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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.
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.
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