Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-01-06
2ist Anniversary.


sary of DR.. and Mrs. Prices marriage.
In the evening a large number of
friends, men and their wives, with
baskets well filled with edibles pleas
ant to the sense of sight and smell.
filed into, by the rear, as well as the
front door, of the pleasant home of
the bride and groom of twenty-one
years standing, much to their sur
prise; they soon gained composure
the sitting-room, library, dining-room
and kitchen were in good attire, for
what was appropriate to each. Tables
in the commodious sitting-room and
library, were soon surrounded, four
at each, with ladies and gentleman,
and in less time than it takes to write
it, battle, of what seemed to the
writer, of progressive euchre was
ranging, not amidst the booming of
cannon and clash of armor, but the
more gentle loars of laughter and
words OF pleasure according to what
the timekeeper's figures said when at
some division, the gentle knuckle tap
at one or another of the tables
notified the whole company that it
was time to change, not always in
entire, for occasionally some one
would remain where they were, like
boy or girl at school, to complete
what Was lacking, and so the battle
and the fun of it went merriIy on, un.
til the big clock out in the dining
room hammered the number ten on
its silver toned bell. In the mean
time, three ladies and the Episcopal
minister who were either innocent of
a sufficient knowledge of jacks,
queens, hearts and spades and ali the
rest, or else for a time preferred a So
cial visit, sat and talked and looked
on without losing farthing of the
pleasure of the occasion. The ladies
Withdrew thus finding himself alone
the preacher cast about for the cause
of his solitude, and in the anxiety of
his sympathetic nature betook
himself 10 first his room being a
boarder of the house where he found
drink of water which gave fresh
courage in his journey to the dining.
room, where well of all the pleasant
sights and pleasant odors which are
ever intended to be the sweet CON-
pletion of ordinary joyous occasions
met his wondering and delighted
eyes. inst then lady in pleasant
smiles and most artistic manner
addressed the gentle fatherly priest
in words to this effect. Seeing that
providence hath ordered that the
Doctor and his wife has gone all
these years mourning because no
child has crowned their nuptial
vows, we have thought it wise that
on this occasion the Doctor
would be willing to be made father
and his wife mother, aud thus be
lieYing that it is good providence
that ordereth all things to fit every
occasion We have provided this sweet
infant asa providential gift to our
beloved friends, the Doctor and his
wife, at the present auspicious period
of their welded life, and will you,
dear sir, be SO kind, seeing that they
call You Doctor too, as to present this
sweet girl baby to the happy couple,
as JOY forever, with our best wishes
for their continued happiness and
prosperity. The old priest had buried
people. married people, baptized
people, but in all his protracted min
istry he had never. until this blessed
hour, presented parents with their
own child; just then the lady said all
was ready, and the Rev. Gorreil adj
yanced from the diniDg-room With
the sw eetest of little blond babies on
his left breast, to the door of the
sitting-room. A roar of laughter in
songsters melody burst from the
mothers lips when she saw her joy
forever, the fathers exultation
followed. All joined in the burst of
merriment, which seemed to gain
volume until the standing priest
called their attention to the fact that
they yet lacked the appropriate cere-
mopy; In an instant all was still, with
the sweet creature yet on his arm,
he went OH in words to this effect.
DIR. and Mrs. Price, in behalf of your
many friends, providence hath
ordered that your pleasant home shall
no longer go childless. AS Abraham
was ninety-nine and Sarah his wife
ninety years old when Isaac was
PROMISED, SO your hope has held on,
this being the first, it is but just and
due, as your many friends have de-
cided, The gift should be girl, in
| the houe however, that when you
celebrate your fftieth anniversary,
it may be q boy. The proud father
standing straight up in his turkish
headgear, took the child and in few
and appropriate words accepted the
darling as their own and passed the
child to its mother, VINO received it
laying it upon her bosom saying, my
one long desire is now grntified. IL
was a blond doll in elegant attire,
want OF space forbids description of
the good things which followed. At
half past eleven the visitors, wrapped
well il furs and woolens, for the
night was cold, began their exit
homeward, the ola priest mounted TO