Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-10-10
seIett poetrp.
DIR. HOLMES NEW PoBm.

Alumni Association. being called out by
toast complimentary to himself. and other po,
cts, who had graduated at the College, re-
sponded by reading the following poetical
speech:
I thank you. Mr.. President, you've kindly broke
the ice:
Virtue should always be the 6rst-I'm only Sc
cond vice
| CA vice is something with a screw that's made
to hold i,s jaw
Till some old file has played away upon an
ancient SAW
Sweet brothers by tho mothers side, the babes Of
days gone by,
All musings Of h.r Juno breasts, whose milk is
never dry
We come again, like halfgrown boys, and gather
at her beck
About her knees, and on her lap, aud clinsing
round her neck.
We find her a. her stately door, and in her
ancient chair,
Dressed in the robes If red and green, she al waye
loved to veal;
Her eye has all its rajiont youth, her cheek its
morning flame:
We drop our roses as we 60, hers flourish still
the sane.
We have been playing many an hour, and far
away we've straycj,
Some laughing in the cheerful sun, some linser-
ing in the shade;
And some have tired, and laid them down, where
darker sh 'dows fall
Dear as her loving voice may be, they cannot
hear its call.
What miles we've travelled since We shook the
dew-drops from our shoes,
We gnthcrd ON this classic green, 30 famed for
heavy due!
How many bays have joined the game, how
many slipped awas,
Since we've been running up. and down, and
having out our play
One boy at work with book and brief, aud one
with gown and band;
One ssi!ing vessels on the pool, one digging in
the rand;
One n,ing paper Kites on charge, one planting
little pills
The seeds of certain annual flowers, well known
as little bills.
What n aijcns met US on our way, and clasped
us hand in hand
What cherubs--not the legless kind-that fly,
but never stand
How many youthful head we've seen pu, on
its silver crown!
What sudden changes back again TO youths
empurpled brown!
But fairer sights have met our eyes, and broader
lights have shown,
Since others lit their midnight lamps where once
wo trimmed our own:
A thousand aims that flap the sky with Gags Of
rushing fire,
And, throbbing in the Thunderer's hand,
Thoughts million corded Tyre.
We've seen the sparks of Empire fly beyond the
mountain bars,
Till, gliltcring DER the western wave they joined
the setting STARS;
And ocean trodden into paths that tramp!ing
giants ford,
TO find the planets vertebrn, aud sink its spinal
cord
We've tried reform, and chloroform, and both
have turned our brain;
When France called up the photograph, we
reused the foe to pain.
Just So those early sages shsred tho chaplrt Of
renowu-
Hers sent bladder 10 the clouds. ours ,rought
their lightning down.
We've seen the little tricks Of life, its varnish
and veneer.
Its stucco-lront of character flake Off and disap-
pear;
We've learned that eft the brownest hands will
heap the biggest pile,
And met with many 'perfect brick" beneath
rmess tile"
What dreams we've had OF dealhless name as
scholars, statesmen, bards,
While Fame-thc lady with the trump-held up
her picture cards!
TILL having nearly played our game, she gaiy
whispered, "Ah
said should be something grand-you'll soon
be grandpapa!"
We'll, WELL the old have had their day, the young
must take their tutn
There's something always to forget, and some
thing still to Learn
Dat how to tell what's old or young. the tap root
from the spriggs,
Since Florida revealed her fount 10 Ponce de
Leon Twiggs!
! The wisest was the Freshman once, Just freed
from bar and holt,
As noisy as a kettle drum. os lcggy as a colt.
| Dou't be too savage with the boys-the Primer
does not say
The kitten ought to go to church, because "the
cat doth prey
The Law of merit, and of age, is not the rule OF
! tlTeei
Non eO"stat that A. NJ. must prove as busy as
A. B.
When wiser the father tracked the son balloon
ing through the skies,
He taught lesson 10 the old--go thou and DC
like Wise
Now then, old boys. and reverend youth, Of high
or low degrees,
Remember how We only get one annual out ul
three;
And such as dare not simmer down three dinner,
iuto one,
NJ lust cut their salads mighty short, and pepper
well with fun.
I've passed my zenith long ago; its time for ms
10 seti
dozen planets wait TO shine, and am linger
ing yet.
As sometimes in the blaze Of day milk and wa
tey moon
! Stains with his dim and fading ray the lustrou,
blue Of noon.
Farewell !--yet let one echo rise to shake ou
ancient hall
God save the Queen whose throne is here-,h,
Mother OF US all
Till dawns the great commencement.day on ev
ery shore and sea,