The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-01-22
Written for the Sunday Morning BAsoo-
SINCE OUR CHILDHOOD.

. tender memoir to the days when We we're
care-free a. bind? What woman-careful
and troubled about many things-will not
sometimes pause, in the midst Of her hurry,
and travel back over the ground trod
twenty years ago? A wife and mother,
herself. perhaps. she catches the smile Of
dimpled lip. the dash of bright eye, she
sees the snow and crimson contend for the
mastery in the cheek Of her own daughter
and memory-that joy sad handmaiden is
busy in her brain. Her dolls head has
been cracked, ds nose broken, part Of one
wooden fuot-if the doll was not pillow
with a string tied around the middle 10
compel symmeiry-and whole hand gone.
Tom, the mischievioIis brother had kicked
her china shelf down and otherwise demon
allied her "playhouse" built out under an
apple tree. Then her mother applies save
in the shape Of another doll that by scme
ingenious continuance is made 10 open and
shut lis eyes and cry; papa buys a real
whole china tea set, and the great world l.
new and better than ever. Twenty years
checked of The tablets, one by one, lightning
flashes that will re-aPpear when her sun Of
life is slipping slowly toward the
west" Twenty years. the time seems
so short she whispers, ron>ing her
self: How many young eyes have
sought the light and found il; how aany
oil eyes have sought tie "LrsmT- and
found it since then.
And the hearts oi men oi business or
pleasure takes this same "back track
The days Of fails and tumblcs and diver
disasters come ihronging upon them. The
first raft or float constructed from odds and
ends of boards and propelled with a pole
down sonie creek or river--ihis from bov
that develops the traits that sea-iarins mer
are made Of. The first fishing rod and hook
- the ole made from a slender saplin.,
the other from pin bent up in the desired
shape; innumerable pcP-gun-, stills. blacs
eyes, torn trousers aud bloody noses. The
Representatives Of all this "jolly fun have
grown up and sought the ''bubble rePuta'
in the cannon's mouth" Grant, Mcclellan
and Sherman Lee. LonSstreci and Stone
wall jackson belonged TO this crowd.
. Ycs, sirS, you've all been there vou, m,
splendid expounder Of the gospel have
long time ago, no doubt, not since your boy
hood, hcpe-s.oien into watermelon
patch at the dead OF nigh, and not gon,
awsy empty handed. That magnificent
talker in the cause Of ln-iicc ~ with :
head crammed full Of Coke and Black
stone, robbed his neighbor's peach orchard
twenty years ago, and licked his chops Will,
getting ready his defense. Ten years later
he married the daughter of the man he
robbed clear case Of double AMI iwi>te,!
grand larceny. To-day he is in the Senate
arguing before crowded hsuse in favor O,
pay ing the bonded debt OF the Government in
'-sett sop. What changes have come Ia us
what long trains freighled with JOY and sor
row have taken Us on board, willing oi
unwilling passengers. What laughs have
rippied from our lips, what teas hav,
fallen from our eyes:
"What gilt-winged hope, have taken hight
(; And dropped, like Icarus, in mid ky,
What cloudy days have turned to bright,
What sad sweet years have fitted by,
What lips We loved vain memory seeks,
! What hands are cold iha, once pressed
ours,
What lashes rest upon the checks
Beneath the SHOWS and flowers"
What dreams and visions we have had
what tempests We have wandered through
what battles have been fought. wha, vie.
tories won, what mountains of grief have
been climbed, what plains OF joy-whol,
miles and miles OF them, our feet hav,
pressed, and all since-Oar Childhood.
Sedalia, Jan. 18th, 1873. Dor.