Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-10-07
WISCONSIN VETERANS
HOME "AS l FIND IT.

And this one is for widow, famed.
The reason why, here will tell,
IT'S only widows here may dwell.
Main dining hall is just below
To which for meals SO many go;
And thirty tables there are found
Which we proceed to gather round.
For people come from hail and cot.
Though many eat here, all do not.
At least three hundred, now l think
Assemble hereto eat and drink.
When our people all are numbered.
There are more than seven hundred
Most that the city does pertain
We find within our domain:
Our villa has electric light
In rooms turn off at ten at night.
A six o'clock we must arise,
And sometimes | have sleepy eyes,
But whistle sounds, and soon the bell,
Breakfast is ready it will tell;
SO dare not sleep another wink
Lest should miss my food and drink.
At ring of bell each turn their plate
And then of food participate,
And when on it we take look
We 1eel that we can praise our cook.
For breakfast often have some hash
With onion in IL, yes, quite dash;
And oat meal too, we find is there,
A food for which SO many care,
Two kinds of bread. coffee and tea
And crackers too, we there do see.
Some meals we have some good beef
steak,
Sometimes of boiled or roast partake,
Some days fried pork on table found,
And Fridays fish are passed around.
Vegetables need not mention,
But to them we give attention.
Sometimes have biscuit or some cake,
Our bread as good as one can make.
While twice week we have some pie,
Some days pudding or rice we try,
At supper, had potatoes fried,
| And there were beans which many
tried.
With pat of butter for each on chip
To grease our bread and make it slip;
With crackers white and crackers
brown,
Prune sauce and tea to wash them
down,
OF all our goodies will not tell,
Lest too long on this theme dwell.
To speak Of place will now proceed,
We think it very fine indeed,
The location is very fine,
The groves abound with oak and pine;
Tie hills are not SO very low,
And not as high as some we know.
We love to walk DER hill and dale,
And with fresh air ourselves regale.
But as along our walks we pass,
We see the sign keep of the grass"
1t is our park that we guard,
Because we love grassy yard.
The summer time is talked about.
Then men and ladies all are out,
From town and country far and near,
The people do assemble here,
For there are lakes DER which to glide,
Even with your sweet heart by your
side,
While some on steamboat choose to 20,
There's many who prefer to row;
And veterans old and matrOns gray
Will take their boats and sail away
And fishing many do enjoy.
So with that sport their time employ,
The scenery we think is grand,
Along whose shores our lakes expand,
OF societies we have five,
| And each one of them seems to thrive
| First is the f. A. r. Marden Post
OF members there are quite a host;
| Then our own w. R. G..
A very good society,
And if my memory serves me straight
Its numbers now are fifty eight,
Next our ladies of G.. A. R.
The home circle we truly are,
Forty ladies names we carry
And some men as honorary.
Here too we find the U. V. u.
I'm sure don't know what they do
tbs patriotic I've been told,
So fourth place 1 let it hold.
Good Templars, too you will find here,
For those to whom the cause is dear.
People of high and low estate
Do not know which predominant.
Our matrOn went to door
With brush that's used to scrub the
floor,
And asked of women sitting there,
Ibid you use this to brush your hair?"
"In truth l did" she did reply,
Was told must not and reason why.
Some of the men without a wife
Look out for partner for life,
No matter what their age may be,
Or If OF wives they have had three.
Some Of the women too will mate
A nd than rononf h,1f ic too 10