Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-03-22
THE GOLDEN WEDDING.
BY MRS. >. c. MAPLE, MARSHALL. no

Read at Rev. j. F. Smiths wedding anniver-
sary at Hardin College on tie evening OF March
the 7th.l
In old Kentucky. favored state.
Long years ago-Iu thirty three,
a youth set out to find his mate,
And came. a Dingle fair TO see.
Twas the old story-old as time,
And yet SO ever new aud sweet:
That baIds will sing in flowing rhyme,
Aud youth, and maidens oft repeat.
And so this youth and maiden fair
Exchanged taeir vows--{this is no myth
She gave her future to his care,
And he"he gave the name of Smith.
Their hearts were youung and fife was bright,
But time sped on with rapid wing,
And marked the cycles of his flight,
BY cares, that years and children bring.
Through devious paths and winding ways.
Through sunshine and through stormy
weather,
God gave them strength and length OF days.
And brought them TO thus scene together.
And now with words of love and cheer,
With smiles that ripple through our tears,
These many friends have gathered here.
To greet the bride of fifty years.
Those fifty years ALI who shall tell
The story of their hopes and fears
The joys that caused her heart TO swell,
The grlefs that bathed her eyes in tears.
Unseen the record save by Him.
Who watches where the rain mists form
Who fills our cup to flowing brim,
And tempers, to each lamb, the storm.
One friend has spoke OF married days,
Another OF the clouds that cast
Their shadows o'er the preachers ways,
And one Of sunshine in the past.
And one of preachers girls and boys,
The cause OF all the churchs strife,
But none have told the dreadful noise
That people make about his wife.
A wondrous woman must she be,
Who fills the place Of pastors wife;
The type Of all propriety;
The model fora perfect life. -
His forty years have well been spent
In ministry OF Gods dear Son.
The talents that TO him were lent
Have many other talents won.
y woman's work fell to her share,
That ceaseless task that's never done,"
| The daily round of household care,
That comes with every morning sun.
Twas hers to soOthe the fretful child.
To guide the infant steps Alright;
To hold in check the Impulse wild,
And keep the home fires burning bright.
With humble trust and faith in God,
Whose promise was her hope and stay;
| Her willing feet, with patience shod,
| For fifty years have walked that way.
| II they who wait do serve the Lord
| As well as he who plants and sOws
| And warns with ministry Of word
The sinner or the coming woes:
When earthly conflicts are laid down,
| And they have crossed the jasper sea,
She too, metninks, wilt wear a crown,
AS bright and radiant, then, as he.
One summer morn, in merry mood,
A friend and set out to climb
| mountain which before us stood.
And reared its head to heights sublime.
! I'd watched the shadows come and go,
Like phantoms o'er its rocky breast.
And seen the radiant after glow
Light up the snow banks on its crest
Until longed to plant my feet.
Upon its rugged, granite height.
And stand where sky and mountain meet
And feast my vision on the sight,
And so one morn, good bye" we said,
To friends We left within our tent,
To rest beneath the grateful shade,
While we on noble exploits went,
Our path through grove OF aspen trees.
We trace with light and easy tread,
Our brows were famed with mountain breez,
That stirred the branches over head.
But soon we found our path was lost,
And hemmed and barred by fallen pines,
That torn and twisted. Tapped and crossed,
Had been the sport OF angry winds,
Some fierce, wild storm had in Its wrath,
Long years before, swept down that way
And carried havoc in its path,
That will be seen for many a day,
J For weary miles, through bog and fen,
Ger fallen trees and tangled vine,
We picked our dreary way, and then
: To easier paths our feet incline,
Beside the bank OF mountain stream,
Where grass was green and flowers were ga
Were tempted half to sit and dream,
And while the summer hours away,
But soon o'ef rough and rocky steep,
We upward press our tolsome way,
| With labored breath and weary feet,
We walk full many mile that day.
. And yet as higher up we went,
The path grew sleeper, rockier still;
: Our strength and spirits we'll nigh spent,
But on, and up, we climbed until
Round old Mount Elberts top we reached,
e That seemed to bathe It's head in light.
+ But grand Mount Massive higher stretched.
And shut the view from farther sight,
But, looking down the path we came,
A wondrous vision met our eyes:
The sunshine bathed each crag in flame,
And clothed the earth with varied dyes,
And at our feet the Twin Lakes lay.
The siv'ry waters stilled to rest;
The mountains and the azure sky
Were mlrrOred on its placid breast.
All how like life is this, thought
The merry start, the pathway gay,
The steady climb, with labor fraught-
The barriers that obstruct our way,
lut tTSt sccn ufrk anu iucdH,
s Now tinted with beauteous light
The storm tossed path no longer seem,
But hid in mercy from our sight.
And so our friends have reached tonight
One crowning summit of their lives
The past lies open to their sight,
The future hidden from their eyes.
J. Their lengthening shadows backward cast.
Tell of the sun on western slope,
And speak Of home and peace at last.
That glad fruition of their hope,
9. Beyond the sunsets radiant glow,
Within the City's peariy gates,
By faith their eyes look forth and know
, Another marriage supper waits
And there amid that blood washed throng
With golden harps and victor's palm,
They'll sing redemption's glorious song,
8, "All worthy-worthy is the Lamb"
The Harvard Senyah.
What is it we have here7 Is
alive? 1t is. Be Jawge it is FL
ward Senyah, You know. Is he kno
by any other title? Yes-ah, he-ah
sometimes called q cultuahed gent
, man-ah. Does he study Greek?