The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-05-24
Original.
MEM0RIEs OF THE PAST
BY MRS. A. II. DWELLING

Original
MEMORIES OF THE PAST.
BT MRS. A. II. DWELLING.
How oft amid the varied changes and vi
cissitudes of Life, does the heart worn and
wearied with its increasing cares and cease
less toll, involuntarily turn to the early recol-
lections of its childhood's happy hours; the
ever new and pleasing scenes so sweetly inter-
woven with all and around which the alTec.
tions still firmly cling with unyieding grasp,
as the fleeing years Of life roll onward in their
.ceaseless course and link after link in its
golden chain is severed and the ties that once
bound it so closely to earth are one after an
other broken A; how sweet to turn from all, and
recall once more those joyous days; when
care sat lightly on the youthful brow and no
dalkning cloud Of sorrow ever dimmed its
brightness; when the future is promised
dawn, all radient with smiles of sunny hope,
seemeb robed in beauty; Turing the artless
footsteps amid its thornless flowers to rove,
unmindful Of the steep and rugged pathway
which lies concealed beyond.
Happy, happy hours would that they
could always last that its joys were not so
evanescent; its hopes so heeting! That the
dark realities life would not SO soon corrode
and canker its opening buds of promised
bloom or the blight of sorrow so early damp
its ardent JOY, or furrow so deeply the brow
with care, and the cheek with sadness.
My early childhoods home; with its thou.
sand treasured scenes! How bright the pic.
ture on memory's truthful page how loved
and cherished still
''Time but the impression deeper makes
As streams their channels, deeper wear
7 see tyet; that pleasant, cheerful cottage
home, embowered in cooling shade its ivy
man,led door, adorned on either side with the
white and damask Rose, mingling in fragran
bloom at each glad springs return. that tdy
yard, with its beautiful green carpet, and Dor
der Of cl cicest flowers, ever watched and ten
ded with tireless care the neat white paling
enclosing all and more cherished and dear by
far, than all beside, that lovely, mourning viii
| low; beneath whose dropping branches 50
many happy hours have passed, and oft fol
which, when by the hapless winds, a luckl s.
branch was torn, I've mourned as though
friend had fallen. First, sweet harbinger o.
spring now oft amid my distant wandelings
doth my heart still turn to thee, in fond re-
membrance the orchard too, with its ripe
and mellow fruit, so often gsrrered in 70
winters store and that bright, ripling strean
that danced SO joyousiy along, with muir
muring sound, /trellised with vines, and
decked with fragrant flowers, that tempt
ed my lingering footsteps oft, to wander Ion!
upon its messy bank at close of summer day
these with the merry songs of birds, respons
sive each to others note, filing the grove wit
melody ; and most reyered of all, that buria
spot beyond where calmly sic eping, many
cherished friend was laid to rest while the
cold marble slab alone remained to tell u
they had been; save the sweet impress O
their worth and name all, all are craven dee
on memory's ialthiul tablet.
Then side by side, were placed tie bright
ly opening bud of promised joy; the littl
babe, sweet pledge of hope and love; tn
blooming flower, seeming too fair for earth
the youthful maiden robed in smiles Of grac
and beauty and the lone, withered stalk
the weary wanderers on life's rugged shore
whose feeble frame, bent with the weight {
years, bore marks many a blighting storm
all calmly sleeping as times swift, years rol
|, onward-alike unheeded and unknown,
One little grave let me no. pass unnotad
IT'S Gilberts sweet, bright eyed boy {
six summers-frst in his class the pride an
boast of his Teacher-a flvoIi,e with all hi
class mates; and around whom the hopes an
joys of fondly doating hearts, warmly clui
tered; all how little did we think, when
the close of school, he tripped along wit
bounding step, so lightly over hill and dale
to his distant home that ere that merry Joy
5 Gus group so often gathered there, shoul
! meet again the laughter of his eye would /
dimmed the sweet music OF his voice forev(
hushed, aud that active, sprighdy form, a
cold and silent laid, aud ready for the gray
Monday morning came, clear, brigh
beautiful morning in springs earliest dawn
L',s,.,l,, -,,J i-,,ut1yr bed the spDroa n 4