Tea and Concert at Old Denaby Mission Room (poem and video)

December 1885

Mexborough and Swinton Times December 4, 1885

Tea and Concert at Old Denaby

The members of the congregations attending Old Denaby Mission room held a social tea and concert on Tuesday evening.

The tea was partaken by a goodly number of persons, the tables were presided over by Mrs Bennett, Mrs Emerton, Mrs Braithwaite, Mrs Elliott, Mrs Howard, Mrs Peacock, Mrs Brown and Miss Smith.
At the entertainment afterwards the reverent T Horsefall (curate in charge) presided, and dwelt upon the work of the church at Denaby and Denaby Main, making an earnest appeal for lay helpers to assist in Sunday school work etc.

A tastefull programme of vocal and instrumental music was they gone through as follows:

Pianoforte duet, “Woodland whispers,” Miss Emerton and Miss Bennett
Glee, “On the bank of Allan Waters”
Choir: Miss Braithwaite (Bentley) sang “jesses dream,” very sweetly and received an encore and the same acknowledgement awaited
Mr Sylvester’s “The Dutchman’s dog;” ***
Song, “I see for the in every flower,” was sung with great taste by Miss Brooks
Song, “Sailing,” (Encored) Mr Hughes
Duet, “Gypsy countess,” Miss Brooks and the reverent T Horsefall, was applauded,
and then Miss Braithwaite (Denaby) sang, “I love my love,” with taste and feeling, and was encored.
Dr Swithinbank gave an appropriate rendering of “The warrior bold,”
After which came another pianoforte duet by Miss Emerton and Miss Bennett, entitled “Silvery waves,” followed by the part song, “The Mockingbird,” with chorus.
Miss Emerton rendered “The miller and the main,” and drew forth an encore.
Mr Sylvester’s “The identical fluke,” produced a similar request from the audience; Miss Braithwaite (Bentley)
Miss Braithwaite (Bentley) next sang, “Someday,” in an effective style, and held the attention of the audience throughout the song,
and the concluding item on the programme, was a duet in character; “You’re another,” by Messrs Sylvester and Hughes.

At the conclusion Dr Swithinbank moved a vote of thanks to the ladies were at work so assiduously to promote the success of the gathering, and also took occasion to complement the Reverent T Horsefall and the good work he was doing, in which he hoped the parishioners would endeavour to assist him.

The reverent T Horsefall suitably responded, and the Rev H Ellershaw also address the meeting. The national anthem was sung, and the proceeding is terminated after a most pleasant gathering.
The schoolchildren were regaled with a tea on Wednesday.

*** The Dutchman’s dog

Oh where, Oh where ish mein little dog gone
Oh where, Oh where can he be?
Mit his ears cut short und his tail cut long,
Oh where, Oh where ish he?

I loves mein lager, tish very goot beer
Oh where, Oh where can he be?
But mit no money I cannot drink here.
Oh where, Oh where ish he?

Un sausage is goot, balonie of course
Oh where, Oh where can he be?
Dey makes um mit dog and dey makes um mit horse
I guess they makes um mit he.

The general idea is that the poor little doggie has run off and been turned into sausage and bologna by the local butcher, which causes great grief to his owner who used him as entertainment to earn money for his drinking. The manner in which the song was sung was derisive to Germans, so it fell out of use in later years. Today children simply sing the nursery rhyme song using variations on the first verse:

Oh where, oh where has my little dog gone?
Oh where, oh where can he be?
He fetches a ball, he’s the best pet of all,
Oh where, oh where can he be?