Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1896-01-30
A HAPPY FAMILY GATHERING
Which was Enjoyed by one of Hurley's
Residents,


Which was Enjoyed by one of Hurley's
Residents.
From the Milan mich. Leader we
take the following account of family
reunion at the home of the father of
Mrs. Laura Alderman:
Christmas of 95 will long be remem-
bered as an event to date from in the
family of L. G. Allen, where at the old
home nest the children and their fami-
lies met for grand reunion. 1t was
planned as a complete surprise to
Father Allen, and for once not detail
miscarried. Just as he was congratu-
lating himself mentally on quiet
Christmas things hard to explain from
his point of view began to occur. First,
a procession of carriages drove to the
home OF Fitch and wife, and seemed to
sort OF take possession, but when to the
number of thirty, they came marching
into the house his feelings were doubt
less not unlike those Of his little grand
son, the prince of the house OF Allen,
who voiced his amazement in an eX-
plosive Gee whiz are all those my
relatiyes?" A pleasant incident OF the
Homecoming was that a daughter from
South Dakota was among the guests,
whose advent had been carefully con-
cealed from her father, and after the
greetings had become general the con-
spirators fell back little to watch the
climax of his surprise. 1t was con-
spiracy much against the peace and
| dignity of the venerable head of the
family, but the self control to which he
has schooled himself stood him we'll in
hand, and if the plotters expected to
entrap him into "scene" they were
mistaken. 1t had been planned to
have the two daughters from dist
ance enter together, but the one from
Toledo came with two sons soon as an
added surprise, and the happy, joyous
crowd scattered itself through the
roomy old house and overtiowed into
the adjoining grounds. Father Aliens
CONSERVATION that no preparations had
been made for Christmas feast for
the occasion was met by such peals OF
laughter that the prospect OF going
hungry seemed to be the jollist thing
imaginable, but as the guests sat down
to the tables where the only criticism
possible was plethora OF good things
the fun was explained.
But the days surprises were not yet
ended. While dinner was being served
an easy chair, the embodiment of com
fort and elegance, tlanked by beauti-
full lamp, had been stealthily conveyed
into the family living room, and upon
the return of Mr.. Allen from the din
iug-room, we're presented to him. or
behalf of his children, by Fitch in a
| few words expressive of their love
and regard, this being the one formali
ty in day given over to JOY unre
strained. And yet in little groups anc
knots, the older ones grew reminiscent
and with misty eyes lived over agair
the dear old days. With a grief thai
time has only softened, it was remem
bered that since the children had me-
together the best and dearest wife ant
mother that ever blessed a home, hat
''entered into her rest;" but it was {
time for memory yet not for tears, and
: her gentle spirit would have grievec
could it, with spirit vision. have seer
the festivity marred by unavailine
grief, and so the mirth held sway, ant
even Father Allen, living example
, of chow far the gulf stream of oul
youth flows into the arctic region o
our lives" as result Of temperance il
! all things, himself now seventy-nin'
5 years young, forgot the weight OF year
: as he laughed at some antic of his bah.
a great-grandchildre And not unit
], long after eleven o'clock was the las
!, goodbye waited back from tired, bu
: happy hearts, and the eventful Christ
{ mas had drifted into the past. to be
|, come more and more as time gives
!. perspective precious memory, link
. ing kindred hearts yet closer together