A Pleasant Affair--Frederick Sheel's 51st birthday 1895

[ddurbin]

 
from MOLINE REPUBLICAN  July 19, 1895
A PLEASANT AFFAIR
Frederick Sheels is one of the most substantial farmers of our community.  He is a German and came to Kansas from the Fatherland twenty-tive years ago.  He owns a highly improved farm four miles northeast of this city which is the result of his own labors since setling in Kansas.  Here he lives in comparative ease, surrounded by all the comforts of a prosperous farmer.  Here he has reared a family of intelligent boys and girls, several of whom have married and are doing for themselves.  Monday was Mr. Sheel's 51st birthday.  He had not forgotten the event and celebrated the day by resting from his farm labors.  The day was  passed very pleasantly and when the shades of night crept lazily over the Sheels homestead Fred betook himself to his comfortable couch to dream of the happy days of his youth in the faraway native land.  He was unconscious of the fact that the children who had gone upstairs, ostensibly for the purpose of going to bed, were really preparing to meet visitors who were momentarily expected.  They did not wait long.  Fred had been in bed not to exceed five minutes when the rattle of wagons and buggies and the din of a multitude of voices burst upon his astonished olefactory senses and before he had time to prepare himself for visitors the house and yard were filled with a merry crowd of men, women and children.  He took in the situation at a glance.  A lot of his friends had called to assist him to properly celebrate the 51st anniversity of his birthday.  He promptly surrendered and threw himself upon the mercies of his captors who at once proceeded to unload baskets of well cooked deliccies and German tempeance drinks to supply the crowd.  Fred forgot his 51 years and became a boy of twenty again, singing with Holmes:
Has there any old fellows got mixed with the boys?
If there has, take him out, without making a noise.
Hang the almanac's chest and the catalogue's spite!
Old time is a liar! we're twenty to-night?

We're twenty! We're twenty! Who says we are more?
He's tipsy.--young jackanapes! Show him the door!
"Gray temples at twenty?" Yes! white if you please;
Where the snow flakes fall thickest there's nothing can freeze!

Yes! we're boys.--always playing with tongue or with pen;
And I sometimes have asked, "Shall we ever be men?"
Shall we always be youthful, and laughing, and gay,
Till the last dear companion drops, schilling, away?

Then here's to our boyhood, its gold and its gray!
The stars of its winter, the dews of its May!
And when we have done with our life-lasting toys!
Dear Father, take care of thy children.  The Boys!

After recovering from his surprise Fred looked out over the crowd and discovered about 125 guests present.  But there was abundance to feed the crowd.  When the eatables had been properly disposed of the kitchen was cleared and all who wished enjoyed as happy a dance as ever occurred.  The guests began to depart for their homes at 12 o'clock but it was past three before all had gone.

[genealogynut]

My!My!My!  How the customs seem to have changed over the years!  One never hears about gatherings like that anymore.  Also the old custom of a chivaree seems to be long forgotten.

But getting back to your posting..........can you just imagine getting rousted out of bed about 5 minutes after getting in?   

[Roma Jean Turner]

I remember those chivaree's.  Going with my grandparents.  I think a lot of these customs stopped when people left the country neighborhoods.  I remember the men would always do up the car and attach tin cans to it.  People would take the label off the canned goods in their kitchens and hid things.  It was a fun event for a child.

[Janet Harrington]

Well, now, I guess I could say I got chivareed on my first marriage.  My girlfriend came to my parents house in Severy (where we lived), short sheeted my bed and put rice in the bed, in my dresser drawers, can't remember everything.

Well, I got her back.  When she was married this last time, the wedding was at her house at Severy.  What was a friend to do, but look through her cupboards and try to find rice.  I couldn't find rice, but I found some oatmeal or cornmeal or something.  Her sheets got to have this nice crumbly stuff on them.  Can't remember now if she ever knew it was me or if she thought it was her kids.  What fun.  I know that chivaree's were more extensive than that, but we sure had fun.  ha ha