Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-04-03

read at tho celebration of the nnetieth ami
versary of the birthday of Mr.. Aaron Wilco
peared IN the OPINION Of Fl bruary n, but III
not reach it's destination IN season. We pull
lish 1t at the request of many friends.
AARON WILCOX, ESQ.
Dear Friend. There comes +
me over the land ana sea, through the air, OF
the wings Of the wind, voice that whisper
softly and says, this is your birthday and tina
You are 80 years old,
HEAR THE REPLY.
Art ninety, Just ninety. such weary long years
Some filled with happiness some filled wit
Aud some filed with both and mixed witt
alloy,
Among these long years since you were boy
Art ninety years old and yet art .,ill living
And walking the earth and full of thanks
giving.
Looking back on the past, seeing what ther
has been,
And enjoying the present with few older men
Come neighbor sit down. let us have lon,
talk,
And then we will go and tax. short walk
Wen talk of the things that are and have beev
And will walk DER the fields aud view tn
bright scene
DO you not remember that desolate spot.
Where once lived your parents. and then tn
In which you were born long long years ago
Around which tue wind piled the beautiful
snow
And do you remember the tall sturdy trees
That covered the ground and courted tn,
breeze,
Aud the stumps and the rocks all scattere,
Like soldiers on duty while guarding tn,
And then your own home while yet n young
man,
Where, you carried your bride, and laid tho
first plan
For citizenship, as every man should
Resolving in life to do every one good.
That old steep rooted house and the huge oper
Aud the fireplace also, where you could pitcl
4 half cord of wood beneath pots and kettle,
Where the good housewife cooked all of the
victuals.
The barn that stood near it; and the old
open shed
Where the sheep and the cattle and horses
were fed
And then best of all,-(and l love here tc
dwell,J
The water you drank that was drawn from
the we'll;
Perhaps to this water which all thirst allays,
lou are indebted to great length of days.
Now where are the boys. who with YOU began
This journey of life ! have all of them ran
As long aud as swiftly as you did they keep
Up in the journey no, they've fallen asleep.
Ninety long years is a long race to run,
The battle is hard and the victory won
y n Ia ieyy fho
" ho stand in the ranks till tourscore and ten
Death has no respect for the rich or the poor,
The high and the low must pass through it's
The cid and the young there's no hand to save
But all mortal flesh must pass through the
grave;
This place but reccircs, but is never giving,
Till our fliends in deaths city are more than
the living.
Now tell me, you aged one mark if you can,
All the great changes from boy to man;
Point ont each change on histOry's page
From infancy, childhood, youth, manhood,
old age.
In each of these stages our life seems complete
And each has its bitter as well as It's sweet
In the great book of life it is written each day,
On one page progression, Oh the other decay.
And now let us walk to the village we'll 90,
And there On the Fridge. city III show,
Where most Of your comrades, who started in
lite
With s"n, have been gathered. who fell in the
strife
Well Father; the time cannot be long
Before you will join that gathering throng
Now or, wding the gates; you'll stand ON the
shore
Where the boatman is waiting to ferry you
DER
The dark troubled waters, and you will then
On the shore of Eternity-now near ut hand
Oh tell me, pray thee, have you any share
In the home of the blest an inheritance there 7
And shall not meet you on that happy shore,
Where Jesus now rc!gns, and promise hath
That Death shall no. enter the portals of
Heavenl
And now you are ninety, and this your birth
day
Your milcstones are many, but wearing away
Now this is my gift-uve no silver or gold -
May you live upon earth till one hundred years
old,
And then when the bugle shall sound the
retreat,
Nay you he found ready your Captain to meet,
Having fought the last battle-the victory
Nay You hear your Commander say "Wel.
come, well done" b.