The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-03
MAS. STEVENS BIRTHDAY.
Children OF stroudwster Greet the Ma
tionsl w. G. r. u. President.


A troop of Strondwatsr school children,
members Of the Loyal Temperance Legion,
gave Mrs l.. NJ n. Stevens n genuine sur
prise on her birthday, Wednesday morn
ing, March list. The family had not left
the breakfast tn BILE where Mrs Stevens
was enjoying flowers and gifts which hal
been sent her rs reminders OF the day
when the children stole march on her
from the nsighboring school house and
her first knowledge Of their intended In
vasion OF her heart and homo came In the
music Of their sweet young voices sing
ing
eve are little Temperance Band,
And this our pledge secure.
Well never never touch rhe wine
Well drink the water pure.
A charming picture presensn i1seii
when Mrs. SteveDs reached the DOORWAY.
With that artlsssness Of childhood which
is the perfection Of art the toys and girls
had grouped them selves in the pathway.
Tightly clasped in their sturdy little
hands along with books and tin dinner
pals were large lunches of pussy willow
branches gathered on their own motion
and the bright blossoms of the jonquil
furni shed by their teacher. They stood
under fine old maple trees whose swelling
buds betokened the glad ness of the
coming spring and on this the first morn 3.
Ina of tbs season that most reminds us of
childhood and Of immortal life. Out in
the sunshine they sang their cold water
song, while their faces were agiow with
happiness In greeting their beloved friend
and temperance leader.
Congratulations and pleasant words
followed, the young people assuring their
smiling hostess that she could count on
the Stroudwater l.. I. l.. every timc,
giving as their closing sentiment the
simple rhyme:
"1hese boys and girls with posies bright,
Have promised they Will strive
To bs IS good and true as you
When they are fifty five"
The sweetest flower In this human
bouquet was Mrs. Stevens grand niece
baby, Gertrude Lois Bates, eighteen
months old, who IN honor Of the day wore
for the first time a white ribbon badge.
A large white azslss In full bloom, the
gift OF Mrs. II. n. W. Merrill OF Portland
had been placed ON side table and Close
beside 1t stood this sweet child watching
the proceedings with intense animation
and de light Tears filed Mrs. Stevens
eyes as she called attention to the fact
that her dearest youngest friend In the
fair bloom Of her baby hood was standing
beside the floral gift of her dearest oldest
friend bothl their lives alike typif Q / In
their purity and beauty ty the azalt
In Its wealth Of bud and blossom.
Mrs. Libby. superintendent of the Loyal
Temperance Legion in q graceful speech.
paid Mrs. Stevens tribute Of love and
gratitude for her lsbors on behalf Of chill
dren and told tho little people Of the time
when she herself was Band OF Hope
mem Der, and Mrs. Stevens WAS her be
loved teacher and counsellor. After a
hook into Mrs. Stevens study with its
many interesting treasures goodbys were
said and the recipient Of these birthday
greetings left her coy study. her pussy
willows and fragrant flowers to spend the
day in A ugusts on behalf of better en-
forced temperance instruction In the pub
Ito schools Of the Pine Tree State.