Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-06
To Miss SaIIie R. Parham, on Her
RfrI'h hday.
Publisher and Proprietor.

W HtH OlllcT lIit nus sudll Nolhc u
shower their love and offerings at youl
shrine, dear Sallte and thoughts m ay
cluster around your gentle life, mor'
beautiful and bri ght than mine ha vC
ever been, will you not turn, with
memorys potent charm, to this sileni
page, as some oltl thought may sweetly
touch its dulcet string, and accept again
the companionship in feeling of one
whose dearest wish will be to live forever
untarnished on its pearly tablet? And
though we may be widely severed and
no longer mingle in the same routine,
still will hope to be fondly remembered,
even as your name with me shall live one
of the brightest among the cherished few
in memorys urn. Softly the light OF
your sunny smile has often chased the
shadows from my brow of somber,
thoughtful care, and brought to my sad
heart the old-time joy that only lived
too short time, till in thy genial pres
ence forgot my crown of thorns, and
laid it off to accept again the rosy chap
let, as we walked together down the
pleasant vale of life But at some future
time, when other natal births shall bless
your happy life, with hopes bright vision
crowned, will you not pause and dwell
with memorys fond regret on absent
friends away, who offer at your shrine
the kindly greetings of to-day2 But
most of alLon one'who more than all the
rest offers a gem of worth-friendship,
love and peace; whose heart may seek
in vain to touch a chord Of equal JOY
again, but whose every thought for your
success will evar rise like silent prayer.
As each twelvemonth rolls its busy
round, may blessings abundant as the
sheaves of bearded grain come to thy life
as to the royal August feast, regal in its
ancient fame, blending the harvest of
the plentiful month with the rich treasu-
rer of the heart in the garner OF all
good, as each sheaf is added to the cycle
of years. When we together shall no
longer greet the rosy morn, or walk at
dewy eve, with pensive thought, beside
the margin of the same broad stream,
where oft we have watched the royal sun
20 down and sink to bis gorgeous rest
behind the far-off clouds, wrapt in the
glory of some thought sublime as we
dwelt lost in deep mystery Of God S
great works, till the deep, peace
full commune of our own thoughts
with nature and with natures God we
passed from all the ills below, and
touched with happy thought the light that
shiaes eternal on the golden hills, wan
dering in reFerys enchanted realm till
all the varied glow faded from out the
western sky, and pale-faced Lu9s rose
like a stately queen, and all her sister
lights came twinkling one by one to add
their lustre to the chastsly scene while
all was sollened by the pure a0od Of
limpid light that shone from her vested
lamp. When we no longer shall gather
at the social board where flowed. bright
wit as sparkling as yOath's light JOY; or
at the fireside hearth 10 the pleasant
winter time, reading from some poet
strain, or wandering with the bards
ssbiime. chatting the merry hours away,
till one BY enc they few, and we with
childlike trust eoHgended a.. to Him
who suffereth not even sparrow to go
unseen. When all this happy time sasll
change to happier trust in some more
happy way, or may be, while treading
duty's Iovly walk, We Say each take a
separate path in life, ! Gust deaf one,
that these same thoughts may some
times linger with you ffsa the past,
like some old custom that In part
has ycssed away, but still must live to
council Siti the next, fearing flaw
might come betsesE 10 mar the solidity
Of both. And when We I've shall have
done with all things on earth. aad foid
our wings on the tranquil shores Of
brighter land, ! trust We shall greet each
other in tbas purer life where we shall
sind a peaceful cain, all glorious 10 the
ligi.t Of that eternal Lamb. whose .erdeF
lave moves us, His faisbiHai followers, in
this vale Of woe where we can lave our
anxious hearts forever in the stream
that flows for all time to come around
the throne Of GOd.
"passins throush Iifes fsld ef action.
rsf re part before u end
Tatc within your modest volume
This memento from friend.
passinr thrsurh IL. mar ne ever
Frends cantinue a. begun.
And till death shall part us. never
Me- ar frirn1 IN cease % hurn.