Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-06-09
SCHOOL CHILDREN
FOurthAnnual Reunion of Teachers
and Scholars of OttOkee School In
The Sixties at OttOkee Saturday
June 2nd-POem by Mary Sweet.

Although the morning of June End,
1916, bid fair for a rainy day, but in
stead, after fine refreshing shower
II cleared away and the weather could
not have proved better for the fourth
Reunion of the Teachers and Scholars
OF the Ottokee School from 1850 to
1860, and by 10 o'clock thiry-one of
the old scholars and twenty-nine
visitors who came from Fayette, Nor
encl, Ottawa, Toledo, Kendalville.
Delta, Wauseon, Ottokee and the coun-
try homes were gathered at the old
school house, made dear by the mem
ories lingering there of their pleas
ant childhood days. There are many
more yet IN the physical but from dis
tance and infirmities could not be
present but hope to be another year.
All the shadows which arose at the
meeting were caused by the absence
of five of the old members, who since
the meeting of last year have gone
to the reunions on the other side, fond
memories of them will always be
cherished by those who are left.
Hearty hand-shakes, visiting and
preparing of the long tables for the
picnic dinner, occupied the time un-
til the monday hour, when all partook
of the many good things to eat and
there was sufficient to have fed as
many more.
At two p. m. the house was called
to order and as the president VIM.
Handy was absent, Mrs. Roxie Handy
Rice was called to the chair and prov
ed to be lively president. A very
interesting program was carried out
and each one was urged to express a
thought, which was responded to in
cheerful manner Then came the
election of officers and a collection
which might arise. A motion was
made and unanimously carried to ex-
tend the time ten years for member
ship, which takes in the teachers and
scholars who went to school in this old
school house from 1850 to 1870. The
meeting was then adjourned to meet
at the same place June End, 1917.
IN MEMORY OF THE OLD SCHOOL
We come to day with memories
Of the Old Schol across the line,
To meet the boys and girls of the
Sixties
And commemorate the good old time.
We then were gay and happy
And so stalwart in our youth;
Our steps were fleet and sprightly
And eager then to learn the truth.
When school was called to order,
With the teacher in her place;
So good and kind we thought her,
None could surpass in dignity anC
grace.
Once it was Mrs. Moore as teacher;
How we miss her here to day,
her,
She was feeble, old and gray.
How always she was obbging,
Always loyal, true and kind;
Well not soon forget her talks anC
reading
Her voice and words come oft to mind
Her memory, long shall linger
With the scholars here to day;
Mrs. Taylor to will meet her
Along Heavens Great Highway.
These two will sing the songs of vic
tory,
From beyond, clearly their voices ring
Back to US as in Springtime's glory
To their graves sweet flowers we
bring.
know not how many others
Have passed from this world below
0, yes, there's poor little Billy,
And some others that / do not know.
have tried to speak of them all,
But it's memory's pen that writes
AS the good times with each othe1
l recall
When we enjoyed school days ant
nights.
o, to shut the books on business,
o, to turn the keys on care,
To lose sight of strangers faces,
All day long and everywhere.
To come back again to school days
And the childhood, gone so long
That its memory grows dim and hazy
Like some half remembered song.
Just to live the old times over
With the boys and girls-once more,
To forget life's work and worry
And to play together as of yore.
Oh, my heart grows often homesick
And l drop my pencil Oft to dream
Of the meadows and the forest
And the old mill by the stream.
can feel the soft winds blowing