The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-02-07
Tho OH School House.


The Old School House.
How many memories start as stand on
It's old doorstep once morel Am chiio
again? Where are the friends OF those
,o]den lays? Is the hushed silence dream
of the dead years? The December sun
shine dances across the floor and falls soft
w on the deserted, silent walls How
many memories they bring! Its lights
and shadows fall across my feet, drifting
like my thoughts to those other days My
school companions they are gone; their
voices mingle in other scenes The living
the dead-they sleep softly and silently;
no sound of earthly life or dscord reaches
sheir ear; no answer comes back from the
living or dead. These silent walls re-echo
sheir voices no more. The sunshine
dances, the light futters across the seats,
the children are not here. The buzzing OF
aies, the bees lazy hum, will not disturb
.he tired brain. Memory is busy. The
Soys and girls on the old play. ground-l
hear their voices again; again the bell
sounds; the teachers voice reaches my
ear; the classes take their places; again
she lessons are gone through; the music
foods the room. all sunshine and happy
hight. The childhood so far gone comes
back again; those pleasant days are re,
called; again, light and free, float out in
the sunshine child, with no care, no
clouds or darkness Rogers Pleasures OF
Memory occurs in the following lines;
flushed is the bell
That rung at noon, at night,
Quickening my truant feet
Across the lawn.
Unheard the shout
That rent the nOontide air
As slow the dial
Gave pause to care"
The living have gone out to lifes sun.
shine and shadow, breaSting the storms and
receiving tho sunshine rs it falls; whether
in beauty and brightness or in darkness,
life for them is passing on. The dead are
folded to rest; white slab tella where
they sleep. No more storms for them
they have breasted the storms; the pillows
of life are unheeded, for out from lifes
harbor they have anchored in the safe har.
Dor OF rest The gate stands ajar for all, |
and may we not hope they have found the
safe refuge, home ut last Do the living
turn YEARLY to this retreat when the storm
cloud darkens their sky Do they think
ri the unclouded days spent in this old
brown school house, look round on the old
bencnes--letters not defaced by the hand
Of time? Deep cut, they stand on. in the
morning sunshine. souvenirs of many,
and Of the fair fingers of tire dead. Gentle
hands have laid them to rest; strong, brave
hearts have wept at their absencc-not
dead, only gone little while before.
Sonny, the beloved of the home circle,
sleeps in far distant land. Stranger
hands closed the blue eyes, parted the silk.
en- locks we loved SO we'll, and crossed tho
dear hands gone to meet dear friend in
heaven While We mourn him here, sleep, |
beloved; for thee it Is we'll The glad new
song is thine; this rustic shade contains
thy name but with the redeemed We hope
10 meet thee over the river. Again, clear,
bright, the name of Frank stands out. DO
we miss him? Is he gone to the shining
hosts above? And she'll we meet beyond
life's cloudy portalss Love becomes i'm.
mortal there. We hope to meet him in
heaven. The sunshine shmmers through
the open blinds and tails across fair little
glsies name. Sorrowing friends mourn
not; Elsie sleeps sweetly; for her there is
an unfading crown. For such as she the
Saviour has called. Willie too All rest
swectly, these dear ones. May we all meet
where parting and dying are never known.
The green grass lies silent and soft about
the old school house Its play ground is
deserted, the children are gone. This
morning we sec them all again, In memo
rvs magic eye We SEQ them as in other
years The meadow, the spring, the bright
sunshine; tho brown school house; the
orchards near; tho golden fruit that hung
In the summer sunshine-all are I'm.
changed; and yet they will never ill the
room. God keep tho living, and may they
80 live that God will accept and receive
them an unbroken band In heaven.
MARY j, RHODES,
Dec. 30th, 1884. Ottawa, III.
lMlIlnY kTlAcT