Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY

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and they will catch the thought that to her we owe the good environment that surrounds us and has tended to lift us to something
better and higher.
THE FIRST MUSICAL CONCERT WHEN WOLVES SANG THE CHORUS.
W. M. WEBB.
Written in 1849, read at the Corner Stone meeting June 19, 1919.
As sweet as the strains of Auld Lang Syne
Come back to me memories of my boyhood time.
Scenes and incidents many remembered so well,
But tonight it is only of one I had thought to tell.
One through the long years remains so fresh and so bright,
'Twas the Christmas songs I heard fifty years ago tonight.
So different now from then in so many things,
Changes great and all around us that half a century brings.
To see us as then to most of you would be an imaginary scene.
Here and there a little log cabin, a clearing, and all was wild forest
between.
In one family were six young men and maidens, all gone.
Martha, and Hannah, and Tom, and Joseph, and George and John,
Who had come from a land where a custom was known,
For singers to sing Christmas songs round their neighbor's homes.
And Hannah suggested that in a country so new, with pleasures so
few,
Wouldn't it be nice that old custom to renew.
No sooner said than done,
And they were up and bundled and ready in a trice,
And nine year old John shouted, "won't it be fun."
There was Witters, Dunns, Bullens, Wilsons, Turners and two
families of Webbs and Wrights,
And around each forest home they sang their merry Christmas
songs just fifty years ago tonight.
When they came to my father's home 'twas midnight and all was
still.
In a moment there was music and song all round the house, I never
shall forget,
How it woke us and charmed us, and as for me, I listened with
both ears, you bet.
I remember well though so many years have come and gone,