The poetess of the day was Mrs. C. Curtis Coe Camp, of Middletown, CT, whose poem is herewith given in full:

 

A Coe Ditty

 

1.

When bloody May ruled England realm,

She had a subject, who

Was daddy of us all, no doubt,

And known as Roger Coe.

 

2.

When Mamie said to Roger, “You

Must worship as I do”,

And he declined, she roasted him,

Hat she might hear him, ”coo”

 

3.

About the time that Shakespeare made

His Hamlet cut up tricks,

A child named Robert Coe was born

In Fifteen Ninety Six

 

4.

In Sixteen Thirty Four, he sailed

For this land far away,

On purpose that our throng might meet

And celebrate this day.

 

5.

Now Robert Coe acquired a son

A grandson, too, had he,

Had these details been overlooked

Just think! Where would we be?

 

6.

A great grand-son then entered in

This world of sin, and woe,

Whom all the wondering neighbors called

Lieutenant Joseph Coe

 

7.

The douglty Joseph came one day

With scalps all loaded down,

Unslung his gun, and made his home

In this good old Durham town.

 

8.

Which happened at about the time

The parsons founded Yale,

To make the Harrardites eat crow

And turn their athletes pale.

 

9.

But generations, six since then

Have chased the festive felow,

And put the nany goat to roast,

And milked the purple cow.

 

10.

Have stripped the tall cucumber-vine

And hoed the ripening grain,

And gathered carrots from the vine,

Through summers sun and rain.

 

11.

Williams and Henry’s too, galore,

And Charleses not few,

Have snored in church devoutedly, each

In their respective pew.

 

12.

While youthful Bills and Bobs and Tims

Their yawns have not kept back,

Waiting “amen” but poked peas down

The sleeping deacons back.

 

13.

When older grown, each strapping Jack

Sought out some sweet-faced Jill,

And courted her in just the way

That youthful swains do still.

 

14.

It seems quite odd to think our great

Great-great great grandpapa

Should cast sheeps eyes and flirt so with

Four times great grand mamma.

 

15.

Fancy our honored ancestor,

In holiday attire,

With trepidation setting forth

To call on Ann Maria

 

16.

Just picture him with stuttering tongue

Quite shaking in his shoes,

Before some maiden five feet two.

For fear lest she refuse.

 

17.

Fancy them on their wedding morn,

She blushing as the rose,

He nervous, so he treads upon

Poor Ann Maria’s toes.

 

18.

Those days are fled and with the dead

Are laid their mouldering bones;

The names we scarcely can discern,

Upon their mossy stones.

 

19.

But we who live are met to-day

With Aunt Eliza here,

To greet the kinsman of our tribe,

With joy and hearty cheer.

 

20.

Though of the fence of fame not one

Has climbed the top-most rail,

We still can boast we have kept clear,

Of Congress and of Jail.

 

21.

No Poet great we have produced,

Philosopher or Sage,

Yet in the book of history

We furnish many a Page

 

22.

If any poet’s metre limps,

This we at least can do,

Help him by sending Smiths enough

His pegasus to shoe.

 

23.

Should poverty pursue a part

E’en to the final ditch,

We know where we can find relief

For some of us are Rich.

 

 24.

I trust the time is distant, when

The world shall hear our moans

For bread and cheese, since recollect

We own some precious Stones.

 

25.

If one be idle in our throng

And lack the purpose firm,

We cry “Up-son” ad be the bird

That hunts the early worm.

 

26.

Should e’er the fire of love burn low

It never quite departs

For then our genial kinsman Stokes

The furnace of our hearts.

 

27.

No enemies can thwart our zeal,

Or e’er our courage damp,

For watchful and determined, we

Form a united Camp.

 

28.

But when there are no envious foes

Like howling wolves to dread,

O! then we are like peaceful lamps

By faithful Shepards led.

 

29.

Since other names are hard to pun

We’ll form a firm and so

Announce the partnership “Davis

Doane, Stevens, Burke and Coe.

 

30.

Or, since a general partnership

May seem more kind and just,

Let all the kinsman gathered here

Unite to form a trust.

 

31.

Trust God above, trust Holy Writ

In all we plan or do

Each put firm trust in all the rest

And all to each be true.

 

32.

Trust honest zeal for noble ends

Trust rather right than might

And trust at last to meet again

Where trust is lost in sight.