St. Landry democrat., 1882-05-27
WHITING.

WHITING.
can't believe my wedding day was fifty years
ago.
This is the second day of March! The clock is
ticking slow;
The sun shines in across the room. Just see
can't remember half of them who nod SO
pleasantly.
The little English sparrows fit in the lilac
bush outside;
like to watch the busy things. There's one
that's tried and tried
10 break string the children tied around a
How hard he pulls it with his beak! Now he
~ has flown away.
Sc it was fifty years ago! It doesn't seem so
long.
I've felt my age more this last year, and yet
I'm pretty strong.
don't do much about the house, but still
know what s done;
know as well what's going on as Jane or any
one.
Jane frets me dreadfully sometimes, and yet
she s always kind,
She helps me when there is no need and has me
on her mind;
She needn't think I'm past all use, Or that I'm
I've never missed my footing yet, though I'm
so old and all. 49,
But things don't seem to take my mind that
like the folks used to know; keep old
road fsh pasn snG Roo q, John and find
them always new; -
And can knit, but can't sew same as used
ODD.
The young folks think they understand just
how tomanage life;
We old folks pity them; we've learnt Its
Life is 4 fight, tell you plain, it doesn't come
Just as you want to have it come, or just as
you have planned.
Hyoud foretold me how it's been through all
Ishould have been discouraged and had no lack
And wished [ could lie down and die, but
somehow I've had strength
That's come to me with every day all through
my whole lifes length.
Istarted fair my wedding day, for my dear
man was kind
And always pleasant spoken; we were mostly
OF course, we had our falngs out, but nothing
that would last;
Railways was my fault, for I was young and
spoke too fast.
And john you see, was older by some ten
years than /.
At first was afraid Of him when we kept COM
pany.
He was sort of man on whom you felt you
But very quiet in his ways His mother was
Friend.
My hardest time was when he died. It seemed
to me twas wrong
The Lord shouts take him out of life and let
me drag along
AS best could, with little means and all my
children small,
Just when we seemed to see our way and get
ahead at all.
But God knows best. If it had been my life
had suite me;
should have been Eighty thing without
turned my hand to everything-to knit or
build fence.
There weren't the folks to call on then that
could get to-day,
For help was scarce, the farms were few, and
I'd no means to pay.
went to work with all my might and tried my
But can tell you many night I've cried N.Y.
self to sleep.
Iknow the Lord has prospered me. I've done
the best could,
And I'VE stood in my lot and place as anybody
should.
The farmland some. folks would have sold
held, because knew
Some day 'twould be good property, and all
my hopes come true.
I've parted with it piece by piece-you see the
Just as John always said it would. If other
folks had known
And had the foresight that he had! Instead
How should never get along unless the farm
was sold.
Ny boys grew fast and soon took hold, and
For all the money they had cost they soon
brought back again;
And like busy hive Of bees we were from
morn till night:
We had our health, the Lord be thanked and
that made work seem light.
The children all have settled down in good
homes of their own, 1z'
Excepting Jane, and but for her should be
left alone; E4e
She had her chances, too, but then she's not
the marrying kind:
couldn't do without her now, I'm glad she
stayed behind. s.sF
I'm glad I'm mistress Of my house; the chill
must break up, that Jane and were better
off to stay
With some of them, for I'm so old and James
not over strong;
But won't listen to their plans; I've made
my own too long.
MY life seems like a book that's read and put
up on the shelf;
fused to be 2 hurrying round; Idon'tfeel like
Sometimes I'm tired Of keeping still. ! want to
be at work;
! see so many things to do, and don't like to
shirk l+2,4
fused to have to toll and plan and now have
to wait,
And suppose mustn't fret, but in future
state s#E
/ shall be sure to find my place and be some
use again.
For there we still shall serve the Lord-the
Scripture says it plain.
So it's my golden wedding day, though we
have been apart
For forty years, and yet John knows that he
has kept my heart.
And Iknow that he looks for me and waits for
me to come;
I've tried to do the best could-and here Or