The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-09-11
Family Reunion.
ICommuni ated.l

drink bud he merry; Tor THIS Is All the
norton W ..,t ul al our labor under
the sun.
/ Thsshuuli indeed he IA very happy
daN fur Us al. Although Ne have
suntrrarre fur sadness al theah>ence
of a brother whom We desired 50
much To have with Us, still We have
many reasons for great 10Y.
1t would indeed he II great blessing
could We all have been here: les,
our cup oi happiness would be inil
and running over. Such a blessing,
dear parents, may never be yours
again uu earth: You may never
again ga,hprnll yourchildren around
tue ola hearuh-stune with you, But
lrt Ms not be east down nor indulge
! in Mechanically. Rather let Us rejoice
aud he exceeding GLAD that 80 many
nf us are privileged thus To assemble
here with YOU on this the 10th aunl-
vrrsarl ui your ", ddrd lif', and par.
tiripnte With You IN the great !pN ui
this family reunion Forty years
agp from this day You first Joined
YOUR right hands, ANA together set
sail uputi liir's stormy SEA, glad To
share with each other It's dangers, Its
lows and SORROWS We all know that
there is a vacancy in your hearts
/ that even tins Joyous dny cannot I'LL
/ But let Us try To forget the sorrows
oi the past, and remember the IN,
junction. ui the Saviur-lhnk not OF
/ the morrow: sufficient unto day is
thrrvil thereof Lrt Us hay aside all
care, aud enter upon this as a Gay OF
mrrrimpnt not forgetting, however,
/ thatiur ali our actions wenustcome
into Judgment. know, dear par
ent., that Nou have not passed
through life ION howery beads OF
ease, but that you have often sailed
through stormy seas Of trouble: l1l
in spite Of diSAppointments and sor-
rows yQu have perhaps seen as manF
happy moments ns are ever given to-
men here below: Since on every hour
ui your united HE the mercy OF God
has brrn IHa 'kpd.
H. T0TT ETTNTTV NIVS0od you III u1!
things. aud yuu have known com
parntively little OF the hardsMps,
he votes, the mlScrleS uf HE aud It's
cruel wars, while so many OF earth :
weary travellers spend lie time on
tur bloody battlefield. Never has
famine visited you nor the land IN
which YOU live; never have You sui
irrrd from hunger, THIRST or cold.
Few hnVr been tn seed sOWu by your
! hands that did not WELD an ahund-
ahr crop. SILL greater blessings
than these hath le given you; the
blessings of good health through
many years. oi u large family of chil,
lreu to share with you yourprosper
ity and to comfort your old age.
Your children are hardy, industrious
! and be npvolrnt; and il would be hard
| to fad a family superior to yours ii
t number, health, honesty, industry
and pieIy. No doubt to YOU, the
greatest of all your blessings is this
' is ths-that all Of Your children arr
J inclined in heart 10 the Christian
religion Most of them having al
=. ready cpnfessed Christ before men, az
n DOUBTLESS al have in their hearts.
Having had all those great bless
= ings conferred upon YOU, YOU ought
e to be exceedingly happy; and be vel
contpntcd IT, spend the remainder oI
+, Your days in the sweet retirement o
81 old aye, composing your minds ana
comforting Your hearts 10y studying
u the will ol Him who hath hestOwec
all these good blessings upon you
e Regard not age with mournlu
+ thoughts. it is the grandest part o
lie; it IL beautiful, honorable, elo
quent; nor sigh at the approach o
" death. when lie and the world are Sc
p full Oh emptiness. But eXalt your
d selves and he proud, because You arr
old. Ii amy must weep, let 1t be TIN
young, ut the long succession O
cares, tolls and appointments tina
% are yet before them.
Welcome, your snowy heads, 10
they are the emblems of peace IN,
% rest, 81 crown that shall fall at tn
le gates of Paradise to be replaced by
pr brighter one Of perpetual youth.
Dear GrnndnIDther-it is pleasan
, TO have YOU With us to day, nor ca
!" pass without speaking Il word c
r. enroura cement to YOU. You hay
ne on,stripp.d most Of hose that star,
b. ed out with you upon he broad Sc
!, Of life; YOU ara the only represents
tive ct your grandparents lett. an
III You should feel that Cos Is bestov
log a great favor upon you in giNlli
tn v..uso many days OH earth. You
life ha- not been spared without
purpoS.: He doell all things wei
or Although YOU may grow weary, an
he heautir- oI rnrth may give yO
ire but it'll, cheer, aud your friends a
as ford hni little comfort. YOU shou
, taka n = eel c,hI-ola' ion in the ia
that YOU ar" yet II living monunIel
fGoi's merry My You have 81
sw,ct rest OF those that say from ds
tn hay-'wp are nearing home
IN. And fnr1ls dear irOi hers and sister
C, liringa all the days al oes.d to ma
tho ,t,,,st of life il t,efort, Us: from I