The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-31
A Su YER WEDDING Ep1rHALAM1UM

Inc lOiloWlnB Bracetul epltnalamlum, by the
Rev. w. ]. Stevenson, pastor of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church at Twentieth and
Spring Garden streets, was read a few even
ings ago at the silver wedding of Mr.. and
Mrs. Thomas W. Price AS q pleasing memo
rial of happy occasion, and as a poem of
merit in itself, we commend this epithalamium
to the attention of our readers
He comes the frost-clad King
Whose robes the North winds weave
When summer birds are on the wing,
And flowers take their leave.
Fields standing bleak and bare,
Stripped of their golden grain;
And naked woods-and air
Sweeping so keen, DER plain,
Bid us, in time, prepare
For winters icy reign.
We shrink not from December day,
With sky alternate light and grey;
Now flashing with Aurora's beams,
Then dark ming over frozen streams;
With falling snow and pelting hail,
And binding sleet and furious gale.
December brings the joyous time
When round us rings the Christmas chime;
When friend greets friend in sweet accord,
On natal day of our dear Lord.
SO meet we here, on this glad night,
In friendships name, mid festal Ight
Now, gathering closer, form ring,
And each one hearken while sing.
Twas five and twenty years ago,
An anxious youth and trembling maid,
With clasped hands, in plighted faith,
Before the altar knelt and prayed
How true their faith, how firm that clasp,
This happy scene will now attest
For here that welded pair await
The greeting OF each entering guest.
o marriage bells of forty-fve,
Your echoes never, never cease;
They sound again across the years,
In Christmas songs OF holy peace.
'Tis Seventy that celebrates
A silver anniversary night
With open mansion, crowded rooms,
And windows all agleam with light.
The maiden who devouuy prayed
For grace to keep the promise made:-
an love Thomas more
Than e'er wife loved before
Is matron grown, whose smiling face
Declares possession of that grace.
The slender youth who vow did make
To cherish, love, and ne'er forsake:-
an shield Lucy from all harm;
III defend her with strong ARM
Is present proof that ones estate
May increase with his breath and weigh.
But, mid the merriment that reigus,
Rise feelings of ballowed praise
To Him who sendeth all good gifts
For the blessings OF other days.
Welcome. fond memory with your
Train of the long-lost forms aud faces
OF mercies clad in sorrows garb
And the dear old scenes and places.
Our friends have journeyed. hand in hand,
Along n smooth and quiet way;
No romance casts its fitful glare
Around the life reviewed to-day.
50 here we gaze on Christmas home
On honest toll and sweet repose;
And charity that helps the poor,
While shedding tears DER human woes.
Now pray their past may promise be
OF years within the futures hold
OF purest love, and steadfast faith,
And peace that never wakes old.
May choicest blessings still abide
Beneath their roof and round their hearth
Their Silver deepen into Gold,
Their Diamond wedding sparkle forth
But bark their children join our
Prayer, their voices sound as seven
Three here and cne on Western plain,
While three call down from heaven.
Oh blessed home before the throne,
Our resting-plaos when life shall end;
Thy benediction crown this scene,
And on these waiting hearts descend.