(pve^AYS of J4 <©7\LG U" ''I I, ' I •, \iX\t \ ' " ; -.■■ t ill ?/ff ~ "~ -lil" 1 ' I't-J .■i. /J ii / v J .-I i The tallow dips in sticks of brass, With flaring flame again we see The bureau with its knobs of glass, And four-post bed with canopy. In feathers deep how sound we sleep In the Days of Long Ago. nil We churned the golden butter well ; We rolled the balls of cottage cheese. The home-made cider cast a spell — With clover blossom laden breeze — And sweet content with duty blent In the Days of Long Ago. -C=-v # *«1 WM'iffBW^-- The old iron kettle in the edow o Of the great wood fire's licking flame. How well it boiled the lye yon know. And made the soft soap, grandma's fame, And first prize at the County Fair, In the Davs of Long- Ago. cC- . ■j=# • v > N,i '" v ^„ r ^» %CT The sturdy farmer in the wheat, With cradle lays the harvest low, The tread-mill grinds the sorghum, sweet. The hired man drives the ox-team slow. O husking bees! O quilting teas! In the Days of Long Ago. J/'H,I < •'*■• Joi 3^ The shearing of the bleating sheep; The plucking of the noisy geese. The beehives hid in shadows deep; The buckwheat blossoms' snowy fleece All wraiths of youth, who tell the truth Of the Days of Long A^o. The smokehouse filled — hog-killing time With hams and "sides" hung in a row. The blackbirds piping merry rhyme With cawing of the pirate crow. The lost chords of an ancient lay Of the Days of Lornr Ago. Then moonlight winter nights agleam With diamond dust of sparkling snow ! The bob-sleigh with its four-horse team; Young folks 'mid robes of buffalo, How sly the kiss ! How sweet the bliss ! Of the Days of Long Ago. /-f'lf mi fp! S \ ^@ MM! The dance is on! — - Virginia Reel — " Gray Eagle" screams from violin. Exciting thrills from head to heel, Quadrille and waltz the time fill in; 'Til break of day we dance away ! In the Davs of Long Ago. o Then shady nooks — like elfin bowers The snowball and the lilac trees; The beds of good old-fashioned flowers, The honeysuckle-perfumed breeze — Sweet incense hov'ring o'er the shrine Of the Days of Long Ago. The halo of the Golden Past Grows briohter as the years roll by. Fond retrospect in shadows east The scenes of yore on mem'ry's eye. Dear ones we love have gone above From the Days of Long Ago. •::. ^.^':v ."/--- %%%% -:^t>- < " J,/- An echo from the Buried Past — The great brass knocker on the door. Its clanging call is stilled at last ; Those who responded are no more. Their shades we see in memory Of the Days of Long Ago. ' IMMORTALITY (Antithesis of " The Ruhaivat") I "The flower that once has blown forever Dies!" Not so the soul of man, but to the Skies, Straightway it takes its flight ! — 'less scripture Lies. II This form of clay we wear is but the Tent, Pitched for a day on earth, and then we're Sent To join the vast encampment, who are Blent - - III With that great army who have gone Before; And now await us on the other Shore. We go but once, and we return no More! IV Why do we hate to strike our tent, and Be Transported to the Land Beyond the Sea, Where all is bright and fair for you and Me? v^X^-K-::k,U:-K:^C-:-;:^:^,. - -. -;': :--;'/- Because our faith is small. True friends are Few! We know this home, and that beyond the Blue Is unexplored by us, and if 'tis True VI That we shall — disembodied spirits Dwell, In never-ending bliss, — or else in Hell — Be thrust to everlasting torments — Well, I g fr^X VII Our mortal flesh dictates to us to Stay, Where we are masters of our own sweet Way, And make the bed ourselves, on which we Lay, VIII Life's drama is a play where all take Part. The Timid Soul, and he of Lion Heart. Faith, Hope, and Love, the factors of the Art. XKh;:v VC. ;'.; IX We cannot all be stars upon this Stage. Some minor part, for most of us doth Gage ^ Our calibre, in this most strenuous Asre ! X That we shall live again we cannot Doubt. Our innate longings put our fears to Rout. In Doubter's face the flag of Faith we Flout! '"■ v. :'; * t : : ;;: ,:; :'; X- XI Both dainty flower and giant tree Proclaim: " The Hand that fashioned ns is just the Same That stretched the heavens, and called the stars by Name." XII The very dust that rides upon the Blast May once have been a Prophet of the Past. The moves upon Life's checkerboard are Fast ! . ■■ . XIII To-day the world seems bright with joy Ahead! To-morrow finds us numbered with the Dead. The hungry maw of Time by all is Fed". XIV In wailing of the wind — so sad and Drear — The spirits of the Dead methinks I Hear. The world of Yesterday, on Mem'ry's Bier. XV Mysterious is the veil that hides from View The myriad throngs who've passed, and still pass Through: Compared with these those now on Earth are Few. XVI We try to look beyond, to pierce the " Veil. In storm-tossed bark we bravely set our Sail. If Faith be at the helm we'll ride the Gale. XVII The Styx — which separates those There and Here, — Forever sounds within our timid Ear. Its swift, dark tide, filling our heart with Fear! XVIII We of to-day shall long forgotten Be, Our tiny sail sunk in oblivion's Sea! Unless, dear Lord, we've anchored safe with Thee. XIX Fairest picture by mortal ever Seen: — ■ When sinking sun frescoes with golden Sheen The fleecy clouds that hide the Evening Queen. XX The sun's last quiv'ring darts rise Higher. — Until the mountain top and lofty Spire Reflect the dying embers of its Fire! ' XXI Nature's own artist dips her magic Brush In pigments rare, made in the quiet & Hush. When dying Day welcomes the onward Rush XXII Of myriad twinkling stars. Like diamonds Rare. They gleam as gems entwined in raven Hair! Then shafts of silver moonbeams pierce the Air! & XXIII Sweet notes of birds and perfume of the Flowers Shall ravish hearts who love them, — but not Ours, — Our thrill ! The joy of the Celestial Bowers! XXIV The harmonies of earth shall help to Fire The hearts of those we leave when we Ketire To join the chorus of the Heavenly Choir. ■:%x%*%%^%%%%%%%%%z ■■:•-. ^•;:---:;/^:h:h:h><^:^:->:^;;;^^^^a^h:^h:^:^:h:^:^;k:; XXV Now Luna fair shall wax and wane, and So The sun fo r years shall rise and set and Lo! Unnumbered generations come and Go! XXVI The ebb and flow of tides shall still go On. Dame Nature clothe herself in green, then Don Her fleecy robes of white, but we'll not Con - ; >>',f >;:->;:-,>.;- •^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ h; j^., :x ;,-, : ^- : ^^^^.^ XXVII Tlie.se object lessons from the Book of Life, 'Midst company of Seraphim, where Strife Has long since ceased, and nought but Love is Rife; XXVIII We'll dwell throughout Eternity, and Wait For other Pilgrims who have traveled Straight The Narrow Path that lends to Heaven's Gate! - LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 018 602 681