The Richmond palladium., 1856-05-08
Fer the Palladium
Chiidhoodss sunny Hours

! Saianoooss sunny Hours.
In the days Of our youth, when our wears
were fewer when we thought that the blue
smoke tha, curled SO beautifully over our
heads, went up TO form the pretty skies,
that the Thousand bright sparks tha, We used
TO punch of the huge back log that lay cradu-
ally burning away "a the cid family 6re place.
srornd which we. happy baad of brothers
and sisters were wont 10 gather from esenn q
to evening. and listen TO the pleasing stories
as well as the irisis and difficulties OF our low.
ed and loving parents, that happened long.
long ago. even before the Revouticn were
ascending up 70 form so many twirkng little
stars that were ever winairg al US when we
gaZed up al them Then were we truly han.
py-neser since. o.! swee, memory. thou
bringest me back thousand "reminiscences OF
the past. perhaps Of too little importance 10
tell the world. yet worthy my dwelling on un :
I'll | am so completely wrapped up in the sun
SHINE of the past. tina, the clouds Of the pres
snt dare not approach me. Tell me, indeed.
that we should strive 10 forget the past and
live in the present True we should all try 10
enjoy the present. and keep an eve 10 the fu
ture; but when the waters of the proud Mis-.
sISslppi shall cease to roll on 10 its mother
ocean-when the old eagles shall neglect to
teach their young TO soar aloft-when the red
man of the forest shall forget 10 be true 10 his
trust pronise-when the srigh, and glorious
sun shall forget 10 Use in the morning. and
shed has gol len rays DER h.il and dale-w hen
the Bright little stars shall forget 10 look down
with Io, the earth and chase away the
darkness and gloom Of the night: or last. bu,
not least of all, when krd heaven shall forpet
to smile on the just and The good. or shall for
sake IN hat great day those that have faith
fully walked with God, then perhaps too
shs'l forget 10 wander back in memories gold
Ell path 10 childhood's vine clad bowers. and
oeauIiiui spring days-that Ihave play in the
field, and watched my father t,-n over the
green sol, and mark how Ear the plow would
cut the next time il would come around. and
how | would carefully pluck up any pretty
flower that would chance to come within that
mark, 2rt! transplant It in some fence corner,
and water It day alter day until l could re-
Joice 10 see II blossom anew. and how strange
ly | would feel when The lting April clouds
would cause dark shadows TO chase one ano.
ther across the field. and how reioiced and
thnt!ed with JOY at each appearance of The
bright sun. And again how / would at 9th.
or times chase the little sparrows out OF the
bushes IN search for their nests or set for hours
and hsten TO the sweet warbiing oil the mock
ing bird "Ohl would tho; l We're young again,
when youth seemed formed OF sunny days
But alas. that happy band that just spake
Of; what OF them-where are they? Go to a
foreign land. and ask of the mounfains of gold
and the rivers of hidden treasures a thousand
times perhaps in vain. what become Of a no.
ble but rather daring brother. Go to the cold,
cold grave for . part that have gone on be-
tore and 20 10 the four corners OF the earth
and inquire of old time. that fell DESTROYER,
what II ages lie las been making on the once
calm piacI. ttfOH ani rosy cheek of The rest
Oh. give NE back nv chlldhood's sunny hours!