The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-09-12
The Beautiful Long Ago.

How it comes to US In the ruah and
hurry. worry and care of our busy
everyday lives. Amid the din of the
roisv city, or the resl4ul quiet Of tne
country. An almost In oxlcating per-
lume, as it were, floating upon the ira.
grant memories OF an olden time sweet
ress-'.The Beautiful L ,ng Ago." The
something that came into our lives which
gloriGed as with halo and has never
wholly lefJ US. Surrounding love and
peace, bright hopes, or borken promises!
Oae, or all perhaps. Aud among the
ruins, with bated breath, or slghs, eyes
misty with tears. we catch the far.waY
scu1d Of sweet voices, whose rhythmic
cadences haunt Us still, the touch Of q
gentle hand, the flash or tender glance
of derk eyes, a ripple oflaughter, OF
s1eeter song, the quick, firm step or the
dainty tread. Adown in the lane floats
the scent Of deWy hedge; up yonder or
the hilltop, how pure and fresh the
breezs; aud sof,ly iu the valley, down
by the old mill, the brook ripples on the
sea. The wiading path and the way
side bowers, with the giant trees stretch
ing their great Q; ;ms, With their Whisper
ing leaves. in a t-nediction over our
heads. Glimpses of blue sky, with snn-
light between, the quaint chickering's
make by the interstices of boughs and
leaves, falling aslant face and form with
a sileat Warnihg all ulheedel On the
:uture bsfore US. The warble of pirds
and fragrance OF orchard bloom. Memo.
RES Of days agone, when time was young
and we stccj by. Smiles, aud tears,
vii: E:-a:ches of song, upheld by faith
and p.aycc-tne old.tlme blessings.
All! one by one, as in dream, the fond
memories 1.-THE Beautiful Long Ago"
aoat before US. up through the mists OF
the vanishing paat, with Its horss and
fcers, sorrows and joys and star. cleaned
trusts Of youth. The Beautiful Long
Ago." when the heart knew not single
pain and the eye burned not with tears.
Floating, drifting away into the intermin-
able misty distances! How tipped are
the memories with golden halos, how
fair with pearls of promise. and how sill
yern the hopes. Yes, with bated breath
we drl1k it 10, with longing thai Is un-
utte-able. Storm-beaten it may 10, and
tempest tossed, while LIES !retted
waves taVe not only washed to our feet,
but swept over US with overwhelming
force. Aloes have been buraed with
the lnyr1h and frankincense. shadows
have been thicker than the sun
Sims, the wine OF he vintage
of love, with the chalice filed
to the brim, bitter with the dress
of disappointment. S;rcow, but of all,
come whathgs and come what will. ''wc
have bsea blest," and az a partial re-
compsuse we i've it over again IN dreams,
that Beautiful Long Ago" 80 fall OF
precious memories. "a sorroR's
crown of sorrow IS RENE nberlng
happier tticgs'' to Daute, bns
Dot :, us. Our hearts are lighter
and better for The remembrance, and
we take up cur scrip and stef content
to begin anew. or telke up the tangled
threads OF cur homely duties just where
we lett eff when "The Beautiful Long
Ago" would ts seen and heard and felt,
and es on whose spirit had lett itsc'ay,
we como back, sadened yet purified, tor
s'the place we stood Yves holy ground"
and we saw as We ere seen, clasped
he ds, and stood heart to heart with
those, where at orr og weary feet lay
ro9 of grass grown graves between.
A tush falls upon Us, and then upon
the summer al is heard the whir of wings.
Mounting with snowy piolons to the fair
beyond, rise the exquisite pleadIngs OF
"Tae Beautiful Long Ago"