Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-01-07
BIRTHDAYS.

How fast the birthdays come! How
swiftly each year, silently and almos
imperceptibly, glides away, bringing
changes 50 gradual, yet so complete
1t is no use to weep for golden oppor
tunities gone, yet we cannot but won
der that we blindlv let them slide
through our grasp. How gladly yor
hail the day which makes you nine
years old-how true are your kisses
how buoyant your spirits. Wha
pleasure you take in making a Ground.
er," "knuckling down" and tossing
your 'jacks." Pure then is your love
for her who first taught you to lisp
"Our Father" free from guile youl
heart-unknown to sorrow your briet
life.
Child! sweet word. Sure, those
lips cannot be long used to evil, which
whisper it tenderly. With it, such low
ing memories throng, such happy rec
objections, such pleasant thoughts
An innocent, joyous boy, perhaps, with
no thoughts Of care--to grief an utter
stranger--already owning bashfully to
yourself blushing preference for the
little blue-eyed girl in bib-apron and
red shoes, who sits on the front bench
at school, her toes just able to reach
the floor. How fast your heart beats
when she goes UP timidly of Friday
afternoon to speak:
81 know Il httle girl,
Her face is bright and fair"
While you are very certain, all the
time, that you know one. That night
you carry her satchel for her, and at
parting give her a rosy-cheeked apple,
and tell her, ever SO softly, that you'll
bring her one every day. and then
come home, vowing to marry her when
you are man, and she shall have a
fine house and carriage, ike the squire's,
and oh, ever SO much money, and she
always shall wear bib-aprons and red
shoes. No thought Of the, to you,
weary years, no glimpses of toll, hard
ship, and trial in the future. All, hap
Ply days of childhood-bright and shad-
owless, sunshiny days. Twenty-one
to-day! 4 man now, the reins in
your own hands, you can do Just as you
please, your heart swells with pride,
and your head takes an Independent
poise when you think of it, "Free
now--vote like a man, raise nous
tache- carry cane.''
That night you put on a neektie of
rainbow hues, part your hair behind,
give an extra brush to your coat, and
60 over to see the little girl now emerg-
ing into young ladyhood, Who so affect
ed your heart at seven. AT seven?-
At twenty-one, too, judging from your
confusion, the continual objectless,
awkward shifting of your position, and
cheeks at summer heat, tonight. The
old folks drop off to bed after awhile,
and the little ones are asleep long eSo.
You are sitting by her side, now, and
your embarrassment has flown. You
are growing bolder, it seems. for your
arm rests on the back of the sofa, and
finally drops carelessly down, lower
and lower, until-oh, joy!--it's
around the trim little waist, and your
hand presses hers, SO soft and small,
while little tremors of happiness run
all over you, from your toes to the
roots of your hair, and back again.
What joy, what delight, what exquis-
ite blissl And SO, with her cheek
against your shoulder, the magic
words are spoken, which your father
and her father whispered as tenderly
between eartbeats, before you. Oh,
Youth, gay springtime of life, the sea
son of polished boots, high hopes, pride
and jealousy--gone.