Chickadee Poem of 1872

James Robinson.

Twenty little chickadees,

      Sitting in a row;

Twenty pairs of naked feet,

      Buried in the snow;

I should think you'd fly away,

      Where the weather's warm,

Then you wouldn't have to be

      Out there in the storm.

 

Pretty little chickadees!

      All the trees are bare;

Wouldn't you prefer to be

      Where the weather's fair?

All the other birds have flown

      South among the flowers;

There the snow-storms never come—

      Only summer showers.

 

Sorry little chickadees!

      Don't you know the way?

Can't you find the road to go

      Where it's always May?

Robins all have found it out,

      Wrens and blue-birds too;

Don't you wish you'd thought to ask,

      Ere away they flew?

 

Chilly little chickadees?

      I should freeze, I know,

If I had to live out-doors

      In the wind and snow

Don't you find it very cold

      For your little feet?

Don't you find it hard to get

      Anything to eat?

 

Hungry little chickadees!

      Would you like some bread?

I will give you all you want,

      Or some seeds instead,

Anything you like to eat,

      You shall have it free,

Every morning, every night,

      If you'll come to me.

 

Jolly little chickadees!

      Have you had enough?

Don't forget to come again

      While the weather's rough.

By-by, happy little birds!

      Off the wee things swarm,

Dancing through the driving snow,

      Singing in the storm!

February 23, 1872. Chick-a-dee-dee! Fort Dodge Times 4(20): 3.

Duncombe House Thanksgiving Dinner

The following ladies and gentlemen accepted landlord Flower's invitation to Thanksgiving dinner: Mrs. John F. Duncombe, Chas. Duncombe, W.E. Duncombe, Mr. and Mrs. Lisle Burnam, Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Johnston, Miss McBride, Mr. and Mrs. Loomis, Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Berry, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford, Miss Crawford, Mr. Lew Raber and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dixon, Charles Weider, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Colby, Mrs. Schaffner, Lew Loomis. Other guests were present, being invited by the regular boarders. The repast was elegant in every particular, and the grandest dinner that our city has seen for many a day.

Long live Flower and the Duncombe, and when Thanksgiving comes again may our appetite again be as completely satisfied. Below is the menu.

Soups.
A La Bernols.		Oysters, Windsor Style.
Fish.
Lake Michigan Trout, Regency Sauce
Salmon, a la Cardinal.
Boiled.
Corn Beef and Cabbage.
Leg of Mutton, with French Capers.
Buffalo Tongue, a la Royal.
Chicken, with Egg Sauce.
Cherry Roll, with Hard Sauce.
Entrees.
Bronzed Venison, a la Villerof.
Unjointed Teal Duck, Port Wine Sauce.
Matolotte of Peaches, with Rice Snow Cream.
Oyster Pates.		Snipe on French Toast.
Wild Pigeon Pie, a la Neopolitan.
Simmered Broiled Quails, with Toasted Cheese.
Cold Entrees.
Rouletto of Lamb.		Brown Rice of Mutton.
Chicken Salad, au Gratin.		Corn Beef.
Westphalia Ham, Champagne Sauce.		Hearts.
Lobster Salad.		Escolloped Fowls.
Minced Meat Pressed, with Fine Herbs.
Wild Goose, with Strawberry Jam.
Boned Turkey.
Roasts.
Beef, with Brown Gravy.
Black tailed Deer, with currant Jelly.
Turkey, with Cranberry Sauce.
Buffalo, with Sweet Herb Dressing.
Antelope Plain Sauce.
Vegetables.
Snow-flake Potatoes, Browned and Mashed.
Turnips.		Peas, a la Cream.
Parsnips.		Baked Asparagus.
Steamed Sweet Potatoes.		Canned Corn.
Relishes.
French Mustard.		Chow-Chow.
Halford Sauce.	Boston Pickles.		Horseradish.
India Soy Sauce.		Pepper Sauce.
Pastry.
Pumpkin Pie, with Honey.		Apricot Pie.
Plum Pudding, Brandy Sauce.		Mince Pie.
Dessert.
Spanish Ice Cream.		Russian Cream.
Jelly Tarts.	Scotch Jelly.		Lemon Jelly.
Sherry Wine Jelly.		Frozen Rice.
Lady Fingers.	Coconut Cake.		Jelly Roll.
Cup Cake, Flowered Frosting.		White Cake.
Coffee Cake.		Charlotte of Lemons.
Puff Paste Walnuts.
Candies and Nuts Assorted.
Layer Raisins.	Apples.	Oranges.	Grapes.
Coffee	Tea.	Cheese.	Milk.

December 1, 1883. The Duncombe House Dinner. Northwest Chronicle 1(6): 3. Issued at Fort Dodge, Iowa.