Putnam County herald. (Cookeville, Tenn.) 1903-1922, 1913-02-06
A Delightful Surprise

lCAdS, JAIL 20. 1SlD-
Editor Herald: On last Saturday, Jan.
=, it being my oldest sisters birthday.
also her 37th marriage anniversary, il
had been prearranged by her children
who are living near her to give her q
surprise birthday dinner at her Own
home. So ner oldest daughter, Mrs
Willie Gibson, wrote to Mrs. A. judi Of
Lubbock, gaze her the secret, told her
to notify brother ID. NJ Davis and my
sIf and for US to be on hanl. So on The
day mentioned we boarded the train
for Hale Center, was there met by
Erastus Ritchey at II 80. He conveyed
us to his house, where we were to wait
till certain signal on the phone. Here
we were Joined by Newt bitchey and
all his family, when The proper signal
was sounded and all started for the
beautiful home Ot ii. N. Ritchey, where
Ne were to meet the crOwls gathered
on the opposite side Of this home.
All the other children with their
neighbors and families who had cOngre-
gated at Willie GibsOns started in wag-
Ons, guggies, on horseback, etc, and as
we can see all the country around each
crowd could see the other and we all
drove up at once, alighted and went in,
63 in number.
A surprise did you say? Well, there
never has been more complete sur
prise, nor has there ever been one that
looked more surprised than did Almeda.
Now, to cap tn climax, while the excite
ment was on in the front of the house
they carried an extra table into the spa
eious dining room and brought in from
those wagons, buggies and hackS-did
you say turkey-yes, turkey, baked,
roasted and stewer, chicA en- baked,
boiled and fried, with cranberry sauce,
pumpkin pies and all other kind Of pies
made out OF eggs, the largest cake
ever saw appeared on the scene. 1t was
OblOng square and was about 2X3 feet,
and about waist high the last time |
saw it. l never saw so many good
things to eat get together so quick, and
when Almeda was escorted to her din
ing room there was, two large tables
across the room, both loaded and the
side tables filled for reserve Now, dear
reader, think of this about $50 p m.
and no dinner that day. think every
one enjoyed themselves to the utmost,
bul Demps, and he looked sad because
he couldn't eat it all.
After all Were satisfied We repaired to
the yard, the weather being ideal. There
we enjoyed games Of different kinds,
pitching dollars, Jumping rne rope, etc.
You ought to have seen The grand
mothers out jumping the rope. They |
s.te pulled of stunt that reminded |
one of 40 years ago. When night came
Oh all went into the house, gathered |
a. oLnd The gan. ,di,. ! 4
old, then rehearsed the entertainment
program at the clost of school, which
was he very best. There was some
thing for the Dung and Oid ail~e, ana all
enl9 ed themselves - perfection.
Al late hour the crowd began to dis
pc sc for heir homes, all expressing
their delight for having this privilege
and wishing Mrs. Ritchey m II AasrI-
ness, hoping she would have a nd.ed
more birthdays uist like this and they all
could be at all OF them. as Uiis Is Just
West Texas style, it just suits me.
So, Mr.. Editor, | will send my own
and ID. MS subscription for your good
little paper Our post office is Lub-.
bock Texas. Hurrah for WOODROW Will
son and all the Herald readers.
Geo. l.. Davis.