Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-11-21
A FATHERS THANKSGIVING

Why, wife, whasis it pleases yOu? What makes
SOa surely must be crazy, or may be you've heard
from John
Yet that is hardly likely, as he's been five years
away,
And can scarcely hope you've heard from him to-
day.
We never have e'cn heard from him, and yet the
When we can welcome home again our long alb
sented son;
And, though there be no fatted calf we'd try to
make him feel
That here so long as we've to share, he'd never
want meal.
Poor boy how sad he looked that day when bid
ding You good-bye;
And, though he spoke quite cheerful tear stood
in each eye
think he would have talked to me, but had
= turned TO 60, ..-
For was angry with him, but why hardly know.
1ou know that books were ever great pleasure to
our boy;
It always seemed that nothin' else could give him
so much joy.
Jest let him get his hands one, he'd go and hide
away,
Aud read along from morn till night, while other
boys would play.
And, wife, you know that my old dad had never
been to school,
And many times I've heard him say it made a boy
fool,
This giyin him book arnin', for they only come to
Nor would they be content to stay and work upon
the farm.
And I, guess must be like him; for when saw
Sit porin' DER his books all day instead of helping
And doin' work about the place. I thought the
boy no good,
And so did not use him well, as I, his father,
should
But what was worst of all, one day took away
book
Which he had lately borrowed, and threw it in the
brook;
And had you seen, as did, the look he gave me
You would not wonder why I wish to see my boy
again.
Our John, poor boy! he thought at last twas best
for him to go
And find heme away from here, and then he told
And was very wiling for I thought, when once
away,
He'd banker to get back again, and then contented
stay.
But years have passed away since then, and we
have never heard
Aword of good or ill report; and if my eyes are
blurred
By tears at times, it is because I do not feel the
same
As once did toward our boy, for now take the
blame;
For had been but kind to him we still would have
HIM here
To comfort and to cheer us, now old age is draw
ing near.
But now, perhaps, it is too late, and he may never
To gladden. us who long for him and wait for him
at home
All, we'll have been punished and sometimes I'm
nearly wild
When thinking how treated him-our by, our
only child.
know it cannot last for long, for something tells
me so,
Nor would mindit could see our boy before
go.
And you, his mother, have grown old and gray be-
yond your years,
And, though youtry to hide them, yet often I see
the tears;
AM nothin' seems to please you now as once it
Oh, would that had died myself ere trouble came
to you!
saw our parson here to-day. hope his folksare
He came to make CALL you say2 What news had
he to tell?
know there must be somethin' for ynn Inal, mora
:. pleased to-day
Than l have seen in all these years that John has
been away.
He brought letter, did you say, from him--what !
from our John?
Which says that he will soon be homer No owonder
Thank Godl for he HIS heard my prayer and filed
my soul with joy,
And taken sorrow from my heart by seniin' back
our boy.
And now let us kneel down and ask that God His
grace may give,
And shower his blessings on our boy as long as he
may live
And when to-morrow's dawn has come, and John
is here to say,
Wen thank the Lord who gave us true Thanks-
giving Day.