The EBC Tree

(Sung to the tune of "Long, Long Ago")

On the Isle of Great Britain, the country of Wales
Mary Hughes and Gabriel Evans heard bells
Cer-rig-y-dru-dion in twenty-two hails
The root of our EBC Tree.

Their first child, our Mary, soon wed William B.
Welford gave five to this Bottrill family
Off to Australia, eighteen fifty three
A "down under" branch our Tree

The three youngest sailed, but two daughters remained
Waving "Goodbye" with their hankies tear-stained
Raised by grandparents, in graces they trained
This Eng-e-lish trunk of our Tree

Elizabeth spied a James Hamilton Clark
"Yes" brought a marriage no Evans would hark
For wide plains of Kansas they soon would embark
The American branch of our Tree

Meanwhile down under the Bottrills were busy
Five more were born leaving Mary so dizzy
Two babies died--that left six... still a tizzy
The Australian branch oversea

William E. went back to England to study
David and Adelaide followed their buddy
Mama had died so the feeling was cruddy
For the "down under" branch of our Tree

Catherine took Hardy and Sara took Bath
Margaret took Phillips, two daughters she hath
Ivy, the songbird, made singing her path
She flew from this branch 'cross the sea

South Africa beckoned-- her dreamy eyes shut
She cooed to a fine Dr. Phineas Smuts
These birds of a feather now planted their nuts
Behold, a new branch of our Tree.

One hundred and sixty-nine years of fertility
Has yielded a giant arborvitae* of nobility
Four continents of cousins with remarkable ability
Four cheers to our Evans-Bottrill-Clark Tree!

--------------
*Tree of Life

The Lone Star Jubilee

1997 Evans-Bottrill-Clark Reunion Song
(Sung to the tune of "The Yellow Rose of Texas")
Pink syllables fall on the first (strong) beat of each measure

In the August heat of Texas, we headed for the hills
Along the Guadalupe, upriver from Kerrville,
To the Guest Lodge at the Mo-Ranch where we met our family
For an EBC Reunion-- a Lone Star jubilee.

We had folks from California and Kansans from the farm;
Jamaica, Arizona and Pennsylvania charm;
Missouri, Jersey, Texas and Nebraska gals and guys,
But the Aussies from down under came furthest for the prize.

There were stacks of kinfolk photos and stuff from long ago.
A map pinned where we came from. Where we're going? We don't know.
Piggin' out on quesadillas, home-made cookies and iced tea,
'Twas a Texas-size red carpet rolled out for E-B-C.

Now the gentle river beckoned, no longer could we wait.
Three dozen 'suits stampeding made a splash heard 'round the state.
Our "water babes" swam circles--a kaleidoscope of toes--
And the brave slid down the Big Slide to a chorus line of "ohhhhhhhs!"

So it was in '97, to the book add one more page;
Making hist'ry for our offspring, a record for all age.
Turn the compass now to Kansas--to the prairie land we thrust.
It's on to year two thousand: (slowly) MIL-LEN-I-UM or BUST!

Lyrics by Kriss Avery, with help from other "water babes" in the rear of the Kansas Van: Cheri Black, Rose Heape and Jonne Long.

The Best Yield

Sung by Clint and Janelle Eidman at the Flint Hills Fest 2000
Evans-Brottrill-Clark Reunion

Watching other lives lived different from our own,
It’s hard to find perspective so close to home.
Young and headstrong dreams of a life away from the green
Fields where we’ve played and scratched our knees.

It’s hard to see the worth of a laugh
Until you’ve cried and looking back
Two hearts separate, now as one
Plant the seeds of crops and love
For tomorrow they reap what is sown.

Everyone is struggling
Runners in the race of life,
Moving fast as we can to reach the end.
And it’s not until you fall
that you realize family is all
they are there to pick you up can carry on.

It’s hard to see the worth of a laugh
Until you’ve cried and are looking back
Mother and Father planted the field
But it was the family that was their best yield.

Tears shared make the laughter sweet
Six hearts; distance wide.
We feel the warmth of fire
that burns where our hearts lie.

The distance can’t be felt
only bonds of family
Holding us together.

Watching other lives
Lived different from our own
See we are unique so far from home.

These country roads take us back
To the now fond memories
Of playing in the field with scratched up knees.

Lyrics and Tune by Clint Eidman written for their Kansas Farmer of the Year Award Banquet