The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-10-13
LEAVING THE FARM.

LEAVING THE FARM.
20, William, we must go to town. and leave the
Your hair is gray, your form is bent. and
wrinkied is your face;
And when stand before the glass to put my
scarce can see to pin 1t straight, my sight is
so near gone.
The children say we're growing old, too old
And Daniel he will take the place-you know
And thai Young wife of his. think. is smart
She's tight Of foot. and light of heart. and
good To you and me.
Incy re sure to keep the farm in shape, and
not let things run down:
But m afraid wen never be content to live
III town.
You know since Mary married we've been
there on and OF.
And once ] stayed a month or more, the
- spring had that cough
Mary was good and loving, and her husband
But | got 50 tired and homesick feared I'd
II warn't iaals 4. Of sonpanysone one was a.
ways there
You know that folks who live in town have
r, lots q time to spare, .sss.as
The church was very handy, and liked the
preacher too; s Nss3 wa
And tended all the meetings; what else had
But oh longed to hear the cows come lowing
down the lane.
And to hear the horses champing as they ate
the golden grain;
And 10 hear the proud hens clueking, and the
mother turkeys cali
The pleasant music of the farm, did so miss
il all.
And longed 70 see my garden, and the apple
And to pull the clover blossoms and breathe
their sweet perfume;
And, William, you'll be like me; you need not
laugh or frown,
For you'll never be contented to settle down
in town.
Just think about it, William, it's forty years
Since YOU aud together left old Ohio's shore.
mind As II twere yesterday, my mothers
tear-wet face,
The firm clasp of my fathers hand. my sisters
warm embrace:
Ard obi ] never shall forget how the prairie,
vile ami vast,
Stretch Il out before me- when Won said
Well, dear, here's home at last"
IAc wo-.is seemed such a mockery, where
nothing looked like home
Tho very clouds seemed farther off and higher
heavens dome. 4
Now as ! look around me on the fields of
The orchard and the meadow the farmhouse
and the barn
All the past comes up before me, I can see the
The little low-roofed cabin that barely held II
all,
And the LONELY, lonely prairie, with not
house in sight;
All! the tears that wet my pillow when you
thought slept at night.
homelilSe it did seem,
when OF evenings from our doorway we
could see their candles CLEAN.
LOOKING round upon the prairie, where we
watched that lonely light,
NOW from many a. friendly window shine the
earth stars clear and bright
tn fba sail.
upon the sea,
Ever shone with brighter luster than that
twinkling light to me-
Then the children kept on coming till the
small house overlooked
And their childish love and laughter helped
MS all along our road:
How we toied both late and early and how
through all our days,
The dear God blessed ANA prospered MS: TO
Him be all the praise;
Then when we built the new house, what ham
Ply times we had
Peace. and plenty dwelt among us, and the
days were short and glad
know we had our trials, crops would fail
and sickness come,
ana before deaths awful presence, we have
bowed in anguish dumb;
But we comforted each other, for we said,
His word is sure"
Though we walk amid the shadows still "His
promises endure"
Now the shadows all are lifted, we are in
sweet ''Beuah land,''
And His presence is about us, we can feel His
guiding hand,
1t is hard to leave the farm-but the cbidren
are all grown
AS we were when just we welded, you and
are now alone.
But OH the difference to us, then orr lives
had just begun,
And our life-work lay before us; now our
fireworks almost DONE
why, the sun is setting, William. How fast
the days go by.
see those clouds of blue and crimson lying on
the western sky
This world is very beautiful; sometimes 1t
seems to me
can hardly bear to leave it; and then, dear,
when see -
How feeble am getting, feel ready quite
to go. 49,
soon know.
Low spirited! All no I'm not ape doatt ali
things WE'LL"
And happy and God fearing the cbiidrar
round us dwell ~ =
And m ready for the fitting. like the leaves
in autumn brown
But I'm afraid wen never be content to live
In town.
Mrs. E. " Wilson, in Chica1o Tuter.(leeaa