Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-08-24
. PLEASANT FAMILY REUNION
Held at the Residence Of Judge J.. z
Sims in Honor Of a Dear Rela-
i e-Incident Of the Old
Sims Mansion.


Isuppose there are periods IN all
mems lives when they stop TO review
the past and make comparisons Of
what existed in their youthful days
with present conditions.
On invitation Of Judge J. E. Sims
and wife to be present at a family re-
union eiver Thursday, the 18th Of
this month, in honor Of Mrs. Minerva
Yont, better known as Mrs. Ratclih,
the Judges only living aunt on his
faiher's side Of the family, who is
making bin a visit, brought to mind
very wildly many instances that oc-
Cured more than thirty years ego.
Vol do / remember the time, thirty
two yetrs ago last spring, when but
a beardless boy in my teens, ! dis
mounted With considerable timidity,
and marched up to the front door Of
the old Sims mangion with as bold a
front as possible under the circum-
stances, and my summons was an
swered by one Of the best girls that
ever lived, who proved to be Miss
Minerva, the young lady of the home,
then In her teens. After giving her
my name, / informed her as best l
could considering my embarrassment,
that l had been employed by the d.
rectors OF that school district to
teach their spring and summer school
and that l was looking for q place to
board and hoped It would suit them
to take me as a boarder. l was in
vited in and her mother called and
made acquainted with my wants.
Aunt Lizzie, the mother, met me cor
daily, but informed me very posi-
lively that she had M hired help in
her house and that her daughter pre-
sided generally over the household
affairs and she did not think IL would
be right to increase her duties by
taking boarders, and she vas sorry
she could not accommodate me. The
sorrow she expressed l have always
thought vas prompted by my disap-
pointed look, II my looks were any
index to my feelings. When all hope
seemed to vanish and my stammer-
ing tongue failed to work, the young
lady of the home, God biess her,
came to my reecue in this manner:
"Oh mother, one more won't make
any difference aud 1t will BIO &C nice
for Sallie (the young sister, to have
someone to go to school with" This
was enough, the victory was WON'T
was accepted as q boarder.
To more fully express my hearty
appreciation Of this little episode and
Of the hospitality and many kind
nesses / received at their hands l viii
tell you q %secret-I married the very
first one of the name that would con-
sent to be my wife and | am proud to
say that 1915 pounds Of that woman
was in evidence at this happy gather
ing.
/ was wonderfully impressed with
the many changes that the thirty-two
years had wrought. | missed the
cheerful face, the hearty handshake,
the ringing laugh Of Uncle Carl. l
missed the motherIy smile, the kind
and encouraging words, the watchfuI
care of Aunt Lizzie. Both have been
called to their reward.
Minerva, the older, and Sallie, the
younger daughter (who presided over
the churn every morning before the
school hour and turned out q nice roll
of butter), are both married to good
substantial and honorable farmers,
have large and happy families OF
children, and live just south of Cen
tralIa, in Boone county. Judge ]. En-
the then devilish boy, who was never
more happy than when he was teas
ing or ~tormenting someone, has
turned to a thoughtful, cautious mans
and reminds one very much OF his
father, particularly in his laugh and
management about the house; he Is
married and has & nice and interest,"
ing family of six children, iva boys
and one girl. The two Oldest soma
have married bright and charming
women, and the daughter married
Hardin Rixey, a young merchant Of
this city.
Judge Sims owns the old homestead
and he has improved 1t very much.
A new and modern house has been
reared instead Of the old mansion.
New barns, wells, Outhouses, orchards
and fences have all taken the places
OF the old. In fact, everything has
been improved, including the farm
and his stock. There is an air Of
prosperity and advancement all along
the road from Mexico to Judge Sims
that was not to be seen thirty years
ago. The nice white school houses,
the churches, the well graded and
well bridged roads, the good farm
houses, the well kept farms, the many
and large stacks OF hay and grain, the
bending branches OF the orchards, the
extensive corn fields, and the rich
pastures, well filed with horses, cat
tie and sheep, all bespeak Of prosper
ity and happiness such as q scarcely
be found any place else and such az
any man should be thankful for and
proud Of.
This meeting was n Of the pleas
ant events of my life, for IL brought
together old friends and gave the
Judge and bis good wife q chance to
show their royal hospitality, which
was enjoyed and appreciated by all
present. The dinner spread was good
enough for a king. The juicy lamb
yellow-legged chicken, iellies, cakes,
and everything else the heart could
wish galore wa all well served and
did credit to the wife and her &C.
complished daughter. When the sun
was near at rest we exchanged good
byes, hoping that at some future time
this gathering would be repeated.
}, O. F. O.
We often hear OF Superior stoves
that have been in use for 80 years.
and the modern Superior Is an inn