Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-22
MORNING LEADER.
From Mt- Vornon aLd other Poems
ANCESTRAL PORTRAITS.


Aud now the wisdom which We learn,
Turns giddy every ! cad:
And yet It's wrong, Wsen, TO spurn
Oar old ancestral dead
Oar Pilgrim sires were taught Of God,
And solemn psalms they sung;
They trained their children with the rod,
And witch and wizard hung
Yet, If they eTred-'tis nothing odd
All err-bOth old and young!
They earned by toll Whate'er they had,
Since Heaven ordained it so;
Nor with the fashions went they mad,
Nor eramped they waist or toe
Nor. like the lily, pale and sad,
Looked every belle and beau
The girls were taught to spin and weave,
The boys to hold the plough;
Twas then thought wise-and believe
As wise it might be now,
fpeople would their seheming leave,
And live by sweat Of brow.
The good old times were good enough,
Though times more polished dawn;
Men then were made Of sterner stuff.
Than those that now are born
Though plain they were and somewhat rough
Yet why their virtues seorn?
10 groups that grace the parlOr wall,
How pleasant still to see
The dear old portraits, which recall
Our honored ancestry;
Grand parents, uncles, aunts and all,
Who danced Us on the knee
Oh yes 1 still remember well
My Grandsire's aged look.
The witehing tales he deigned to tell,
And how, from sacred Book,
He Oft explained why Adam fell,
And man the right forsoOk
He used to wear a brOad-brimmed hat,
A buckle geRmed each knee;
The old arm chair in which he sat,
IL cheers me still TO see;
With powdered wig and queue, all that.
None looked so grave as he.
His was a high and manly brow,
With locks Of silver gray;
He ne'er to Britain's pride would bow,
Nor for her king even pray
Nor would he yield, like statesmen now,
His principles for pay!
But strong of limb, and brave at heart,
He swung a brawny arm;
And promptly bore berO's part
Mid danger and alarm
Aud though off pierced by sorrows dart
His manner sull was calm.
He loved to tell HE history Ger,
And speak of wars dread crimes;
And Of the deeds be did Of yore,
Which beat all modern times
His worldly goods he left in store,
All heirs could ask, save dimesl
Though poor, he was a patriot true,
Had fought in Freedoms cause
And all he owed he paid when due,
His debt to Natures laws;
In fact, from earth have passed but few,
With heart as fee from iaWs.
Ii midst old graves you choose to tramp,
You still may read in print,
Upon his maidstone cold and damp,
This bTiei, yet truthful hint
"Here lies 4 man Of Natures stamp,
The coinage of her mint =
But what Of her who wore 4 cap,
And hoop to swell her skirt;
Dear Grandam, who, with many a chap,
When young, inclined to iirt;
And even in age, whate'er might hap,
Seemed girlish. prim and pert
Though seeming gay, she used to read
Her Bible with delight,
And deeply felt that m0rtals need
Gods grace to keep them right;
Always with heart that seemed to bleed,
She said her prayers at night!
She led life none need dsspiss,
Afeetionate and kind;
And under holy guidance wise,
Her duty sought to find;
And oft relieved, with plying eyes,
The poor, the halt, the blind.
When very old, her length Of nose
Hung sword, like Ger her chin;
Yet she was cheerful to life's close,
Though but shadow thin;
Oft rocked my cradle, suppose,
And loved to knit and spin.
The most rseOlleet CT her,
Is how she uSd to try,
With pointed thread half lost in blur,
To hit her needles eye;
And though vexatiOns would occur,
She ne'er INDUCED sigh.
The good old Lady has been dead
Some thirty years at least;
Tie stone is carved that guards her Bead,
With eherubs gazing East;
And where she sleeps but few now tread,
The worm has had its feast -
Uncle, who was an only son,
For riches never toiled
Though be in youth loved mirth and fun,
And sports that Oft recoiled,
Yet what was wrong be aimed to shun,
And ne'er his morals sOiled.
But when parental power bad lost
Ger him its kind control,
He rarely stopped to count the cost,
The worth Of time or soul;
But onward foated, tempest-tost.
Mhere'er hfeis wave might roll
His head with many a vision swan,
The world he lonsed to see;
Or Greenlands isle, or land Of Ham,
II mattsred not, 90 be
No longer tethered like the lamb,
Could rove, unchecked and free.
Ere twenty-one most foreign lands,
lis said that be had seen;
Though fearful still Of EedlOck's bands,
At forty, as / ween,
He sometimes thought Of Joining hands;
What did the fellow mean
However strange the truth, to say,
Loves vow at las be made,
And sealed it, too, one eve in May,
With her who graeed the glade;
And ever, from that happy day,
He led life that's staid
Whateer may be by prudes required,
Who join in nuptial state
BE proved the model man desired,
And she the loving mate
And blest Of heaven, they ne'cr grew tired
or "lttle cares" or great -
II half they say Of Aurt be true,
Her youthful charms were rare
Her teeth were pearl, her eyes were blue,
And auburn was her hair:
Her lip rose bud, bathed in dew,
Her brow, angelic, fair
Never had a maid prettier hand,
Nor dsintier foot than she;
Nor roster cheek had zephyr famed,
Than hers, as all agree
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