Daily Republican., 1881-05-20
".My School hey days Of Nearly
Forty Years Ago.

vfltten ana tne demand lot III WAS 81
,reat that Mr.. Fraim procured ant
nailed to his surviving school-mates
II the copies of the paper he could pro
ure at that time. Since that day hi
las been importuned again and agair
0 have it published and on that ac
cunt it is again sent to the Delawar,
for publication, to wit
Another year has rolled aruund
And an fOrty-three to-day,
How fast time flies. from what it did
When we we're little boys at play.
scarce can realize the fact
That ! am fOrty-three,
But there is no mistake, | tind
The record shows it plain to me.
1t scarcely seems ten years ago,
Since / NY pimer took to school
And for the first time took my seat,
Subjected to the teachers rule.
I'll neer forget how things did lock,
In and around that country school
When first made my debut there,
And heard the teacher read his rule.
The old school house was very plain,
No fence enclosed the students bounds,
1t fronted on the turnpike road,
Two ancient trees, stood on its grounds.
One was massive forest oak
Which spread its branc hes far and wide,
The other was large old gum
On which our grape vine swing was tied
Our desks were massive popl .r planks,
Spiked on to bra cketS in the wall,
Our seats were slabs of hard black oak,
Just two feet high, for large and small.
In one end stood the teachers desk,
It's top stood level with his chin,
His seat was made to correspond
With strip nailed on. to help him in.
Beside the door, there nung sign,
With Jack knife letters cut therein,
On one side there was o U 1,
And on the other, in.
Under this sign upon bench
A clumsy wooden bucket stood,
The one we carried water in,
a furlong distant through wood.
Just in the centre of the floor.
A monstrous nine plate wood stove stood,
And every boy aged twelve, or more,
Must chop his share 0fgreen cord wood.
That good old stove I'll ne'er forget,
1t held u monStrous pile of wood,
Great cOrdw sticks, Just cut in two,
Supplied old nine-plate with her food.
At noon we played all sorts of games,
Just like our boys and girls now do,
Marbles, leap frog, bat and ball,
Displeased and Copenhagen too.
Beneath the branches of the oak
Our Jokes we cracked, our tales we spun,
Whilst some would climb the cid gum tree
nth In IA ura yipn ~
No happier boys or girls were found
Than those upon the old school ground,
No castles were known, all equal sleod
Thee rich and poor their level found.
1t seems nut yesterday we met
Together, on our old play ground,
Those sparkling eyes, and rosy cheeks,
In fancied memories, haunt me round.
And can it be? yes 1t is true,
That nearly forty years have fled,
Since first | met my school mates there,
And my first school lesson said
My school mates, Oh! where are they now,
hose four score merry girls and boys,
Scarce ten are left, that can find,
Who shared with me their childhood
joys.
Dut yGAJtIuhy, L NtllJ bIlNO ihOIS
To view the Old school house and
grounds,
Where almost forty years ago,
had so often pleasure found.
The old school house is standing still,
1t looks much like it did OF yore,
But not face on all these grounds
Had ere seen on them before.
The old oak tree meath which we played,
Then spread its branches far and wide,
But nov, its beauty'S sadly marred,
Its largest branches all Eave died.
Whilst gazing on this old oak tree,
Its dead boughs hanging DER my mead,
1t seemed to whisper in my ear,
Most of your playmates, sir, are dead.
The stately gum Is standing still,
old age upon it makes no show,
And rear it stands the threo mile stone, |
/ helped rear there. long time ago.
But where is Nellie, Tom and Bill,
Who pl.yed with me beneath this treef
Ww Juld give me JOY unspeakable
Could once more their luces see.
1t cannot be, we're scattered wide,
From North to South, from East to
West;
But few are left who played with me,
They're sleeping nUw, the sleep OF death.
With pleasure do oft look back,
To those bright happy school boy days,
In contrast with my after life,
Made up of cares, toll and dismay.
A few wears hence none will be left,
Who to the old school house did go,
To learn to read, to write and play
Together, forty years ago.
ROBIN HOOD.
S.-!The school house referred to by Mr..