The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-03-25
MESSAGES FROM FAR AND NEAR
 GREET POETESS
Fanny Crosby Celebrates 94th Birthday Surround ed By Loving Friends Is Exceedingly Happy and Jolly Recites Some
 New Poems

cit is not every one to whom is given the privilege of celebrating their s4th birthday with a happy party, of loving friends, and of receiving innumerable punches of one,s favorite flower, and messages of love, and congratulation from all parts of the country. But who would call Aunt Fanny Crosby, '' as she is affectionate1y known, usual, any way. It was beauttfuf spring day, and the 32 privileged friends who gathered at the home of Mrs. OrvilIe Rector, yesterday at noon for the an- nual Fanny. Crosby luncheon were ex- sceeding1y happy; but gayest of the gay was Mime. Crosby herself. She laughed and c7atted with everyone. She told her jokes and little anecdotes of long ago with all the enthusiasm of young girl. Finally, Mrs. Rector had to remind her that is she talked completely.
 Messages of congreuIation to Mime. Crosby were received from Mrs. w. DawIey president Of the State as- soeiation of the Kings Daughters, from Miss Kate Bond. president of the international Kings Daughters, from Mary Low DDfckenson, the writer who is herself S2 years old, from George Fox of Florida who also sent her a box Of orange blossoms. and flowers were received from the Kings Daugl1- ters End eavor Circle Of Park Street scEurcB4 from the "Wednesday Workers of fro south sCongregatfona al church, from the Good Samaritan Kings Daughters of Hartford. from the Com fort Circle Of Kings Daughters of NorwaIk, and from the Willing Work CTS Circle of Kings Daughters of Southport Besides these Mime. Cros- by received a birthday cake 9 mum : Der of boxes of candy and a very pretty, hand-embroidered apron
 When she addressed the party in- formally, telling how much she loved the society and how:
 tsAfter the eventfde comes the mid night hour, you know. and then when all the world is still, sit in my little room where there is no one but my Father near, and bowNp1y head, and gather you all up in a little bundle of love and bear you to the Lord
 stSonetimes, I pray for myself. I had to last night for my heart was so full of happiness.
 Then she recited the following poem Of her own Composition: A little while to weep for those we
 cherish,
 As one by one they near the rivers A little while to catch their sweet
 assurance,
 That we in Heaven shall find each little while. and then the glorious Of that fair morn beyond the swell
 ing tide, When we shall wake and in our sa-
 vior's likeness, 5 fsded. Following this she spoke another en- Fourscore Years and Ten. His locks were white as winters
 His form was bent with age; ' And while he gazed with reverent Upon the sacred page, A sudden joy lit up his face; And, OCT and OCT again He praised the Lord, his strength and For fourscore years and ten. 70 Love, amazing love" he cried.
 .sFsor one like me to diel I've tried to read my title clear
 To mansions in the sky; And though, alas, this heart of mine Has oft unfaithfuI been. The Lord hath not forsalfen me
 For fourscore years and ten. "I have no home to call my own,
 No dwelling here below; Of those who gathered round me once am the last to go; bore them to their resting place; Tn wonder silent glen; And yet today my life has reached
 It's fourscore years and ten. T am not weary of the cross,
 Nor would lay it down Till Jesus with his own dear hand
 Puts on my promised crown, Till, in his righteousness arrayed,
 I stand complete and then I'll shout the grace that kept my soul,
 For fourscore years and tenk' He leaned a moment on hts staff,
 Then laid him down to rest; His aged hands as if in sleep
 Were folded on his lips; A smile of peace was on his lips;
 He breathed a prayer and then His soul was with the God he'd served
 For fotrscore years and ten. Miss Crosby then told of two very dear friends whom she had lost dur ing the past year one of whom was her last schooImate.
 Dear friends she said, conclud-a ing her talk, sslet us give all diligence to do our work faithfully Press onl Dress on! Be firm and steadfast and
 eContlnued from Page II