River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-03-19

lThe following report of the wooden wedding
OF DR.. and Mrs j. +. johnson should have been
received at an earlier date, but perhaps is OF
sufficient interest to bear publication now and
will be received with pleasure by the many
friends of the bride and groom.-ED.
The most pleasant occasion that have ever
had the pleasure of attending, during my So
journ in Martell took place at the residence of
DR.. J. f. Johnson on Monday evening, Feb. 10,
it being the 9TH anniversary OF their welded life,
hence the wooden wedding. The presents were
numerous and both useful and curious. Among
the curious were two pairs of wooden shoes.
One pair of the shoes was dated; one shoe had
the date of the marriage, the other the date OF the
anniversary. There was an iron-wood fish pole
% feet long and of large size, decorated with "a
new clothes line for line on the end of which
was a large wooden hook or 6 inches long, and
or feet up from the hook was perhaps l or 2
pounds of lead wound around the line a sink
err
Another part of the program that was quite
interesting to all was a paper Of congratulation
and esteem, written and read by Mr.. Lu. Rich
ardson, teacher and recent citizen of our vii
lage, and with Mr.. Richardson's consent we beg
leave for its publication IN the columns of the
JOURNAL, which is as follows:
v. r.
FRIENDs:-Having received an invitation to be
one of the many guests here this evening, upon
this the 9Th anniversary of your welded life, |
feel inspired to make a few remarks of congrat-
ulatlon, although am positive II does not be-
fall me to be the mOuth-plece upon this oeca-
sion. 1t is the habit of the young to look for
ward with hopeful dreams OF what the coming
years shall bring. IL is the privilege and not
less the duty of every one of us, who are now
growing older the great of life rolls on, to
look back and talk with our past hours. We
hap n al
lives and oh, how sweet it seems to recall the
recollections of our childhood and youth. We
look back to-day in particular to the beginning
of your welded life, probably most all that are
here remember well, as yet its beginning; your
early struggles, the sunshine and shadows that
have mingled in your experience. You were
both brave at heart and dared fortune TO turn
her " heel just as she chose, and now after five
years you are both spared in good health and
prosperous circumstances to see your children
and host of friends with you tonight, to make
merry at your wooden wedding, 4 congratu-
late you with all my heart; so do we all. You
are still only in the prime of life. Many, many
happy days, we trust are III store for you. May
you be spared, and those dear friends to cele-
brate your golden wedding, and If | thought 1t
might be my lot, would add "and may 1 be
there to see Life is never always sunshine
but we hope that there may be but an atom of
cloud to a universe of sunshine. The way of
life is always up hill, but IT the climbing is
healthful and for the most part pleasant, we do
not mind the hill. You have rejoiced together
over the cradle and we look upon these children
as the fairest flowers of this glad festival When
we look upon their fair young faces and hear
the sweet music of their voices we can not but
feel the comfort and enjoyment they bring to
our homes. You have not struggled with for
tune in vain; although you are not millionaires
there is no likelihood Of your having 10 go lover
the hills TO the poor house" in your old age.
Dollars and cents have a very definite value and
are not TO be dispised but what are they COM
pared to the wealth Of fir en- 1ship which is man
ifested by this vast bod. of friends that sur
round you tonight Our main pleasure is tree
to rich as well as poor. What sight is so grand
as the SUM- What pleasure is greater than to
breath2 What fluid is more grateful tor all pur-
poses than water? What music is sweeter than
the singing of the birds the ringing of free
school bells and the hum of machine ry? So,
with nature as your guide may you have a long
and prosperous life with a happy close, IS the
best wish of your sincere friend.
AS windup the doctor gave dance, and
opened the ball himself by selecting partner
and taking "A short waltz, wearing one pair of
his wooden shoes.