Iowa
Old Press
Oskaloosa Herald
Oskaloosa, Mahaska co. IA
March 1907
Birthday Party.
A unique surprise was carried out on Henry Tandy and family March
5th. This special date was Mr. Tandy's 60th birthday. He made the
statement if his children would plan to celebrate his birthday,
he would comply with the request made by his wife and daughter,
Pearl, to shave off his beard. The plans were made by the
immediate family for the two married daughters, Mrs. J. Butler
and Mrs. F. O. Oswandel with their families to spend the day at
the parental home. However, these two daughters had other plans
which they did not reveal and with very innocent faces accepted
the invitation.
March 5th at about 11 a.m., a company of 35 arrived at this
pleasant rural home. The surprise was a complete one and the
raiders took possession, reversing the usual custom of raiders
instead of filling empty baskets, they began to empty well filled
ones while the members of the household stood and with wondering
eyes just looked on. The tidy spread table with only ten plates
arranged for was lengthened to a table just twice as long and
places for twenty instead. Thus, the day passed with words of
cheer and laughter. Ice cream was served in the afternoon and
graphaphone music was furnished. It was much regretted that all
who were invited could not be there. Some were kept away on
account of sickness in the home, while others could not plow
through the mud for such a distance. The day was dark and dreary
and the mud was very weary.Yet with light hearts and a sociable
time the sun shone within and we did not mind the clouds. May
many more such plesant meetings be ours. One Present.
[transcribed by J.D.P., February 2005]