Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-07-26
Vanished Years.


Who can look back upon the vanished
years without sigh of regret for the many
beautiful remembered joys that the years
now vanished brought to US, but can never
return to US again?
To one, it is the memory of child's ca
ressing fingers, stray;ng over the face and
hands OF clinging arms about the neck,
and the pattering of tiny slippered feet over
the stair or down the hall. 1t is the music
of sweet innocent voice, floating in rip
ping laughter, or precious baby words from
tie past along the vanished years into the
tide of the present.
To another, sweet, loved faces float sud
denly from the mist of the vanished years,
as if the daisies grew not between the closed
eyes and our own, they meet US again with
the same never forgotten glance of tender
ness, and VIC ask of the vanished years, if
they have given back to US cur own, or
whether the spirits of the air take form,
sometimes, only to vanish again, leaving US
only our memories. Half forgotten songs
of a woman's smile, or a manly voice, has
thrilled many heart with an intensity of
emotion, that only presence from the van
ished years could bring.
Youth, beauty. love, and happiness, all
belong to the beautiful vanished years, and
looking forward brings not the satisfaction
that we fad in silent, sweet communion
with the past.
The joys, the happiness that has been
ours, is ours still, for faithful memory is
ever going backward to the vanished years,
and bringing to US our treasures that have
been.
But in looking forward, we see only what
may be, and past experience tells as that
homes fail Perhaps there is nothing in the
past of person who has reached the quiet
middle years of life, that so brings mingled
sadness and smiles, as the recoilections OF
youths first love.
How real it all seems then; and yet how
the vision changed.
The girl that seemed an angel then, is
only an ordinary mortal now, faded and
world weary, like the boy who thought
himself a man, and claimed the manly
right of worshipping every angel in maid
enly guise.
And from among the relics of the depart
ed years is drawn the curl of shining hair
that was such a tailsman then.
1t is just as bright, just as golden now,
and it coils itself about your fingers just as
prettily, reminding US in its almost ami
mated curling Of the coquettish grace of its
wearer.
But, alas the years in vanishing have
stolen from its taismanic powers, and to day
it is only lock of woman's hair, shorn be
fore the silver threads began to linger in sac
silent token of the cares and weariness o.
the earth-life.
Aud thought of silver hairs brings u
back to the present, and glancing in the
mirror we find them plentifully bestowed
upon ourselves, and smile as we wonder /
the girl to whom that curl belonged ha
kept that shining lock Of bright, chestnu
hair we gave her in exchange.
Only the vanished years can tell.
Do they tell US of broken vow that mad
two lives failure?
Why then did not that golden hair res
forever in happy security against the breas
whereon it leaned when lovers hand sew
cred the shining curl?
All we gather only the beautiful memo
| rios from tho vanished vaa-Si Or- traac oh
cries, and deceitfulness we consiyn to til
past, aud say ''let the dead past bury ii
dead, and clasp more closely the swee
cherished memories that were so exquisitiv
in the reality.
How sacreGly we treasure them Ho'
we linger with them But lingering wit
the vanished years brings Us to silent, gras
grown graves, and messy tombstones, an
thence to tears.
So we fold away the treasured memories
and know that though the straying baby
fingers may nevermore stray over our face
and hands, and hair-nor the tiny feet max
music over the stairs, aud down the hall
nor white haired age grow young agaIn-no
broken vows be renewed-nor anything bC
longing TO the vanished years return to u'
we are Fastening on to them. Earthlife
only shadow of the substance that th
second life affords.
Eternity is before us, and we shall sa
that in the eternal years all shall not be re
stored to US.