Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-09-17
For the VERMONT RARHER.
OUR OLD HOME.
hruANNIE.n

am thinking the sun, this lovely day,
Looks down on the dear old place,
The birds and the brooklet are just as gay,
And full ofmuslc and grace,
Aswhen, In my childhood's long ago,
l used each ripple and song to know.
The brick house yet stands with . stately air,
A crest TO the long, green hill
From my attic playhouse the view was rare,-
loan often zee Il sim @
The nearest homo and cot mr. away,
And at the "cOrnersn the schoolhouse gray.
Our homo was workers homo, ween,
With lts stalvart sons q loil, ifffH =
As hardy and brave as are often seen,
We're these tillers Of the soil,
An Emmett" "Clay," "washington,r 2
And musical go" was the youngest son.
Twas refreshing his hearty laugh to hear,
IL had such a joyous ring, 49, AZ " IT.
And with him TO lead had never a fear
OF trouble from anything
And would into danger fearless 20, Ed ~
If only approved by my playmate 90"
Many times we climbed the cherry tree
Ror the luscious "black-hearts'' there,
Or traversed the woods and the mountains free.
With never thought Of earo
Or watched them at the old lime kn
And fed Its fiery mouth at will.
All, those wintry rides down the school-house hill,
The road like track Of glass,
catch my breath when think ofit stll1,
Was l such fearless lassl
With slide so long, 50 stcepsso glare,
Did the timorOus creature, l, so dare,
Z The spsllIngsohocl vAss asld OfrsnOwny
On each ode the line vas long
Champion the one whSspelIed them down.
One night they spelled 1t wrong,
In triumph saw the ranks laid low
BY nice little word 1 CHANGED to know.
Down the winding path to the little spring
Meath the lovely, moss-grown bank
Like fairy music the clear drops ring
The sweetest ] ever drank,
Is ii as cold on its rocky bed
Does 1t mirror small face overheadi
But in looking down the enchanted way
That distance still lends TO time,
l see naught that shines with q brighter ray,
Or rings with clearer chime,
Than the memory or voice 80 sweet,
With the patient hands and the willing feet.
A mother heart with its weight Of care
Borne with a calm cheorfulness;
Whether her skies we're o'erclouded or fair,
Her motto was always this;
''Whatever there may be in store for me,
The dark side my dear ones must never see."
1t seems wonderful now as behold
What wee child could not seei
The burdens she bore could scarce be told,
They are marvellous to me;
Yet her blue eyes shone with kndliness-
Her motherly lips gave the ready kiss.
o, long TO behold the dear old place;
But, ali 1t can never DO
The same old home; no familiar face
Would smilingly welcome me.
All are strangers now round the old hearth.ston
Ofacquaintance or olden friends not one.
The changes Of time are Of grisfand JOY
Since a score Of years ago.
Each stalwart son has frolicsome boy,
And the west" adopted "Joi"
But the mOtheri All we find her no more
Than the rose that bloomed in the days Of yere.
The last dear message she sent to me,
She wrote, awe shall soon go there
To the dear old place." II was not TO be.
All, me What world Of care.
They have laid her under the daisies low, .
Away from the hearts that loved her SO.
The long years have fed since saw 1t there,
In the radiant sunsets glow -
can see IL yet. Twas picture rare
As ever / care to know;
And always as long as nay life shall be,
My childhood's home will be dear to me.
Proctorsyille, VT, August 2s.