Musical

After recess the musical began Of music, readings, dialogs and songs, Making a long diversified program. Miss Kister read each number for the throng’s Delight, who harked attentive, laughed and cheered, So they ofttimes with progress interfered.

A dozen tiny tots their “pieces” spoke; Five dialogs were played with rafts of fun; Two damsels readings gave that nearly broke The backs of all, the laughter spared no one. Deer Creek and Pleasant Ridge schools blithely sang Four songs; they were cheered back till building rang.

An overgrown lad, quite a bit dismayed, “Sockery and the Speckled Hen” declaimed. They encored him so loud he waxed afraid, And ran away as if he were ashamed. Altho to him such repertoire was new, But few adults as well as he could do.

A blue eyed lass from Prairie Gem--she played On the spinnet and sang a pretty song; While on a banjo a Blue Valley maid Wrought music sweet to guide her lay along. Two blackened Deer Creek swains, for old and young, “Oh Don’t You Hear Dem Bells” like minstrels sung.

Two violinists played selections fleet-- Sweet hornpipes, Money Musk and Devil’s Dream. This music went alike to souls and feet Of all, until a frontier frolic did seem To be in progress on a puncheon floor. They lavished them with a double encore.

There were two singers more on hand that night Who won the hearts and the esteem of all; And this tale would not be complete nor right If names and parts we did not here recall. ’Tho cruel time for many years has shed The snows of age upon each noble head.

One Charley Bartlow was then young and gay, Kind hearted, cheerful, nice to old and young; His voice and heart were tuned up night and day; And to this crowd most willingly was sung. Many the quaint and jolly songs he knew; He loved to sing; folks loved to hear him too.

“Susanna” first he sang for them that night; The way they listened told that it was sweet; He sang with all his soul and all his might, And they rewarded him for his rare treat; They cheered him back; and he responded then With one, his favorite lay--this old time gem:--