The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-27
GOLDEN WEDDING ODE.


| Tonight just fifty eventful years rave fled,
Since Grand Papa and Grand Mama were wed
| Years which, like fields on which both sun and
Have come, are ripe with bending, golden
grain.
Fifty long years since Grand Ma was a bride,
And stood with graceful pride by Grand Pas
Pledging her maiden heart to him for life;
Trusting her love, her all, to be his wife.
To them it has been bu5 a passing day,
Towards whose close all clouds have passed
For longest, darkest days that e'er have been,
Closing throw their golden sunsets on the
scene.
This golden wedding night, where loves fire
Like summer which to golden autumn turns,
But shows to Grand Pa and Grand Ma more
clear,
The fruit that has just ripened through the
Thus to each well spent life In coming years
is shown Hopes brightest smiles through sor-
rows tears.
They see the golden sunset of life's day
And know that darkest clouds have passed
away.
The seas are quiet when the winds give DER;
SO calm are passions waves when near the
shore.
When day is past we know how vain the boast
OF tieeting thing too certain to be lost.
Clouds of affection from our youthful ewes
Conceal that emptiness which age describes.
The SOUPS bleak house, when battered and de-
cayed,
Receives new light through chinks that Time
has made.
Made strong by weakness, wiser men become
As they draw nearer their eternal home.
As age leaves this some other world to view,
IL soSs th"'" both from tn Threshold of the
Thus we may all approach happy end
should our young feet in virtues pathway
Should erring rtature casual faults disclose,
Wound not the breast that harbors your re-
pose.
For every pang in that breast you may prove,
is one chord snapped on the golden harp of
Faults like the shadow from the sunlight fly,
Else IN the shade the tenderest passions die.
Love, IKE the flower that courts the. suns
VIII sweetest be when in the smiles of day.
Hence we young folks are told to hesitate
Before we rush into the marriage state.
The old folks say love is a solemn name
Ana none should rashly venture in the flame.
But an! such sage results OF cupids pranks
As these, will swell the tide of Hymen's ranks.
There's no young heart caniSee upon the tide
OF married life two happy hearts thus ride,
. Aud fail to wish themselves within the bark,
Thus gliding or life's sea tempeStuouS, dark
For if we thought for fifty years or more
we tnus could voyage round loves golden
No empty barque would ever spread her sails
To tempt the strength of matrimonial gales.
But few are thus vOuchsafed for fifty years
To share together all life'S smiles and tears.
And, dear Grand Pa and Grand Ma, at times
bidding,
We hope to celebrate your diamond wedding.
And here tonight let each heart merry be,
And may we each in time our golden wedding
see.
Mr.. Stringer followed in some hui
morOus remarks and pleasing aIlu-
sions to prominent incidents in the
history of the family with which he
was intimate, to which Mr.. Millican
modestly responded, after which all
Joined in partaking of the innumera-
BILE good things with which the sup
per tables were loaded. AS to the
beautiful and costly presents, which
were placed on a table in another
room, they were rather numerous to
mention. They were, in fact, small
fortune in themselves. Altogether
the occasion was a notable event in
the society circles of Austin.