Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-14

ford, Connecticut, TO an equally vsnsrAbl
citizen of Bridgeport, is q pleasant msnsnt
Of oldsn times, as ven IS happy piece Q
versifeation:
"REMINISCENCES OF EARLY DAYS.
70 NJ EAnLT THIrSD AND ONLY SURVIVING SCHOOL
EATEB CAPT. 7. ..
ats more than three score years and ten,
Our lives allotted span,
Since first in youthful, happy days
Our friendship true began.
"'Tis more than three score years and ten
Since a. joyous child,
Iplayed with you on stratford green,
In many afrolic wild.
Gas look back upon those years,
Three score and ten and ave,
OF all the mates we numbered then.
But Us two are alive.
aWe two. Of slI that little band
OfsPortiEe girls and boys,
Who Wept togetherin in childish gnetss
And smiled at childish joys.
"And now, far down the vale Of tears
And time is heetng fast,
Yet / would be child once NOR e,
And live again the past.
tYears, seventy-fye-how thrills my heart
As memory bears me back,
tread again with buoyant step
Ny girlhood's sunny track.
But in Iife's retrospect see
Full many a saddened scene
For life has not beeA all play
On dear, old Stratford green.
We've drank, dear friend, its mingled cup
OF sorrow and Ofjoy,
Since Was buta happy girl,
And you a sportiYe boy.
ThouEhieW sre leit alive,
The dearly loYed have passed away,
And yet.Te still survive.
ave still survive, and it may be
A yesr, perhaps day,
When like the loved ones gone before
We too shall passsWay.
''ood grant that in our parting hour,
Our trials and labors done.
We mAy 60 quietly 70 our rest.
As sinks the setting sun.
"When we were young twas stlrring times
The age Of iron nerve,
When rang the trumPet's wsrlike shout
From every hill and grove.
When for their country and their homes,
Their liberty and life,
God and the right, their battle cry,
They conquered in the strife.
+" 'Tis true, we were but children then;
But We remember well
how many hearth was desolate,
How many patriot fell.
/" How Oft the parent on his knee
Would seat his lisping child
And tell strange tales OF battle fields,
And legends fierce and wild
"And of our childish cheeks would blaneh,
And childish tears would hoW,
As Wondenngly we listened then, .e
To tales Of blood and woe.
But joy best suits the youthful heart
'Tis always light and free;
And so as il has always been,
It was with you and me. q
"And still your boyhood sports went on,
Ny girlhood's laughter rung,
As in those days Of stirring deeds
Both you and were young.
Do you remember, dear old friend,
The simple village school,
Where Mr.. Ayers taught little folks
To read and write and rules.
"ChiIdren were hmid, teachers stern,
In those, our youthful days,
When copy-bOOks in hand we went
Trembling 70 ask his praise.
q And when you won the wished-for book,
And ] stood sadly by,
You often caused ray Of hope
To Light my doWncast eye.
HNo matter what the teacher said,
Fresh from your generous breast
Came TO my ear the haftering words
That InIne was always best,
"po you remember that sent
You then a valentine
Fine sentiment perhaps il lacked
ButloTe breathed in each line.
"It seems but yesterday, those I've
And seventy years ago,
Your heart then owned no other belle,
And no other beau.
Il in return ribbon got,
Bright with true-love's own hue,
And much 1t pleased my childish taste;
For twas the honest blue.
81 But childhood quickly passed swsY,
And hearts we're lost and won
And soon you owned another love,
And another John. e
With him journeyed many yssr;
Happy and blest were We
He lived to see his BARNS BARNS
Prattling on his knee.
I'VE came together up the hill {;
But down alone go,
And soon together at its foot
With him III lay me low.
"Yet not alone, for living friends
Are left in children dear,
Who in my downward path OF Life,
Smooth each declining year.
"And OF to glad my aged eyes
NY ehildren's children come
And merry laughter rings again,
In my old, happy home.
ITO you, sole mate Of happier years
I've cast q backward eye
Alorg the changing track Of time,
ASH has hurried by.
"And forward may we dare to looks,
Another opening year
Has daHned upon US, and its close
Will scarcely find Us here
zone may be tsken-one be left
Itmsy be me or YOU
l. Still while we live, dear early friend,
Should live our friendship true.
"My years now number eighty-eight,
And yours are eighty-ninei
Then once more, as in years Of yorei
Accept my valentine.
Mas. G. 7