The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-06-07
Wooden Wedding.

Monday evening, in celebration of their
fifth wedding anniversary. All available
space, including porches, was filled with
invited guests, for 70 invitations to near
relatives and intimate friends had been
issued. and nearly all invited responded
by their presence. A few sent their re-
grets in substantial form. The host
and hostess lett nothing undone that
could add to the pleasure and comfort OF
their guests. An extension table and
fine leather chair, large enough for them
both, will remind them that their friends
wish to be remembered. Rev. Anna
Barton read poem prepared especially
for the occasion, printed below, and Mr..
Hanlin of Chicago gave recitals or inn
presentations that were so full OF Jokes
and humor that you couldn't get breath
enough to make half the laugh you felt
like executing. At midnight the com
pany babe each other good night, and
we noticed that the older ones looked
younger and the younger ones looked
happier for the occasion.
To Mr.. and Mrs II. c. Waters on the fifth ami
versary of their marriage
Into my hand one evening dainty tablet came,
Inscribed with the graceful words "At Home, "
and bore familiar name;
With its wooded tints ana golden edge, door il
seemed TO me,
And away in the farthest corner, l found the
magic key.
And the door swung on its hinges, swept back the
clinging vines,
And listened at the threshold, TO the sound of
marriage chimes
! saw the guests assemble in a cottage out of town,
Where trees, full leaved, and singing birds, and
summer skies looked down
Upon bride and bridegroom as fair as the sum-
mer day,
As, without regret or protest, they gave them
selves away"
"For better worse" they promised, if the day
brought cloud or sun,
"To have and to hold" each other, till the days of
life were done.
When the cupboard was full or empty when the
bread triAe sour,
When the breakfast wasn't ready at the regula-
tion hour,
When the dinner was hash or turkey, and the
supper was "mush and milk
When debts denied the purchase of that coveted
suit of silk,
The bridegroom wasn't to grumble, and the bride
was to be as true
And sweet she that evening when the we'd
ding ring was new
There were flowers, and wishes. and kisses, and
other substantial things,
And tent that spread like white-winged bird,
Ger a banquet ht for kings
There were tears 'on mothers faces, and the
fathers choked sigh,
For it wasn't jolly picnic to bid these lovers
good bye.
Five times the apple blossoms have blushed be-
meath the sun,
Five summers, birds have built their nests and
sung when day done;
Five years while golden mercies have flashed on
every side
Since we hailed our host as bridegroom and our
hostess was the bride.
The moon is shining fair tonight there's honey
in the cup,
Five years of happy hearted life have kept it
trimming up,
Else they had not invited, and welcomed you and
To sit in coy corners beneath this family tree.
They meet us at the threshold still standing side
by side,
Again we greet the bridegroom, again we greet
the BRIDE
AS fair when at the altar, with LIES new paths
untrod
We gave them into each others care, and the
larger care of God.
Sometimes the days have darkened, sometimes
the shadows hung
Like mists upon the mountain, or the valley trees
among
What the night would bring of tidings or the
morning, who could tell,
And we hold our breath to listen for the message
"All is Welt"
We bring you gratulations for all the smiles and
tears
That paint the picture Of your life with the brush
of passing years.
We bring new wedding roses, new wedding gifts
we bring,
And gathering close around you both, we form
your wedding ring.
Within this bit of Eden may no tempter have the
To plant a thorn, or thistle or blight a single
flower;
May the garden paths of yourife time be all by
him untrod
Who would dim your faith in each other, or dim
your faith in God.
And may He whose loving kindness made possible
this hour
Be your honored guest, and welcome in sunshine
and in shower;
May you live to a golden wedding and unless it be
too late
I'll write you poem on leaves of gold, and help
you TO celebrate.
Sincerely your friend,
ANNA BARTON.
Paw Paw June 3, 1901.