History read by Mrs. Wm. T. Coe on the Sixth Coe Reunion 1901
The twenty second of August, nineteen hundred and one has come
The Coe’s have all hied to the old, old home
Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren dear
Have come to Reunion from far and from near
Aunts, Uncles, Cousins all we greet,
Who have come this glad day with us to meet;
And as we grasp each friendly hand,
We welcome all to our Reunion land.
Under the maples grand and old,
The tables groaned, they’d so much to hold.
Loaded down with every thing good
Prepared by the hand of this sisterhood.
The Coe’s with great appetites are blessed, at least
They can do ample justice to such a feast.
While at the table, the happy faces around
Show that a merrier group can scarce be found.
Grandmother old with tottering feet,
Is shared with us once again to meet;
Ninety long years have rolled over her hand,
Seventy-one, on the old Homestead.
In looking over all these year,
With all their joys, trials, and tears.
Grandma surely must think she has not lived in vain
Since so many of her descendents-still remain.
In looking over the year that is fled,
We find one is married, and one is dead.
The farewells of Reunion had scarce been said
When word flashed o’er the vine, my wife is dead.
We laid her at rest with many a tear.
Beneath the flowers she loved so dear;
Truly we mourn with the loved one left
But must meekly bow, God hath bereft.
One bird from the nest has flown,
Gone to make glad a home of her own;
And by this matrimonial hitch,
We
have made a gain , for he is Rich
While turning the leaves of our History o’er
We learn we have added one Page more;
So as the swift years come and go
Each year adds some to the family of Coe.
We must all admit, this life is a strife,
Filled up with the cares and turmoils of life,
May we each as we journey our way,
Look back on this as a “Red letter” day.
Now dear friends while enjoying this good time
Don’t comment too strongly my attempt to rhyme,
Remember, the writer does not aspire to fame
And will simply close without a name
Mrs. Wm. T. Coe,
The Old Homestead
Durham, Ct.
August 22, 1901