The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-01-08
Maple River farmers Club.

And spreading out its f1eecy fold
To hide the last Of autumn's gold.
Five weeks since that eventful day
Have passed on times swift wings away,
And still 80 fresh to memory yet
Indeed we never shall forget
That meeting at the Reynolds farm
Where oil received welcome warm.
IL will ever in our memory rest
AS one among the very best.
Had It not been for one sad thought
The absence of one ne'er forgot,
The meeting had been one OF JOY
And happiness without alloy.
Two changefui years had passed away
Since there we met before;
Yet her sweet face we missed that day,
Her quiet welcome at the door.
And oft her quiet ways were brought to mind
BY things her loving hands had wrought,
Her cheerful smile, her voice 50 low and kind,
Were oft to saddcned memory brought.
But she, whose life so full Of grace,
And peace, and love and duty,
Has found in heaven resting place,
home OF heavenly beauty.
After we had listened to a praise song by the
choir
Which raised our thankful hearts towards
heaven alittle higher,
The president read psalm, and meekly offered
prayer
In thsnkfulness for all the blessings that we
share
The roll call then was sounded, and few indeed
were they,
Who ,yore not tbere IN answer 10 their names
that stormy day.
The president opened under the head of busi-
ness then,
And a committee was appointed Of somewhat
less than ten,
To call upon delnqucnts, for there are some you
know,
meetings in a row.
It's somewhat like the game we played upon our
slate in school,
We played it on the sly you know, for twas
against the rule.
You may have played the same when your hair
was light as tow
Tit, tat, with one eye on the teacher, while the
other checks the row,
| Tit tat, toe, three In q row, and out you go.
Each member of this club in high esteem we
hold,
And regret when called upon to drop them from
the roll;
But IL our bylaws are to stand-which they
should do, no doubt
One fails to come, or send excuse, two meetings
puts them out.
The meeting then adjourned with this order
from the chair
"Just spend while in social cheer, to dinner
then repair
And such social time they had-you know il
you were there
Twas like the buzz of many bees while swarm
ing through the air.
The time passed swiftly on, and soon that happy
throng
Was seated at the table where the social time
went on
Till every one had feasted unto their hearts
DESIRE
When they filled again the parlors and listened
to the choir
As an anthem "Great is the Lord" they very
sweetly sang,
While loud and clear, and musical, their familiar
voices rang.
Cooper and Sheldon, each spoke in eloquent ap
In favor OF societies who, their secrets ne'er
reveal
And also G. Il. Cook, thinks the nihilistic plan
In Russias, working out more good than any
other can.
Though they resort to desperate means in which
we would not share,
Their cause is also desperate, they deal with
despots there.
BY some twas thought the good was all absorb
ed within,
While that which comes 10 light too oft results
in sin.
That just as much of good always can be done,
BY working it out openly in the sight of every
| one.
For the "Good Templars" it was claimed and
all seemed well agreed,
They had ever been o blessing and help in
time OF need.
While of others it was said and all must needs
admit,
II their objects all are good, then good must
come of it.
Secret societies have been more than thrice
multiplied;
We hear OF new ones springing up around on
every side,
Till mans behind the fashion, and far behind
| the times
| If he cannot give the grip, If he does not know
the signs.
Or IL he does not wear some emblem you may
see,
That proclaims he is a, Mason or brother Nc.
A Bee.
There was time not long ago, when in truth a
man
Was thought TO be an odd.fellow who Joined a
secret clan.
But now the things reversed for IL is plain TO
scS,
II fellow does not Join, he's as odd as odd can
be-
There are secret organizations which for a
trifiing sum
Will insure your life, or, when your life is done,
VIII hand over TO your widow, or to your legal
heir,
thousand, more or less, the damage TO repair.
Some widows are made happy by this wise plan
no doubt,
While many men owe dues, Just ns their life's