boys; how.
ever. no old soldier was ever much put
out in that way. The supper was ele.
CANT and all did it ample justice. The
balance of the evening was taken UP
with songs, readings and stories, and
at a late hour the visitors took theil
departure, having had a very pleasant
and enjoyable evening. All wished
their host many more equally pleasant
birthdays.