The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-09-10
Old Tree.

| Of the empty old house.
saken, empty and lone. Time was
when its coat WAS white, when tn,
blinds were green and swung on oiled
hinges. There were flowers in front
then, and life and light and music with
IN. There was a pattering of merry
feet to and fro; a busy opening and
shutting of doors; a rafting of dishes
and tins in the kitchen, and II rustling
of books and papers in the coy sitting
room.
Sometimes there were sounds OF mer-
~ laughter, chatting and choice re-
partee heard from within those now
silent, dirt-begrimcd, cobwcb-hung
walls. Those We're balmy days for YOU,
old tree. You We're young then; your
topmoSt branch could not reach the sill
of yon low window, and but for the
loving hands which placed 4 stout stick
by your side, upon which You might
lean when the wind was too strong, YOU
might not now be the proud, strong,
protector you eXult in being.
Those We're slender hands that cared
for YOU. 4 girls hands. 1t was a
sweet face that bent over and touched
your tender young leaves. A sweet,
fair face. 1t was Il bright face then,
full of music and sunshine.
You remember, old tree, it waS a
girlish form that stood by your side,
that May-day when You had reached the
window-sill. They measured You then,
and oh! how proud you We're.
There was another day, old tree,
which You remember we'll. 1t was not ,
day, either, but night, Il glorious
moonlight night. You had passed tine
chamber-window then, had reached the
gable, and two lovers came and sat be-
meath your branches.
You bent softly over them, and
gently ruStlcd your leaves 50 that no
II might hear what they said. You
caught the brerZrS and held them SO
that they might not carry the sound to
listening ears. You smiled to yourself
when You saw the dear girls bushes,
but ali. YOU sighed when You saw her
tears ut the parting.
Twas along, long parting the proud
lover never came back, and though YOU
didn't understand, old tree, YOU shiver
now when o remember the horseman
who came with Il message in his hand.
Just II wild dcspairing cry came
through the open window, and that was
all You ever knew OF the fatcful mes
but after that-cvrry day for a
long time-a pale, sad-faced girl used
to come and sit under your branches.
Sometimes she would moan and sob
and cry SO ~piteously: ssOh Willie, Will
lie. Willie, I'm so lonesome" :
You longcd 10 comfort her, You tried
To whisper Il word of hope in her ear, ,
but the rude autumn wind turned Your ,
words To means, which made her +
SILVER. She grew saddcr and paler ,
day, and by and by she didn't |
any more. ,
Your leaves had all ripencd and flown ,
away, and your bare branches Knocked {
and ratified t"getherin the wintry blast, /
when II day you snw-ah, no wonder
Shuddcr, no wonder your leaves {
whisper and sigh, and your branches
DOW and moan,-you saw-a coffin {
proceSSion-mournerS.
Well, we'll, old tree, that was Il great
while ago. Your branches have bud
led and bloomed, and your ripe leaves :
fallen many 4 time since then. t
There have been other voices meath y
our branches, and other feet have trod s
hat wor threshold, but they are all &
zone noW The old house is shabby 0
md lone. There are weeds in the once Il
'lcan-kept path: there are cobwcbs in Il
he windows; the blind hinges are t.
and when the wind blows they +
rcak, creak in & dismal, heart-brokcn g
way: the gable is bent and out of Il
the poor old house is shrinking q
hamc-faced away b
You, dear old tree. and yondcr ivy a
lie, are al'thatr remain Of life or beauty st
round the deserted old home. h
Your trunk is knottrd and Gnarlcd, a
our branches have grown stout, but IL
leaves are fresh and green, your tc
is kind and tender. O;
Yes, grow on, old tree, and YOU, bl
Chamber up, with your be
wing green the awful desolation Of the tv