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This photo courtesy of Peggy Sawyer!

Poem by Gertrude H. Brown, President, Lett Settlement Reunion 1925 - 1934.

Resume

Nine years ago, I'm sure you remember
We met in Trought's Grove, way late in September,
'Twas a glorious response to the call of the clan
And thus, this auspicious Reunion began.

The Letts and the Calimans came by the score
With Guys and Simpsons and Cliffords galore,
The Tates and Browns and Pointers were there
While the in-laws and Cousins made up a large share,

The Pritchetts,the Reynolds, the Jackson's, Normans and Greens,
The Barnetts, Carlisles, all came in machines.
And there were the Crostons, the Toneys, the Earleys and all of the families that our family marries.

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I can not begin to call each one by name
The point I am making is, every one came
We'll never forget that day in the woods,
It made our hearts glad and it did our souls good.

The bumps and the scratches, the uneven roads,
The mosquitoes and spiders, the snakes and the toads,

The dinners spread out for the starved inner man,
All seem to recall that first meet of the clan.

Good wholesome lives, lived kindly and true,
This is the heritage they left to you,
Not riches, not titles, but pride in your race
And the right to look God and all men in the face.

To me it has been a real source of delight
Your records to keep and your journals to write.
Your notes to send out far and wide every year
As the time for Reunions we see drawing near.


Each year brings new faces to welcome and greet,
New names to enroll on your long mailing sheet,
New relations established and sanctioned by dozens,
From the great uncle's wife to the forty-third cousins.

And the we look around and our eyes blindly burn,
And we listen for footsteps that never return;
Every year we assemble there are some missing faces,
We never get used to these bare vacant places.

As in life we encounter the bitter and sweet,
Here we will part - and THERE we will greet:
And so for nine years in sunshine or rain
We've held these Reunions again and again.

And whatever happens this side and beyond
May the youth of your Settlement still carry on.
May they hold high the standard the best that they can,
And honor Lett Settlement Pioneer Clan.

Don't get discouraged, be booster and lift,
The race is not always awarded the swift.
Their example before you are plain to be seen,
Leave with YOUR children a record as clean

Now in closing this tribute, I offer to you
My thanks for co-operation, - too,
My joy to have given you my very best.
To my able successor I'm leaving the rest.

Gertrude H. Brown, President, Lett Settlement Reunion 1925 - 1934

LATER:

The poems of O'mar presented to me,
And the right honorary Presidential Degree,
Have gone to my head like to flavor of wine
Pray, permit me to thank you with this added line.

And something was started that September day,
That a century hence we hope will hold sway,
For the fathers and mothers whose labor and toil,
Have blessed the old landmarks and hallowed the soil,
Have built the bridge at the head of the waters,
To make safe the crossing of sons and of daughters,
Weaving your garments, turning the sod,
Fearless of everything save only God.