Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WHY FEDERATE?, by MRS. CARL TUTTLE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WHY FEDERATE?, by                    
First Line: In pondering o'er the question
Last Line: Learned everything there is to know.
Subject(s): Clubs (associations)


In pondering o'er the question
Why Clubs should federate,
I'll answer it by telling --
Of our club at Pleasant Lake.

Ten years ago we organized,
A band of women true,
Intent on self-improvement,
And civic work to do.

We've studied art and music,
History, ancient and new,
We've planted trees in April
And sponsored lectures too.

And while we all were trying
To do our little bit,
We knew that other women
Were showing the same grit.

Women from Howe, Whitley,
From Fremont and Auburn too,
From Ft. Wayne, our sister city,
In numbers not a few.

We wanted to know these women,
To clasp them by the hand,
To unite in bigger projects
And thus our work expand.

And so we joined the District,
The County, and the State;
We hope to join the General soon,
And then be up-to-date.

And when up here in Old Steuben
We plant a rambler rose
To beautify the highway,
We know the prospect grows.

And when we buy our linen
From our dear friends, the blind,
And send our girls to college
Through student loan, we find --

That we have added to the sum
Of joy and happiness,
Of usefulness and knowledge,
Which comes the Earth to bless.

We've always felt that women
In politics should share,
That they to be good citizens --
Should try with unremitting care.

We believe we owe a duty
To folks of every clime,
And our International Relations
Will be settled right some time.

"God Bless Our Home" is our motto,
But this we know full well,
That He needs some assistance
From women trained to tell

Sore throat and croup from measles,
The worth of spinach, too,
And how to train the children
To be square and kind and true.

And we believe our Juniors,
The women of forty-three,
Will be better wives and mothers
Than we can hope to be.

But should our children, like the flea,
Go to the dogs, why then
Our committee on Social Morals
Will set them right again.

Now all of these departments
Are placed at our command,
When we unite with other women
In the Federation Band.

We'll work for Club Extension,
With pleasure we will give
The story of club benefits,
And by giving we shall live.

And when in our "Club Woman,"
Of others' deeds we read,
We vow that we will imitate
And maybe excel their speed.

We always like to follow
A leader who leads on
To success in each endeavor,
And Mrs. Canine is that one.

So for inspiration,
For programs, and for plans,
She and her fine helpers
Can supply all our demands.

True we can't all go to College
And earn a coveted degree,
But we may have its equivalent
In club work, don't you see?

Since we've joined the Federation,
We're as busy as can be,
We haven't time for gossip --
Or frivolity.

So here's to the Federation,
May it grow and grow and grow,
Till we've done everything there is to do,
Learned everything there is to know.





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