The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-07-01
Duetital
From the missouri Democrat.
NY Finieth Birth Day.
BT MRS. FRANCES D. oAas

Must l sit in an arm chair so,
a white frilled cap around my face,
With dull drab strings, and meier bow,
And keep things always in their piaeef"
The lines Of care, the sigh Of pain,
The" Hush |" her lips So on let fill
Made me wish, o'er and DER again,
never might grow old at all.
Yet she was ever cheerful, and
Would Oft times JOIN our sport and lnir,h;
Ard many play by her was planned
Around the winter evening heartb'
But then she played not by the brOokl
She diIpot gather pretty towers,
She did not sing with merry look,
Nor make spring time Of the hours.
So, when sh, said, one sunny morn,
"You will be old, like me, some day !"
lwept like one Of hope forlorn,
Aud threw my piaStAings all away,
Be oldl like grandma, anu not roam
The gicn in spfir 9, for viOlcts blue,
Or bring the bright n ay blossoms homo,
OR DICK I6e straw berries 'moDg ihe dews
BIZ old and In tire summer time
Tuke weary maps IN mid day hours,
And fail the Chandler trees to climb,
And shake the ripohing fruit in showers'
Be old and have no nutLirg-bees
Upon the hillsl e, rrstling brown,
Or hang upon the vire'clud trees,
And shout the rich ripe clusters down!
Be old and sit round wiltry aresl
BE gNyl have no sizzling spreel
and hush away all Wild dcsiresi
/ thought 'twere better not 10 be.
But two score years have gided by,
With summers heat and Winter's cold,
With sa my hours and clouded sky,
Till now I'm hfty--Irow I'm old.
The suA burnt locks arc silver; now,
that used TO danglc in the wind; g
And eyes are dim. and feet move slow,
That left my play mates all behind.
Epcctacles lie upon my nose,
But no white irili iuoks prim and coldS
My gray hair curis--l wcgr pink bows
do not feel 50 very old.
To play among the pebLles,l
"Oulu loNc1 va tHut ehOAOD
Where once watched the swailHws9y
The dancing, rippliDg waters o'er.
Id like 10 climb the apple tree,
Where once the spicy s~eeting grew,
Mako grapevine swilgs, and have gIee;
But l am ffty-'t~ ouldhl do.
I'D like to 60 u nutting now,
And gather violets in the glen
And wrealhe The wild flowers ro.hd my brow,
as well as e'er cid u ten.
I'D like to slide upon tho pond,
TO waIch the old mill struggling there
In icy chains, while all beyond
Was one broaL mirror, cold and glare,
I'D like to sec the noisy school,
Let out a-nooning, as Of old. .... .
Play 1lLost my glove,' anu I'Eind the rule ~
My heart throbs qqick-it is uot cold.
hear The cry of Kate and Jane,
or Lottie. Lima, Helen, Sue
All, yes! I'm own itl in between
Come George, and Dun, and William too.
I'm nifty bnt am not sad;
see ho gloom in ripening years;
My hopes are bri4 hit, my split glad
HOW vain Wore all my childish tears!
Ny childish sports, l loved T. em tGer;
love to think them over still;
To shut my eyes and droam again
Ofsilver, stream aud woodland hill.
But life has pleasures Lolisr still
Than childhood's play with all its Zest,
That as we journey down tho hill,
Make each succeeding year the beat. ....
Now stalwart ,nen are at my hearth,
And ''boEpie lasses'' laughing free,
That had not lived on this good earth,
TO lovs and labor, but for ne;
And shall pine for ehildhood's joys,
For woodlal d walks and violets blue,
While round me merry girls aud boys
Are doing what used to doI
Ny days Of toll, my years Of care,
Have never. chilled my spirits' 4owi
Or made one Hover of life less fair
Than in the spring-time, long ago.
The paths I've trod were sometimes rough,
And sharp and piercingto my feet;
Yet there were dashed walks enough.
To make IL all seem smooth aud sweet.
Friends that I loved have passed from sight
Before me " the spirit home;
But In the day that knows no night,
know they'll greet me when como.
Hopes that pve cherished, too were vain;
But have lived TO feel and know
That were life to live .o'cr again,
'rwere better Iaat 1t should be so.
Al every winding Of the way, 80.
I've sought for love, and love have given;
For love can cheer the darkest day,
And make the poorest home heaven.
o! ye who are passing down, like me,
aLife's autumn side, be brave and strong,
And teach the lispers at your knec
That fifty years is not 90 long;
That If they would be ever young
And free from dolorous pain and care,
The life-harp must be ever strung
With love and duty, everywhere.
As violins in foreign lands,
Broken and shattered DER and DER,
Whom mended and In skilful hands,
Mako sweeter music than befoTes
So, on the heart, BY sorrowtorni
Givesforth . loftier, clearer song,
Than that which crested MS at morn,
When II was new, and brave, and strong.
Father, thank thee for them all,
These nfty years.which now are passed;
obiiguide me, guard me tillthe ihlI
Ofdeath my form shall hide at last.
Let mo in love and kindness still
Live on, nor e'er grow hard and cold;
Bend me aud break me 70 thy Will,
But may my spirit ne'eT grow old!
or Many a young lady who is quite P
feient on the piano, cannot earn her bo: