The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-11-17
Memory's Heartaches.

And as the shadows Of the lamn 8;.,.-
and play strange freaks across the carns.
we bend down our head and turn ~
from the merry games and bright sm; lus
that wreathe the face of Hope, 10 III,
Memory from the corner of our he,..I
where We too often bid her linger. sba :
up at our call, and though stray lines =.
sunshine linger here and there, her sm;I'
of welcome is sad one, and speaks to ns
of friends dead and hopes crushed.
We are going back, now, down u.
shady valley that entombed the old ,s ~
farm house we are looking away h..S
years and years at balls, and tons 81
hoops, and young lads shouting ie thu .a
sports and games. We see nother
the door, and the football Of her cofipsr;cs
echoes up the grayeled walk. We lola~
with our eye the finger of Memory and =
see the cold, ghost-like tombstoues sr,s
ed together in. the hillside graveyard AZ
see the tears and signs that Hon IS
never blotted out; we follow each 49,.
from boyhood to silver locks. Years ~
baby voice rang through parior and M
chen; a baby laugh rippled out in lia.
waves, as the chubby white feet patts,sj
over the floor; baby smiles welcomed NJ !.
the door, and the little fingers felt IN Ius,
pockets to grasp q reward. Hope Nj
US of life for him that should in The -.
locks OF our life cheer and bless rs. w.
unlock the sacred drawer, and take ont
the wooden horse, the ball of string, tbs
two little brown marbles, and great main
tugs at our heart. We see a snowy cot
bear little groans of pain, and anguish. ~
the death ange! stand in the door and vesn
with US while she bids him come. Alta
coffin, stiffness in the house, q tiny cr.se
Oh / Memory, you bring up hot, bittse
tears; you wrench down with ruthless
hand the. wall which Hope had built q
prevent MS from looking over the dssest
spots of life!
Hand in hand with Memory, we ara
going down the lane that led rs up from
childhood. The grass is scared and scorck-
ed the flowers bloomed under the des Of
Hope to be withered by the cruel words Il
men. There are vacant chairs at the table:
there are marble slabs that tell us of the
dead and gone. We forget the little things
just as the drops Of the ocean are lost Il
the great wave but Hope cannot laugh to
scorn the great grief of our tears.
"Tnrn backward, oh Thine" Give a
again the bounding steps of youth, the
merry laugh, the bright spots of sunshine
that clouds have since turned into funeral
pals We are growing old. We are
cropping in the darkness that leads 10
along the unknown shore. We smile sad.
ly at the bcckoninys of Hope. We wish
to be yonng again; to have no heartaches
and wrinkles OF care. We want to see the
.cofined forms start into life, and hear .
mothers kind good night, aud feel her soft
hand on our locks as she prays that He
may guide our young feet in the right way.
We want the Kind words of q father. to
hear. the merry laugh of sister, to feel
that some one signs at our wanderings and
smiles at our better deeds. Take back
your gray hairs and your bdrdensoms
years! Give'us our life to begin again
sweep away these tokens, wet with tear
falls, aud tell US that Memory has guido
us wrongly.
Have pity, Father Time! You were
never young you never grow old; there
is no one to mock your faltering steps, nj
one to laugh at your grey hairs. We low,
the clear sunlight, the. green trees, Thu
beautiful earth. Meo have used US all
and we must live to forgive them W,
have not always done right, and we mus
live to repent. Tell Us that We shall live
score of Observation-Disclosures one yea
more. Telius that another sun viii nu
set ION our open grave.
Alas! You will not. Yon brush ava.
poor Memory, sobbing in her pity, and yoI
Strike another hour ON the bell Of the erea
tclock to tell US that the grave is SO Innel
the nearer our own shrouded form, GU
footsteps so much nearer the turbid waters
You, add another. line of care. sprinkl,
more tokens Of your presence among on
locks, and the weird shadows dance il
elee that our lie lamp must Kicker 80.
grow pale before the apppach,of that mys
FERROUS dawn ,whase hight shsIl CLOSE on
eyes in the hong Stiffness OF the narsos
home. 49, 5s'-~ - -
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