ed as
always, quickly and happily.

* * * * *

Birthdays and wedding anniversaries were gala days in the family,
especially Mr. Bemis's birthday, when there was always a large dinner
party with intimate friends added to the family group. Fun and abounding
cheer were invariably among the good things provided. As these days came
around there was no abatement of interest in them and of cheerful
outward observance.

For many years very definite plans were made by the children for the
golden wedding of their father and mother, on November 21, 1916. That
was to be the crowning day of all the family days, and though Mrs. Bemis
sometimes protested against planning for it, saying that she couldn't
expect to see that day, as it approached she took much pleasure in the
plans her children made for it. They were all to come home, each
bringing one or more of the grandchildren. Their mother was to have no
care whatever in connection with the celebration. Mrs. Taylor, the only
one whose home was in Colorado Springs, made arrangements to have the
family dinner in her own house and later in the evening a reception for
friends.

The summer of 1916 was passed as usual at Mohonk, and was followed by
the stay of some weeks in Boston that Mr. and Mrs. Bemis made each
autumn. While there, Mrs. Bemis had a fall, which later proved to have
serious effects. This was barely a month before the golden wedding, and
though she tried to treat it lightly and took the journey to Colorado
Springs, on arriving there she consulted her physician, who said that a
surgical operation was necessary. She wanted to postpone it until after
the golden wedding celebration, but he was not willing to risk any
delay, and on November 16 she went through the ordeal. The convalescence
was more rapid than the family had dared to hope, but they knew that the
situation was still serious when the wedding day came. To them fell the
delicate task of planning to observe it so that Mrs. Bemis would not
know it was done with anxious hearts, and of making it only a time of
rejoicing, and withal to do this in a way that would not tax her in the
least.

There was an early dinner for old and young, with one vacant place, in
the family home. Letters, telegrams, and whatever else had been written
for the occasion were read, and then all went to the hospital for a
short call. Five grandchildren were there, representing each of the
three families; wit