Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1893-11-16

fhe SsannTai Long Ago.
How il comes TO as in the
rush-ssud harry, worry and care
of our buey every day lives
Amid the din Of the noisy city,
or the restfai quiet Of the coun-
try. An almost Intoxicating per-
fame, al IL we're, floating upon
the dusty or purer air freighted
with the fragrant memories of
N oIden ii ne sweetueas-'The
Beautiful Long Ago. The
something that came into our
lives which glonied ~ with .
halo aud has never wholly lef.
ms. Surrounding love and peace,
bright hopes, and broken prom
isesi One. or all perhaps. And
among the ruins, With bated
breath our ey es misty with tears,
We catch the far away sound Of
sweet voices, whose rhy mimic
eadences haunt n still. The
touch Of = gentle hand, the fash
or tender glance Of dark eyes, .
. ripple Of laughter, or sweeter
song, the Quick, 6rm step Of the
dainty tread
Ad0wn in the scent Of dewy
hedge, mp yonder on the hill
top, how pure and fresh; and
softly in the salley. down by the
old mill, the brook rippIes on to
the sea-
| The winning path and the way
side flowers, with the giant trees
stretching their great arms, with
their whispering feaves. Gimp
ses Of the blue sky, with sum
light between, the quaint check
eri1gs made by the interstices
of bcughs and leaves, falling
aslant face and form. with q 81
lent warning all unneeded OF
the future before rs The war
BILE of the birds and fragrance
Of orchard bloom. Memories OF
days agone, when time WAS
young and we stood by.
Smiles and tears, with snatch
es of songs, upheld by faith and
prayer-the old time blessings
All one by one, ~ in q dream
the fond memories Of the beau.
tiful long ago float before us, NJ
through the midst sof the van,
ishing past with its hopes and
fears, its sorrows aud Joys and
star gemmed trusts Of youth
The beautiful long ago." wher
the heart knew not . single
pain, and the eye burned moi.
Floating, drifting away Into
the inseiEsi1a5!e misty d;ssas.
cesl
How tipped are the memories
With golden hxlos, how fair will
pearls Of promise, and how sal
vern the hopes Yes, With ba
ted breath we drink il in, will
IL longing that 10 unnttersble
storm beaten is may be, aud
tempest tossed, while lite's fret
ted waves have not only wash.
ed to our feet. bat swept Over
as with Overwhelming force
Aloes have been buried with
the mirth and has grown - he
. part OF her AID fraak.rC $50.
shadows havn been tkssxs. shal
tthe sanshine. the vintage ofIov.
sifh the ehAlice filed 10 tn
5rim, bitter With the drpgs .,
disappoinfDt IT. Serrsv nst g.
Al, come what has o
What vii. we have D~- sl<s
s1d - . partial reesuxense.
viii 1--we il over again In dr<r=.
that -besutifuI Iese ago. 30 ras
Of precious memor...
/ "A sorrows crown
10 remembering hap,
to Dante. but not to N.
hearts are lighter and bes-
the remembrance. and We
mp our scrip and star cc..rul
to begin anew, o. take ND "a.
tangled threads Of our houeI,
duties just where We len oil
when the beautiful long ago
would be seen and heard An.
felt, and a. one whose spirit ha.
left its clay, We come d
dened, yet puridea, .ys Tn,
place We stood washoIy ground
and We saw - &c era sc,
elaspsd hands, aud stsoo n...
to heart With those, where .
our own weary feet hay .
grass grows graves s-i-
A hash falls upon .. sn.
then upon the Summsf nag I.
heard the whir Of wings ~auns
ing With snowy pinio-
: fair beyond. rises 40 e~ ..ssx.