Litchfield enquirer., 1859-03-24

Furr YEARs-The following is the Poem read b. Mir. Peck at the Golden Wedding of Bethel Mat toon and wife in Plymouth, the last of February. What tongue can tell the countless cares,
 The tolls and pains. the joys and tears, Which try the soul, that mutual shares
 The welded life of fifty years! No pen can write, or words portray,
 No pencil paint, or mind conceive AN that makes up single day,
 Or fills the web couple weave. My feeble hand shall never dare
 To lift the veil of hidden life; The " Angers Record' onIy aere,
 May tell the deeds of man and wife. The doy, the peck, the month, the year,
 An hour, a moment, each Is full Of what may please, or cause tear,
 And leave its impress on the soul. For fifty years, how many storms
 Have left unharmed this quiet spot! They've msrrsd the proud and noble forms, And gently passed this lowly cot. The ruthless blast, the earthquakes shock Have rudely dashed down rich and fair, But Mercy smiles upon the Rock,
 And spreads her wing above this pair. The titled, ardent. guilty learned
 Venture their fortune on the sea; Oft the bold steamer, wrecked and spurned, And crew and all have ceased to be. Wars dread alarm and cruel blows
 Have shook the main and Briton's Isle; But Asre the bloodless riplet flows, While Peace and Love together smile. Though sunny climes of sweets and spice Tempt merchant princes far to roam From wife, mid danger, strife and vice,
 Htys sounds the !" sacred name of Home" The plighted VOWS that youth have sealed Meath Pleasure bowers or sacred dome, These rolling years have oft repealed; But here they staxd for |" time to come." This is an age of bonds and ties,
 They hitch the old land to the new Wed old to young, but <" bless our eyes " Without pulse, s0hat good ~iAt do The promises of Banks and Courts,
 Friends Senates, Priests and Pope, Are false or true as !" News Reports" And often disappoint our hope. Hope makes and bears the balm of life,
 And here we fill her flask anew, To nerve us for the future strife.
 And faithful work our journey through. Mourn not that Death is in the world These fifty years hes faithful been Down to the dust the proud are hurled,
 Else we their havoc still had seen. Death checks our crime, soothes him who frcts, Stays lawyerss writs, meets beggars' wants, Makes quiet homes, pays off our debts,
 And settles up our loose accounts. Death cures our pain, heals all our strife, Exalts the low, brings down the high, Opens a pathway into life!
 And bids the fettercd spirit fly! Not queenly grace, or Williams crown. King Philips wreath, Napoleon's power. Nor Car can sand-Death treads them down, h Beneath his sway the nobles cover. Time waves his wand OCT their estates They're scattered to ungrateful heirs West India planters, att the great
 Are subjects of these ruling years. Our honored men, ah where are they?
 Jay, Trumbull, Sherman, Webster. Wright, Calhoun, Wirt, Adams, Jackson, Clay?
 Time shrouds their forms in shades of night. Their homes forlorn, their acres waste,
 Their sun is set, their tolls are OCT, On on their way the heroes haste,
 And soon they tread the soil no more. Monroe and King and Madison,
 Brooks, Taylor, Rust have passed away, And the great form of Washington,
 Bears not, alas his name to-day! Our neighhers back for fifty years,
 How scattered far, and changed they are! Both joy and sorrow prompt our tears;
 "Spare, Lord, we cry, " in mercy spare " Our thanks we render here this hour,
 For friends who still would hold us here; Nor mourn for those on Canaan's shore,
 Who bid us como, and banish fear. Thus far the Lord has brought us on;
 Our Ebenezer here we raise And if our kin and friends are gone,
 We call this still our |" BetheL place" Our three score years are measured out, The rest may be but grief and pain And though we soon may be forgot,
 We trust we have not lived in vain. A son and daughter we bequeath
 This goodly land so broad and great; May they in virtue weave wreath,
 To crown some pillars for the State. Bnt states and empires pass away,
 Then where they red and peep no more, And night gives place to endless day,
 May we with them together soar. Who'll gather up the falling tears
 Who takes up every drop ot dew! Fills every breath, counts all thy hairs?
 And will He not remember you? Who'll see the fifty years to come,
 And bear the burdens time will bring, And take us shrouded to the tomb,
 Then back return to work and sing! See strong men fail, and punes rise,
 Who'll blow by steam and live on air, Steer flying vessels through the skies,
 And raise up children without care. They'll sew with feet, and sing with hands,i
 Milk with machines, and ride to reap! Fly off like birds to warmer lands,
 Leave home and friends to toll and weep! Make Kansas wiids our central Park,
 Hang the great flag upon Fixes Peak, Mount OCT the hills unlike Lark,
 And pluck the prey from eagles beak !! The Rocky Mountains all dug over,
 And levelled down for palaces News, wish and VOWS, from friend and lover,