Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1917-02-28
A Pleasant Surprise.

A Pleasant Surprise.
There was a very pleasant sur
prise party given at the home of
Mr.. and Mrs. w. F. Powell, Monday
evening, Feb. 26.
The surprise was on Mr.. Powell,
the occasion being his sixtieth birth
day.
Now it's not an easy matter to
surprise person in their own home,
especially one Of Mr.. Powell's as
tuteness in matters of such kind, but
Mrs. Powell, as usual, was quite
equal to the undertaking.
Mr.. Powell's sister and husband,
Mr.. and Mrs. N. P. Stone, Of Crook
ston, by pre- arrangement, called at
Mr.. Powell's Office, after arriving on
the morning local, as great sur
prise to him, who Immediately pro-
ceeded with them to his residence
with the idea Of equally surprising
Mrs. Powell. In answering the ring
of the door bell upon their arrival,
Mrs. Powell was Of course greatly
surprised, especially as she had been
advised during the course Of the
journey from the office to the resi-
dence, that that was expected Of her.
A little later on, Mr.. Powell prompt
" fell in with the suggestion of hay-
ing Mr.. and Mrs. W., N. Powell and
Miss Eva take six o'clock dinner
with them, so that the rather un-
usual household preparations during
the balance of the day passed with
out suspicion.
At six o'clock when Mr.. Powell
arose to welcome, as. he supposed,
his cousin and wife, he was consider
ably disturbed to find that he was to
answer greetings and congratula-
tions from dozen or more of his
neighbors and friends. Mr.. PowelHs
proverbial hospitality and usual
equilibrium however soon assured
the new arrivals of their hearty well
come, and very soon all were invited
to the dining room to gather about
the beautifully arranged table, that
was fairly groaning with delicious
things and in the centre of which
was the mammoth birthday cake
decorated with sixty lighted candles.
In due course of time, when many
Of the good things had been disposed
of, to the great satisfaction Of the
guests, and after coffee and dessert
had been served, Mrs. w. N. Powell
arose and in her inimitable manner
gave an original poem addressed to
the worthy host and the month of
February. The poem showed quite
conclusively to those present that
practically all great men were born
in February, to the especial delight,
of course, of Mr.. Powell. After sew
eral Of the other guests had spoken
in a rather eulogistic manner of
him whose birthday was being cele-
brated, Mr.. N. P. Stone arose and
told in his droll way Of a rather un-
savory horse stealing episode in
which our host had figured quite
prominently in early days. OF
course it is quite natural that the
guests were considerably shocked to
hear such accusations against one
whom they had all known long and
favorably, but they were unanimous
in demanding that the culprit should
be given an opportunity of explain
ing. Mr.. Powell then arose and in
his usual convincing way proceeded
to explain that it was simply a case
Of mistaken identity.
The balance Of the evening was
spent in most enjoyable social inter.
course and "reminiscences Of by gone
days until at rather a late hour The
guests bid good night to the genia
host and hostess and departed feel
ing that, in being privileged to par
ticipate in the celebration of another
mile post Of one of our worthy citi
zens, a most delightful evening hat
been spent. By One Present
4 Remember the Rural Credits con
vention at the High School next Sat
urday at one o'clock p. M. Supt