1894

The secretary of this class has had no morefaithful and interesting correspondent duringthe years than Jimmy Mann, whose death isrecorded in the obituary section. Here is whatJimmy wrote for the last Roundup.

"To those in their second childhood who are so fortunate as to put their feet under the hospitable table of Mr. & Mrs. 'Billy,' who have opened their hearts and home to the derelicts of the class of Dartmouth '94. Should 'sure be glad to be one of them and am missing it by so little.

"The wife and I are safely rooted here in Indiana for nearly 25 years, but are off to Cal. as soon as I retire. Doc Walter Kelly '97 is keeping me alive and kicking, today being the first day of 'Sick Leave' I have taken in 3 or 4 years work (8 in all) with State Highway Com.

"Tell Charlie to pray that Highway will keep me on till '44 if he wants to see me at the 60th. When I get to Cal. should have said IF, I'll be broke. Dartmouth will be out of the question, since I could not arrange a company trip and so get my fare paid. Perhaps could arrange a reunion out there for the boys who can get there.

"With a hearty handshake for the men and a kiss for the women.

God bless you all Jimmie"

Here is what Decker Field wrote for the Roundup.

"Dear Bill and Nettie: "Comes now your cordial invitation to spend the annual 'Matt Jones Fall Round-up' in your home at Somersworth, supplemented by the appeal of good 'C.C.' and there is no gooder. . . .

"Speaking of the yesterdays. I well recall Thanksgiving Day in 1893. On that occasion, you, Bill, with small assistance from the writer, prepared and served a turkey dinner in the C & G house for all of those who could not go home. I wish to record that it was a swell banquet from soup to nuts, and you, Bill, proved to be a master cook. We had, as I recall, a group of perhaps 20 or more seated in a hollow square. Remembering all of this and adding the years of experience which have since elapsed, plus the fact that you, Nettie, have probably forgotten more cooking skills than your old man or I ever had, it would seem to be a sure thing that your guests will now have a greater treat and I sincerely wish I could share your hospitality. It would seem to be quite likely that you will have several of our girls present this year. To them I want to spend special greetings. . . .

"The time has come, Bill, when most of us have joined the ranks of the 'Ancient and Honorable' order of octogenarians. What a grand thing it would be if all of us who still survive could be present at the 60th reunion. With this hope in mind I will close by telling this incident A little girl was saying her bedtime prayer, using the traditional God bless papa and mama, her brother and sister and her playmates. Then she closed by saying 'And, dear God, please take good care of yourself. If anything happens to you we're all sunk.' She was and ever will be so right."

Decker enclosed a picture in which he isseated in the midst of his two daughters andthree of his four grandchildren. They hadassembled to celebrate Decker's 80th birthday.Bring as many of them as you can, Decker, tothe 60th!

Fred Bushee also celebrated his Both, but at the same time celebrated something else quite as important. Let Fred tell about it. "Dear Billy,

... It was very good of you and your wife to plan this reunion. I hope you will have a large attendance and a hilarious time considering your ages. Don't overdo. ... As you know I celebrated my 80th birthday, but in addition we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. The neighbors thought that was more important than the first. Friends filled the house with floral offerings and about 50 came in. We should have invited a hundred more but couldn't take care of them. As it was, it took us several days to recover.

"Well, give my greetings to all who come to the Roundup and thank you and your good wife again for the invitation."

Ben Wilton has sent in his itinerary for this winter. After having spent a month or more in the Ames cottage at Vero Beach, they went on to Hollywood Beach. Then three or four months at Lake lola, near Dade City, Fla., then a month in Jamaica then back home. Taking pictures for the 60th will of course be the main concern in all this.

Secretary, 74 Kirkland St., Cambridge 38, Mass.Treasurer, 60 Maple St., Somersworth, N. H.