Sparks 50th Anniversary

SPARKS

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 9/16/2014 at 11:08:40

Truelove and Sallie Sparks 50th Anniversary Family Gathering
Last Tuesday morning the sun rose serenely over the eastern hills of Lynnville and Uncle Truelove and Aunt Sallie Sparks sat among their trees and flowers thinking only of the beautiful day, the past years of their lives, their future cares and of the day they were united for weal or woe, little dreaming of how much joy the day would bring forth. Judge of their surprise, then when at about 1 o’clock P.M. they saw, their children and children’s children to the number of forty-five gathering around them with stores of “good things.” The table was then made ready and the feast prepared. As the father and mother with their children sat around the table, they united in singing the old and appropriate hymn, “Sweet bye and bye;” and the presents, forty pieces of china-ware, were presented. After which the following poem (composed by a young lady of Pella for the occasion) was read:

FIFTY YEARS AGO
Fifty years ago today

Hand in hand
Beside the alter stood

A young and happy pair,
Pledging the marriage vows

Our father and our mother!

Fifty years ago today,

With brightest hopes
And friends best wishes

To breast the storms of life,
This couple from the altar stepped

Our father and our mother!

Since fifty years ago today

Together they have stood;
Sharing bread and sharing joy.

Sharing pain and sharing sorrow,
But ever true to one another,

Our father and our mother!

Since fifty years ago today

Old father Time has taken home
Of friends and kindred many

That round that altar stood;
But spared to us as yet

Our father and our mother!

Since fifty years ago today

Upon their knees have scrambled
Twelve sons and daughters;

And around their board have drawn,
Causing ceaseless care and toil to

Our father and our mother!

Since fifty years ago today

On their fair brows,
Time has plowed deep furrows;

Silvered white their hair,
And crowned them with his iron crown

Our father and our mother!

Fifty years have come and gone;

Fifty years of strife and toil;
And now we tender for your use

This set of china-ware,
In token of our love to you

Your sons and daughters!

After dinner, the parents and their children sat and talked and joked over their fortunes and misfortunes which come to all. In the evening the Lynnville Cornet Band paid them their compliments and were treated handsomely. Thus passed a day that will long be remembered by Uncle Truelove and his friends. And the sun set over the western hills leaving the ones who were united fifty years ago, talking in the twilight of their prospects, which a happy fate shall give, of a GOLDEN WEDDING far above. And that night we believe that they were up till late with the light that Hymen lit fifty years before casting a flood of light upon their silver locks, gilding the grey “sparking” over again.
(Source, Newton Journal, October 11, 1882 under Lynnville items)