The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-04-19
Birthday Gifts.

by MRS. l.. J. HALL.
Papal don't you know it is my birthday?
Don't you know | am five to-dayY
My poor wooden n rise has lost is head
Nv dear little kitten is all gone dead;
Mymarbles are lost; and my top won { hum;
And darling para, please give me drum
And want a drum. for I'm five to-day
Pap. do YOU know il is my birth-day2
DO you know um ten years old to-dayY
And We got my Latin, and done my sums;
And I'm tired of marbles and tops and drums;
And az school never got I'm a row;
And grandma declares make a nice bow;
And so, altogether. to go with my mates.
/ should like, dear papa, nice pair OF skates.
Come father. do not forget pray,
am just fifteen this blessed day
I'm pretty tall fellow for that, you see;
And In less than year in college IL be-
Unless all my digging saould drive me 10 he'd
For I'm udying the eyes aim st out of my head,
When d rather be popping away AT duck,
With very great skill anu very poor Iuckl
So I'll come TO the point. for under the sun
There's nothing want like Handsome new gun.
Twenty years old and a fine mustachel
A part Of Commencement glorious dashl
And. father. you heard what a clapping got;
| knew where you sat. and locke at that spot,
And thanked you my father, Tor loving me SO,
With your eyes full of tear, and cheeks IN glow
The gift for my birthday. if truth must be told.
Ny watch is of silver, and might be of gold!
Ready and glad q struggle and strive;
But the world. my father, TO me looks bright
For the gentle promise won last night
And the birthday gift that would gladden. me
Is your tender blessing on Clara and me-
Thirty years old this blessed day!
The clouds may come. hut they never stay
For sunshine chaScs the shadows in turn.
That from my snihing babe learn
From the cradle where once we leaned ana Wept
Will with w9sen cheeks our hr,t bora slept
But l., 81 in my Wife's fail hand ! see
The robe 90 stealthily wrought for me-
Am thirly-Gye? + It even 500
Does my saucy wife pretend TO know
But the brief ten years OF ny welded JOY
Shine out in the eyes OF my Laughing poy'
And Minnes small fingers have hemmed for me
The kerchiefs my birthday gift to be.
Forty years old; and my father lies
Where DER his grave the hr-tree signs:
His smiles aud his blessing dwet with me.
The blessing feel the smile zee,
And when in my motnerless, boyh9od days,
lie warmed my heart with his words OF praise;
Now my holy gift from my sister Ann
Is the pictured face Of the dear old man.
Forty-dve! and with Llushing face
NV Minnie looks down with modest grace
While her lover pleads and think of the day
So well | remember. cannot say nay;
She looks like her mother, the pretty young
I see il must end in a wedding ring;.
And my birthday gift this year must be
A son that shall steal my daughter from me.
I am fifty dear: lis the prime Of life!
No wrinkles rs yet you can count my vile
For the busy wor i is SO full of JOY
That | sometimes think | am still boy.
All here is my gift which ! just have found.
From my chidIen-a vol ume superbly bound;
You villains! how shall l stiHe my rage p
An elegant. ella steal treatise on Age!
Sixty years old! and thy silver hair,
My Clara To me is wOndrOus far;
But bark! what trampling of feet below
Ny clerks-a smiling and goodly row
A cane with a head of gold they bear;
They speak Of my kind and watchiu care;
They call me father! words are so weak,
Do you wonder, my wife. that | could not speak
Three score and ten sounds rather old;
Withered. but fair, is the hand | hold,
Clara, my loving long tried wife,
Lo, in thine eyes | read my life
Peaceful. whafe'er the world might bring,
Ready the Fathers praise 10 sing.
See the grandchildrCn's thoughtful care!
| sit in my stately birthday chair.
Eighty! the world is changed below;
Progress il is, | Think know
They are building Home for Aged Men;
/ must send cheek just hand me my pen
IL shakes matter--a few days more;
The pleasant journey Is almost o 'er,
Give me your grandmother's silver curl,
My birthday gift the last, dear girl
My blesSing--gOod night the Old Mans Home
res, it is time, l am glad to come.