The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-11
6Jhe a)iroil,ia State cyuurnal.
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH.

A story Of Ponce de Leon.
of voyager withered and old
Who Sailed to the sunny Antiies
In quest of a country OF gold.
lie was waited past islands OF spices
AS bright as the Emerald seas,
Where even the branches seemed singing,
so thick were the birds on the trees.
Nv day his light canvass he shifted
And rounded strange harbors and bars.
Nv night DER the full tides he drifted
Meath the low hanging lamps OF the stars.
Near the glimmering gates of the sunset,
In the twilie hit empurpled and dim,
The sailors uplifted their voices
And sang to the Virgin hymn;
"Fhank the Lord, y said De Leon the sailor,
At the close of the rounded refrain,
THANK the Lord the Almighty who blesses
The ocean. swept banner of Spain.
The shadowy world is behind us,
The shining Cipango before,
Each morning the sun rises brighter
Tn ocean and woodland and shore;
And still shall our spirits grow llghter,
As prospects more glowing unfold.
Then on, merry men, to Cipango,
To the West-to the regions of gold"
There came to De Leon, the sailor,
Some Indian sages who told
OF a country so bright, that the waters
Were sprnbed with islands of gold.
And they added 'Ihe leafy Bimini,
A fair land of grottos and bowers
Is there, and wonderful fountain
Upsprings from its garden of flowers.
That fountain gives life to 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,
II am wrnkled and withered and old,
/ would rather discover that fountain
Than country OF diamonds and gold ~
Away sailed De Leon the sailor,
Away with q wonderful glee. ..
TIN the BIRDS were more rare in the azure,
The dolphns more rare in the sea;
Away past the dreamy Bahamas
O'er waters no sailor had SEEM
And still on his wondering vision
Rose clustering islands of green
still onward he sped-and the waters
Were laden with odors and 10! ~
country embedded with flowers,
country with rivers a-glow
More bright than the sunny Antilles,
wore lair than the shady Azores.
THANK the Lord % said De Leon, the sailor
AS he feasted his eyes on its shores,
I'VE have come to u country, my brothers,
More lovely than earth of truth,
And here is that life giving fountain
The beautiful Fountain of Youth w
Then landed De Leon, the sailor,
unfurled his old banner, snd sung
Blu, he felt very wrinkled and withered
An around was so fresh and so young;
For the palms, ever verdant, were blooming,
Their blossoms cen margined 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 afiame,
And he said. be the name of this country
BY Florida given to fame.
Ills a fair a delectable country,
More lovely than earth Of truth,
l soon shall discover that fountain, s#.f
The beautiful fountain of YOUTH
But wandered De Leon, the sailor,
III search OF that fountain in vain,
No waters were there to restore him
To youth and to beauty again
Ana he lifted his anchor, and murmured,
As the tears gathered fast in his eye.
NAM laax hip airl vi nfN D