The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-11-28
LEAVING THE FARM.

Ahe hEa7ien say were growing Old, 700 Old
such hard work;
And liel he will take the place-you know
he's not shirk-
And that young wife Of his think, issmart
asa queen bee;
She's light of foot, and light Of heart, and
good to you and me.
They're sure to keep the farm in shape, and
not let things run down;
But TIN afraid Wen never be content TO live
in town.
You know since Mary married we've been
there on and Off,
And once stayed a month or more, the
spring had that cough.
Mary was good and loving, and her husband
he was klnl
But got so tired and homesick feared I'd
lose my mind
1t wa MT lack Of company-some one was
always there
You know that folks who live in town have
lots of time to spare.
The church was very handy, and / liked the
preacher, too;
And tended ell the meetings. what else had
do,
But, OH l long 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 clucking and the
mother turkeys call
The pleasant music of the farm, / did so miss
italL
And longed 70 sec my garden, and the APP
pie trees in bloom,
And to pull tho clover blossoms and breath
their sweet perfume,
And, William, you'll be like me- you reed
not laugh or frown,
For you'll never be contented TO settle down
in town.
Just think about it, William; it's forty years
and more
Since you and 1 together left old Ohio's
shore.
mind as il 'twere yesterday, my mothers
tear-wet face,
The firm clasp of my fathers hand, my sis
ter's warm embrace;
And oh! / never shall forget how the prairie,
wide and vast,
Stretched out before me, when you said,
"Well, dear, here's home at last
The words seemed such mockery, where
nothing looked liked home,
The very c'ouds seemed farther Off, and
higher heavens dome.
Now as l look around me on the feds Of
waving corn,
The orchard and the meadow, the farmhouse
AMI the barn,
All the past comes up before me, can ses
the cabin small,
The little low-roofel cabin, that arely held
Us all,
And the lonely, lonely prairie, with not a
house in sight;
All the tears that wet my pillow when you
thought slept at night.
Yes, it's true we soon had neighbors AID how
homeliSe it did seem,
When of evenings from our doorway we could
see their candles gleam
Looking round upon III, prairie, where we
watched that lonely light,
Now from many friendly window shine the
earth stars clear ami bright,
But no beacon to the sailor, homeward bound
uron thesca,
Ever shone with brighter luster than that
twinkling light to me.
Then tie children kept ON coming, till the
small house overAowed
And their childish love and laughter helped
us all along our road;
Howwe toiled both late and early, and how,
through al cur days,
The dear God blessed and prospered us; to
Him be all the praise
Then when we built the new house, whas
happy times We had
Pence and plenty dwelt among u.s. and the
days were short and glad
know we had our trials, crops would fail
and sickness come,
And before deaths awful presercs we have
bowed in anguish dumb;
But we comforted each other, for we sail:
"His word issIre,"
Though we walk among the shadows still
His promises endure
Now the shadows all are lifted, we are in
sweet Beulah land"
And His presence is about US, we can feel His
guiding hand.
1t is hard to leave the farm-but the children
are al grown
AS we were when Just we welded, you and l
are now alone.
But, oh the difference to us! then our lives
Rad just begun,
And our lifework lay before US; new our life
works 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 it
seems to me
/ can hardly bsar to leave it; AMI then, dear,
when / see
How feeble am getting, feel ready quite
to go,
The children do not need me, and you'll come