The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-03

The dip dip, dip, of the FLASHING rain.
| Falls on my poor old heart again,
! And out thro' the mist Iramble away,
Till come to the meadows of new mown hay,
| And the old farm gate that led thereto;
| Tonight in fancy wander through,
! Up the path to the woodshed door,
| Where the sawbuck creaks on the damp groun
| floor.
| The vine-clad porch seek in haste,
! Where theivy and cup-rose interlaced,
| And the dip, dip, OF the plashlng ram
| Falls on the old tin root again.
Wn 4 gainst the rain was . never proof
| For We dared not ind our clothing wet.
And to stay in the house while the rain was fallin
Seemed TO our youthful hearts appalling;
| Quick, mischief-loving, sister Sue
Stoves me where the rain comes through;
Then Tom and Kate side in with me,
We catch her, for she tries to fee,
And with many gleeful, childish Snout,
We hold her curly head right out,
TIL the curly hair is soaked and wet,
Then mother comes-I can see her yet;
| We know that the dear face tries TO hide
A smile, for she deems it right to chide.
But the smile breaks thrO' when sue with the rest
We hem her in. with solemn jest,
And VOW if she scOlds we II put her through
The same performance Of sister sue.
Shaking his hat and coat on the stoop,
Father comes IN to Join the groupe.
Thank God" he SAYS. for the gentle rain,
Twill be the maxim Of early grain"
Then. as he sees our merriment,
A half-sad look with the smile is blent,
And he simply says: you'll mind this day,
When later things have passed away"
think he knew we'd comprehend
When age with youth began to blend
Oh. the pranks Of childhood ways.
Oh, the loves Of childhoOd's days.
The intervening years may go,
But when the hair is driven snow,
When the heart is bleached by time,
With sOOLhful, rhythmic rhyme,
Those early days will come again
With vividneSs that mimics pain!
Pardon, sir, old mans tear
NOu deem IL weak until you hear
Mother is dead, and sister sue,
Tom and Kate, and father TOO
PerchanCc you cannot follow me,
When say that tonight had rather see
Them again in the meadows OF new mown hay,
Beneath the old Tin roofs decay,
Then meet them in realms of strange delight:
I'm half afraid o. the dazzling light.
Our youth was given to love would,
But heaven is payment for earth-earned good.
Some how cannot see it right;
They'd seem 50 strange in robes OF white,
Tramping along the golden street.
When the dear old meadow was soft and sweet.
] imagine sue with golden crown,
With her mischief eyes and face tanned brown;
] should always be in mortal fear
she'd coax old Peter, with wiles so dear,
To Join in a game OF "blindman's buff
And-well l should think it good enough.
To see them Just as they used to be
But that Is past and dead you see.
For the old farm home has been torn down,
And now there stands q bristiing town.
" here men are striving for gold and fame,
As tho eternity loved a name.
Above the meadow Of new mOwn hay,
There's nothing left for my heart today.
The world went ahead o. the farm you see,
And feel tonight 1t has outgrown me.
Some how I'd give the world you know,
To Seethem again where the cOwslips grow,
And the dip, dip dip, Of the FLASHING rain
Falls Oh the old tin roof again,