The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1909-10-01


shine forth in the annals OF Leaven-
worth. No history will be complete
that does not mention that particular
day with prominence. On that date
occurred the first annual picnic and
reunion of the Leavenworth Old Set.
tiers Organization.
For three weeks the jollifcation had
been noised abroad. Preparations fol
the day were complete by both house
wives and their worse halves-the one
for gastronomic abundance, the other
for speaking, sports and music.
Jupiter Pluvius was kind. Friday
night he caused plentiful showers,
which thoroughly laid the dust. Satur-
day he spread veil Of clouds over the
sun, which tempered the heat to a
delightful degree.
Ten o'clock was the hour set for the
beginning of festivities; but it was
11:40 when the chairman, F. S. Tay-
lor, stilled the clatter and chatter oi
the concourse; announced the object
of the meeting; read the program, and
called upon the impromptu choir to
lead in singing America" and asked
the congregation to join in. The
voices of 500 men, women and child
rem sang the old song, dear to every
heart, with vigor and melody, until the
air vibrated with the grand music.
/; Mayor L. J. Nelson was then intro
duced and spoke the welcome of the
city to the old settlers and their friends
who had gathered to launch new
society which he hoped would live for
ever and flourish like a green bay tree.
Miss Rose Gerger played a difficult
selection for the piano, which she rem
dered in a mastery manner and ac-
knowledged the applause with bow
and smile.
Judge J. ]. King was the principal
speaker. 1t was expected that Hon.
M. E. Field of Stehekin would be
present to furnish the bulk of the elo-
quence; but he was prevented by an
abcess on his hand. Judge King:
remarks follow in part:
I should enjoy myself much more tc
be quiet spectator and hear you ole
timers relate your experiences and how
you used to do in the early days; and
I should especially like to hear from
the ladies-how they used to stay al
home and take care of the COW anc
calf, and feed the pigs and keep the
children, while John and Charley ano
jim went to town to lay in the neces-
sary supplies, or perhaps make a two
or three days, trip to mill.
While l am not eligible to wear YOU
badge, yet I am not an entire strangel
to pioneer life; for while my family was
young I bet Uncle Sam $14 against
100 acres OF land that l could live or
it long enough to acquire title to it
and I won the bet. My homestead
was two and a half miles from town
and during the time l was on it
walked over 1900 miles; and my oldes'
boy, then kid, SO to speak, after he
began to learn the printing business
walked over 900 miles in going to and
from town with me. My family wa
not off the claim single night, and
was away only three nights, being de-
tanned by business. l don't know how
I should have come out but for the
fact that had served Uncle Sam owe,
four years in defence of the flag, anC
he gave me credit for it on the home
stead. But I won the bet and go
the farm.
We sometimes see our railroad boy
come in from their runs looking a little
the worse for wear, and slightly darl
complexioned. l have many time
myself come home from my work Sc
black and grimy that my children die
not know me, and would look out a
the window and say, Mama, there:
an awful ugly old tramp coming!" 81
that, if any one should think I wa
raised in a bandbox, they could no
make a greater mistake.