The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-10-07
A GRAND REUNION.

here III tul6 WOTlu DclOW lIlc is uuCcI'
tain, we know not what the morrow
may have in store for us, at times it il a
pleasant surprise, then again, it is 9th.
erwise. For the people of it. Dist. No.
8, town Of Liberty, the dawning of one
| of last weeks suns had pleasant sur.
prise in store. A surprise which was q
surprise indeed for into their midst walk
ed once more Mr. w. A. Wilson of
Springfield, Ill.,. pedagogue Of Dist. No
3, thirty three years ago.
Yes thirty three years ago, but how
changed. The old school house was not
there, new one in its place. Aud
where are the hearts which once so mer-
ry and so free played around it?
Strange faces stare at the coming
stranger, they know him not, he sees
those faces and it somewhat cheers him,
for they may be his children's children
he raps; he enters not as the old school
master but as a stranger.
0. how changed art thou, where are
| the old familiar faces, the benches, upon
which the jack knife had carved many
an initial, the old desk, the old chair
and the old familiar walls. Gone! they
| too are gone.
Welcomed by the present instructor
of children he feels once more at home
| and question about this and that re-
veals to him changes time has wrought;
that the old grim reaper is yet awake, but
also that many of the bright faces before
him are his childrens children.
Mr.. W. A. Wilson then left the school
and visited many homes of the district.
Here, too, he found many changes but
always hearty welcome He said,
| Wherever l came pleasant surprise
awaited me. 1t all seemed as if it were
| too good to be true, yet my senses told
me that it was true and it's being true,
seemed to take us back once more to the
days of thirty three years ago"
The climax of his visit was reached
when, Sat. eve Oct 2, a grand reunion
was held in his honor, also in memory of
old school days.
| The school room was filled at an early
| hour, all eager to see once more, him
| who had labored with them for four
years in days of yore.
The address of welcome was followed
by response from Mr.. Wilson.
Mr.. Wilson spoke of the pleasant past
associations, the many happy days he
had spent with his pupils. He said that
he deemed it Il great pleasure to speak
ouce more to his pupils of former days
and to look once more into the faces Of
those whom he loved, but that it made
him feel sad when he saw that the Ang-
ell of Death had removed many of those
who were dear to him.
| 1--WE are like driftwood, drifting up
on the tide of life, meeting, floating a.
| long together through many pleasant
scenes, scenes which make the past more
dear, then to drift apart some to distant
J lands and climes, never to meet on earth
again, but each bearing in his heart that
hope, which when realized will bring us
all once more upon the distant shore
from which there is no parting but joy
and bliss for evermore."
A unique part of his address was roll
call, which was answered by Ernst
Moldenhauer, John Schnell, Henry We
hansen. Ernst Wehausen, Mary Wehau-
sen, now Mrs. J. Schnell, Minnie
Schnell, now Mrs. Wm. Fischer, Sophie
Schnell, now Mrs F. Pleuss, Emma
Hacker, now Mrs. VIM. Welk, Mary
Hacker, now Mrs. Gerpheide, Gilbert
Gulikson, Fred Schnell, Louis Schnell,
Tina Peterson, now Mrs Theo Madison,
and Harry Gilbertson.
Following the address was an excel.
lent program which was not only in.
structive and amusing but also credit
to the teacher and scholars.
Another pleasant feature of the even
ing program was to see the teacher of
by gone days and his pupils have lunch
together, to hear them talk of school
days, to see them smile once more q
youthful smile, and that though many
had almost reached the half century
mark, appetite was keen, jollity and
spirit of old school days reigned sup
rene.
The reunion was closed with the song,
"AULD LANG SYNE."
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days ofauld lang syne.
For AMID lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
Well take a cup o kindness vet,
For aul lang syne
And there's hand my trusty friend
And gies' hand o thine,
And wei take right gind-wille waught
For auld lang syne'"
1OAn1l0U m CI1cc