New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-28
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH.

story Of Ponce de Leon,
o. q yUysger wIthered and Old
Who saI!ed 70 the sunny antilles
III Que ST Of d country OF gold
he waited pact Islands O. Specs
IS bright at the Emerald seas
Where even the branches seemed sIICiIc
So thick were the birds Oh he tit-s.
BY day his light caLyas ne shifted
And rounded strange Laroors and bars.
Nv night Ger the full tides lie d. tied
Meath The low hanging lamps tt he stars.
Near the glimmeTinE gates c: the sunset.
In the twilight emp uIp.ed and din,
The sailors Hplitted then VOICES
And sang to the Virgin lynn;
Thank the Lord, said De Leon the sal.'r,
At the close of The rounded refrain,
60 Thank the Lord the Almighty VIC s.esses
The ocean-swept banner Of SPAN.
The EhadOwy word is behind Vs.
The shining Cipango before
Each morning the sun rises brighter
On ocean and woodland and sAcI..
Aud sui sha.i Uui spirits gov Ggn.t:.
As prospects more glowing lEioG,
Then on, merry men, TO ClpalgC.
To the West-to the regions o. gold -"
There came 10 De Leon, the s:t. Tor.
Some Indian sagts, who told
OF a country so bright, that the waters
Were spIink led with islands OF god,
And they added: The leaiv b!InlL.
ialr land OF glottos and bowers
Is there, and q wonderful fountain
UpspIinss from its garden OF flowers.
That fountain gives life 10 The dying
And youth to the aged restores,
They flourish in beauty eternal
Who but once set their foot on Its Shores
Then answered De Leon the sailor
." am wrinkled and withered and Old.
! would rather discover that fountain
Than a COUNTRY Of diamonds and go.d''
Away sailed De Leon, the sailor
Awav with a wonderful glee
Till the birds were more rare "a The a-..s
The dOlphins more rare in the sea.
Away past the dreamy Bahamas
C'eT waters no sailor had seen,
And still on his wondering vision
Rose clustering islands Of greet
Still onward he sped-and the waters
Were ladened with odOrs and 10
A country embedded with flowers.
A country with rivers glow
More bright than the sunny Antics,
More far than the shady Azores.
" Thank the Lord !" said De Leon. the sailor,
As he ieasted his eyes on its shores,
: we have come TO a country. my b:otLe:s,
More lovely than earth o: a Truth,
And here is that life giving fountain,
The beautiful Fountain o: Youth
Then lands De Leon, the sailor,
InfuIled his Old banner and sung:
But he felt very wrink led and wItleTed
All around was 30 fresh and so Young;
For the palms, ever verdant, were blooming
ThelI blOssome cen mar gued the seas
Ger The streams Of the forest bright flowers
Hung thick from the branches OF trees.
praise the Lord sang De Leon the sailor,
For his heart was with rapture a6ame
And lie said be the name OF this country
BY Florida given to fame.
7 is "a fair, delectable country,
More lovely than earth of truth,
l soon shall discover that fountain,
The beautiful fountain Of youth"
But wandered De Leon the sailor.
In search Of that fountain i'll VAN,
No waters were there to restore him
To youth and TO beauty again;
And he lifted his anchor. and muImu-ei
As the tears gathered fast III Ills eye.
y i must leave This fair land q
Go back DER the waters-and die
Then hack by the dreary Tortugas.
And back by the shady Azores
He was borne Ger the storm smitten waters
To the calm of HE own native shores,
And there he grew older and older
And feebier and feebler fOrsooth
Still he thiTsted in dreams for the fountain,
The beautiful fountain Of youth.
One dav the old sailor lay diving
one the shore Of tropical isle:
But bis heart was ekiIdled with iau.nre
And his face lighted up with smile;
For he thought of the sunny Antilles,
He thought of the shady Azores,
He thought Of the dreamy Bahamas
He thought of fair Florida's shores.
And as in his mind he went over
His wonderful travels OF old,
He thought of the heavenly country
of the city of Jasper and gold:
Thank the Lord" said De Leon, the sailor
Thank the Lord for the light of the Truth
! now am approaching that fountain
The beautiful fountain OF YOUTH
The cabin was sient-at twilight
They heard The birds singing a psalm.
And the winds Of the ocean came sighln-
Through the orange groves laden with BALM: /!
The sailor lay there all unheedng
On his pallet rough hewn and uncouth
But his soul had gone forth to discover
The beautiful fountain of youth,