A few of our faithful members could not be with us, much to our mutual regret.

A ver promising class of new members was received by the association with beautiful and impressive ceremonies.

The candidates stood upon a platform which was decorated with wild flowers and vines, the association colors, purple and gold predominating. Eleven members, including one honorary member, stood the test of initiation bravely.

Some of the old membes had been guilty during the year of breaking the rules by attending weddings, thereby encouraging deserters. These culprits were brought before authorities to give an explanation. ll gave satisfactory reasons for their conducte and were pardoned. The feast was up to the usual standard, which means it was of the best quality.

Officers were elected from among the tried and true members, and the association starts upon a new year with bright prospects. The young ladies who held the reins during the homeward drive demonstrated the fact that the P.B.'s were competent to row their own boat. Several of the company were shocked and grieved when they chanced to overhear one member sigh by the way, "O, for a feller."

At night-fall all returned home with laughter, son, and yell sustaned their claim:

Those present: Misses Ina FREEMAN, Margaret POLLOCK, Nell ARCHIBOLD, Eva ECKERMAN, Emma HEYER, Bertha HOGUE, Hulda SPROUSE, Blanche BORDER, Fannie HOPKINS, Alice ELDER, Jessie SPURRIER, Chloe PALMER, Louella HOUSE, Myrtle McGREGOR, Florence FLETCHER, Clara TAPP, Anna FRANE, June KINSELL, Mae LANHAM, Bess HEATON, Lenore PECKHAM, Birdie HOUSE, Mabel HENDERSON, Eva BURLEIGH, Gladys SNYDER, Katherine RISSER, May FLETCHER, Myrtle STEWART, Nellie WHISLER, Elizabeth DuBOISE, Ollie ASHENHURST, Hattie WHISLER, Jessie RICHARDS, Jennie LITTLE, Della WHISLER, Elno HALL, Minnie TAPP, Merna HALL, Jennie CULP, Bernice FREEMAN, Grace McGUGIN, Velma HEYER, Ethel HOGUE, Eva NELSON, Mabel LUCKART, Bessie BAXTER

Messrs. John HEYER, Walter TAPP, Homer IBBOTSON, A. J. MORRIS, John TAPP, Perry BUCHANAN, James TAPP, Frank PARCE, Clifford CULP, Cor BORDER, Will KILLIN, Leslie McCLURE, LeRoy SPURRIER, Lloyd SMITH, Harold PALMER, Harold DeWITT, George ASKREN, Fred WOLF, Will BUTLER, James GROUT, Bert ASHENHURST, James TEMPLETON, John BLAUER, Francis GOFF, Ralph JARVIS, Ross WHISLER, Robert HOGUE, Merrill ASBURY, Ernest BOSWORTH, Fred HEYER, Guy BORDER, and John McKEE.

  And it came to pass in the first year of the reign of Margaret, daughter of POLLOCK, and queen of the tribe of P.B.'s that there was a mighty people, that there was a might people, deadly enemies of the P.B.'s, otherwise called Procrastinated Bachelors.

And it came to pass in the first month of said year, that the fair tribe gained great favor in the eyes of the hostile tribe by journeying them afar to the land of TAPP.

Now among this tribe were Ernest, of the house of BOSWORTH, Clifford, son of CULP, Leslie, surnamed McCLURE, John of the house of HEYER, and many other sons of the land of Tingley.

Now these sons gathered together among themselves and decreed that they would banquet these fair maidens and damsels. And there was much rejoicing among the maidens, because of this decree.

And it came to pass that the day of festing arrived and the multitude journeyed to the Temple of Revelry, or Bachelor's Hall.

And after the multitude were gathered together, there appeared a handwriting upon the wall. And straight-way, one of the damsels said, "Behold, we have some artists of great fame among us; who are they? Bring them forth!" And suddenly there appeared in their midst, Lloyd, surnamed SMITH, and Harold of the house of PALMER, proclaiming, "We are the artists; we have done these great works."

At one of these works, the maidens gazed and gazed and gazed, when finally one maiden saith, "Behold, we see ourselves as others see us."

And suddenly there came into the midst, a band of musicians, of the ASBURY tribe, bringing with them many instruments of music with which to make merry.

And straightway a youth proposed that they should indulge in a grand march. And Clifford, son of CULP, approached Florence, daughter of FLETCHER, saying, "Whither shall we march?" and she saith, "Follow your nose," and he followed his nose, and the whole tribe followed him.

And it came to pass that many of this multitude were athirst, and they journeyed many times to the habitation of the "Blind Pig" after which they thirsted no more.

And many daughters of the tribe were very popular with the young men and they delighted to walk and talk with them, so there was much strife among the youth.

And straightway William, of the house of KILLIN, approached the queen of the fair tribe, saying "Most glorious queen, wilt thou walk with me?" And she said, "Verily, man, I am a P.B., get thee gone." And he straightway got himself gone.

As the morning approached, the multitude became hungered, and therefore in companies of two, they sat themselves down at the banquet board. They feasted until the cock crew. And all rejoiced exceedingly at the excellency of the feast.

And they that were fed numbered about four score.

And they took up of the fragments twelve baskets full of radishes, pickles, veal loaf, salads, coffee, rolls, pineapple sherbet and cakes.

And the youths and maidens exclaimed at the lateness of the hour, and prepared to depart to the homes of their fathers.

Then the damsels of the nations fell on the youths' neck, and kissed them, as it were, and made a covenant among themselves and said, "Verily, if in four more years, any of use have escaped the holy bonds of wedlock, we will yield to your appeals to us." And all the youth trembled.

And all departed saying the works of their hands are greatly to be praised for their wonderful works to the children of men.

  SOURCE: Tingley, Iowa Centennial: 1883 - 1983. Pp. 91-93. PSI, Inc. Belmond IA. 1983.
Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library, September of 2011

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2011