The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-06-13
rom the "Tuscaloo-a tAlal Bladc,r April is7s.
TWENTY YEARS AGO.


EscRrpED TO "Ny OLD Class"
I'm thinking Of the by-gone days,
When youths bright dream was ours,
I'm thinking Of the olden time,
The scenes Of happy hours,
OF Tuscaloosa's grassy plains,
The Warriors murm'ring how,
The forms met, the faces knew,
Just twenty yeas ago.
My fancy still with fondness turns,
wrapt by some witching spell,
To shaded streets and lovely slopc-,
And every howery dell,
To trec-crownd height and fairy glen,
The haunts we used 10 know,
When happy hearts were gay and free,
Just twenty years ago.
To all these scenes the wand'rer clings,
Mid life's corroding care,
The years deeper impress make
As streams their channels wear;
whereer his home, whate'er his lot,
In happiness or woe,
He'll ne'er forget the home he lov'd,
Just twenty years ago.
I'm thinking Of the boys again,
The boys Of olden time,
The bright young souls, the faithful friends,
The Damons Of our prime.
Are any left to greet me now,
Or any left to know
OF those lov'd friends and brave young hearts
OF twenty years agof
I'm thinking Of the girls again,
How lovely were those girls
The maids ne knew, they sweetly shonc,
Their hearts as pure as pearls.
wonder IL the old town, now,
Such grace and beauty show,
AZ that we lov'd when we were boys,
Just twenty years ago.
I'm thinking Of tn old College, too,
The halls where oft we've hung
Upon the verse Of the "Attic Bee"
Where Homer to us sung
Achilles wrath, Appollo's darts
OF pestilential woe,
And Agamemnons naughty mien,
Just twenty years ago.
Eschylus strikes his Grecian Tyre
In loud resounding strain,
Euripides in sweeter tones
Drops soft as April rain,
Antigone in words Of FIRE
Repeats her tale of woe;
The notes are here, the notes heard
Just twenty years ago.
Aud the old College is gone, they say,
A new ones in its stead,
The OLD DocroR, too, We lov'd so well,
Has long ago been dead.
My eyes have long been dry, dear friends,
But tears unceasing flow
At thought Of him, the dear old man
OF twenty years ago.
Farewell to thee, dear Alma Mater,
Our mother true and fond,
NV heart to thee il ever link'd
In sweet affections bond;
"Thy antique towers" and gray old walls
Long since-in dust laid low,
Still claim thy childrens flial love
OF twenty years ago.
Aecursed be the craven hand,
Whose touch thy beauty man'd,
And blessings on thy children all
Who with thy sTsiler ward;
Where'er in deaths cold sleep they lie,
Sweet Spring-time flowers well strew
Upon the graves Of those we lov'd
Just twenty years ago.
I'm thinking Of our class, tonight,
Aud who are yet alive,
And who went down in bloody strife,
And who the fight survive
know they all were brave and true,
And ever quick to go
Where foemen trod the land they loy'd
A yeV short years ago.
All many fell in that dread hour
OF strife and yengeful fray,
And many gave their young life's blood
To check tn invaders way,
But yet, know, ia all that baRd
No heart did nobler glow
With patriotic FIRE, than those We knew
Just twenty years ago.
And now, dear friends, Of other days,
Ere time, with hurrying tread.
Has brought us to our journeys end,
Al - -. ..ffk tha Had
Gods blessings on the dear old town,
The town nc used 10 know,
And may we meet with those we loved
Just twenty years ago.
JOHN +. TARRANT.
Csub Orchard Springs, ny.