IF AUNT MARY HAD SAID NO
Many, many years ago, Before any of us were here There was a little boy in Switzerland Who lived with his parents dear.
His father decided one bright day, To America they would go. And bring this only child of theirs So more of the gospel he might know.
It seemed that Santa Clara Was the best place they could find To raise this little lad of theirs To be strong and good and kind,
It wasn’t long before this boy Grew up to be a man. And he decided it was up to him To bring some Wittwers to this land.
So he married Mary Gubler Who made an excellent wife And built a home in Santa Clara And settled down for a happy life.
Then one night he had a vision And he hardly knew what to do. His future children stood before him In number just twenty-two.
Now that’s a lot of children For one wife to have to bare So he thought someone should help her To share this load of care.
At first he sought the brethern Their permission there he won. And now to tell Aunt Mary That Bertha Tobler was the one.
Now Mary I’ve some news to tell And a favor great to ask. Since I’m to father twenty-two kids For one that’s quite a task.
I think you’ll need some steady help To Hid you in this chore. So if you’ll now give your consent, I’11 take on one wife more.
Well Mary hummed and then she hawed And said she’d have to think. While up above ten spirit Wittwers Stood breathless on the brink.
She thought and thought and finally She paused and turned to go. And as she was leaving she said “I guess the answers, NO!”
Now Grandpa was really quite concerned To know just what to do. While ten little Wittwer spirits Were feeling awful blue.
But they shrugged their shoulders at this change And thought of another plan. They’d find another list of folks And just belong to some other clan.
But the Lord said, “No if you go down Wittwer’s the name it must be.” So it’s plain to see you stay here with me And well never have a family tree,
So angels they are and will always be Flying around through heavenly space, So lets look at earth, unfortunate Earth With ten less Wittwer’s round the place.
There wouldn’t be Aunt Rhoda or Uncle Will No Aunt Myrtle or Eldon or Aunt Lillie No Uncle Albert, Aunt Mina or my mother And none of their progeny,
No Harold no Donna no Wayne or Joanne. No Verna, Max or Len. No Ardyce, Ferren, Merrill or Owen No Pearl or Marva or Glen.
No Viola, no Carl, no Marion No Cyrl, no Wanda or Geneva No Reed, No Grant no Dean or Clair No Lola, no Donna, or Reva.
No Norma or Jack or June. No Verla, Maryln or Lee No Gwen, Kent, Maurice or Bertha No Marva, LeNore, Leilla or me.
No, not one us kids would be here. And that’s not all you know. Most of us have children So where would they have to go.
And what of the in-laws out in the cold. On them what did befall? All these husbands and wives so true They’re “Baches” and “old maids” all.
So life goes on without, those Wittwer’s They’re missed by very few. But to those few they mean a lot Without them what would you do?
No Aunt Rhoda or Aunt Mina to cook and sew, No Geneva to put on a play. No Wittwer reunion to recall. Or no Aunt Lillie who does good every day.
No Uncle Eldon to help the youth To become better educated. No Uncle Will or Uncle Albert When it comes to being tops—they rated.
No Vera to teach in the district school For Uncle Melvin no Aunt Myrtle to kiss. None of the good tines our families have had. Which would be terrible to miss.
It was touch and go-above and below. When Aunt Mary made her ruling. Any many were sad, until Grandpa found out, That she was only fooling,
Ten spirits leaped and clapped for joy And began to sing and dance For Aunt Mary having consented Gave them an earthly chance.
For when Grandpa took Grandma to wife. And they began to begat. If Aunt Mary had said a firm “NO” to it all. We might have been up there yet.
But were not - We’re here and we love you all So love us as sisters and brothers. As we both love the man who fathered us all. And our two beloved Mothers.
Were glad to join you here below, And we want you all to know That these Wittwer’s and their kids would be mighty sad, If Aunt Mary had really said “NO”.
Written by Elaine Whipple For Wittwer Reunion
Source: Brent Bunker