The Portland daily press., 1873-07-29

cad at the Reunion Of the Class Of Fify-three of
Watergiite College, July "a, 1873.
What! this the class of Fifty-three,
These bearded, grizzled, bald old fellows!
by Jove! there's some mis- axe, see;-
Here, waiter, step this way and tell us
WHAT upper chamber of this inn
Is full of laughter, song and noise,
And how l missed that cheerful din
And stumbled on these grave old boys!
The boys of Fifty-three were gay
Their veins with warm blood used to Jingle;
thought to meet with them to-day
And hear once more the glasses jingle,
Applaud again some well worn Joke,
Float ON the tide of boisterous fun,
And see their faces through the smoke
Shine jocund like the rising sun.
Where are those merry lads tonight?
miss their honest, hearty greetings
This pleasant room is warm and light,
But this is some directors meeting.
The waiter shakes his head, NOT so?
He says,-tut, tut, it cannot be!
IT'S too absurd a story,-no,
They're not the boys OF t11ty-three!
know these solemn faces, too;
That veteran yonder-his names Plaisted-
Wore at Fair Oaks the army blue;
Never chance he's missed or wasted,-t
Acknowledgement now for Maine,
Congressman by and by, perhaps;s
Good work still pays, and not IN in
He won and wore his shoulder-Straps.
That's Colonel Davis, wounded twice
In five years. service, reckless rooster,
For rash exposure paid the price,
But none the worse now ;-he's from Worcester.
There's Doctor Stratton Of Saint Joe,
Cavalry surgeon in his day;
His LIES smooth stream, unvexed and slow,
In Michigan now runs away.
That portly parson once knew
Alfredus Owen, reverendus,
Divntatus Doctor, too
Lives at Detroit may Heaven send us
At need as mercifiIl q Judge,
A friend at court as true and pious,
To save us from the awful smudge
That rises from the neither fires.
Aui there's another reverend face
That's Bullen, deep in Geist and German,
Studied with Tholuck takes his pace
And gallops through his weekly sermon,
Sure-footed over all the boys
Of modern science, safe to dry land,
Not to be scared by barking dogs
He's from Pawtucket in Rhode Island.
= Here's still another Doctor Pierce,
Doctor of Laws, ct semper felix;
Catching the wind howe'er it veers,
All mere fair weather sailors he ticks;
Blow high, blow low, he holds his course,
His sails all draw,-a ready talker,
Full of shrewd wit and fire and force
Audacious, plausible New Yorker.
That's Baldwin, sitting over there,
Keen fellow, Cincinnati lawyer;
Here's Speaker Bartlett of Eau Claire,
Wisconsin wolverine top-sawyer;
Here's Thurston from Chicago halls
Since here at home he slipped his hawser;
Under a brokers' charter sails,-
Was deacon once honoris causa.
What's that? heard, or thought heard
A sound of smothered ghostly laughter,
halt believe, upon my word,
I've found the boys came here after.
Behind these waggng boards they hide,
Under these brown and wrinkled masks!
Come forth. old cIon;es, fairly spie1,
And drink three toasts your comrade asks.
All upl In silence first we drink
To Plumers NAME Dear Shade, we stand
And reach across the misty brink
Of Styx to clasp your pallid hand.
Then TO the absent far near,
We pour bumper full and free;
And last we drain a cup of cheer
For all the boys of Fifty-three.