Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-12-06
HIS EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY.
MR.. s. s. ROCKWELL ARRIVES AT THAT
AGE.
WEST CoRNwALL, W., Nov. %, 1895.

EdHor If Register Thursday, Novem-
Der ~, Il very pleasant surprise was
given by Mr.. and Mrs. II. +. Sanford to
their father, 5. 5. Rockwell, the occasion
being his eightieth birthday. After the
guests had partaken of Il bountilul re-
past, Mrs. j. G. Houghton contributed
greatly to the pleasure of the occasion
by reading an original poem entitled
"Beyond."
Mrs. $. IL. Barnum also added to the
enjoyment of all present by reading "A
poem selected by one of the guests, after
which the party dispersed, all expressing
the feeling that the day had been very
enjoyable one.
The following is Mrs. Houghtons
poem:
BEYOND.
Beyond us lies the iair ami fertile valley
The cycling years carcss its face serene,
And beauty's supple fingers love to daily
To paint In sottest shades the changelul scene
Your spreading ellns with fairy interlacings
Nod their 1.-THE branches 10 the passing breeze
tracings,
And,well.lcd lhocks are grouped in drowsy
ease,
There in the gladness ot earth resurrection,
The yearly miracle OF leaf and flower
Gives golden promise of the fields subsection,
OF tecmng harvests hid in latent power
Beyond the hills the grand, historic wntcr,
at in
strife,
When boom OF battle ana the groan OF
slaughter
Echoed from shores instinct with savage life
And still beyond, behold the mystic noun
tains,
Looming in silent grandeur to the sky,
Whence limpid streams, ted by perennial
fountains,
Grow to broad rivers sweeping proudly by.
And mere have thu ee successive generations
Achieved rare conquest of the painless wood
In bravest toll, while filling humble stations
They built tor presentiand for future good.
Here, four score years ago, in gray Novem-
Der,
little babe oped wondering eyes of blue
To loving welcomes from each household
member,
TO things and scenes in ever widening view.
Beside the milestone OF LIES Journey meet
With kindiest wishes, and with hand CLASP
warm,
We give today the hoaiy grandsirc greeting
And pray God keep him, STILL" in calm OF
storm.
Beyond Beyond. we turn with eager long
ing
Toward thc.falr city, Just beyond our sight
Where the lwhite-robed in multitudes are
thronging
From out world of sorrow, pain and night.
Beyond The,soul shall find full satisfying
Soaring, untettered by one earthly bond
Nor more littsempty hands in piteous crying
Safe thro the gateway of the glad Beyond,
Then haste the days OF childish play and
prattle,
OF tireless footsteps thro' the live-long day,
OF tasks in school, of fray OF mimic battle,
And work and pastinc speed the hours away
Youth comes apace, with Its ambitious ycarn
ings,
Its restless longlngs for the unattaincd,
While stiil beyond some choice gift discei ming
Than present prize, orpoint ot vantage gained
Soon tell to manhoods strength the added
burden
OF those dependent on lis shcltering care,
But loving sacrifice bro't richer gucrdon,
And ncrvcd the arm its heavier load to bear.
I'm PAM in loss, in hope and struggle ever,
Tho disappointment OFT has won the day,
Still, sweet success has crowned the strong
endeavor,
And Heaven abundant blessings strewn the
way.
Thick waving grasses IN the sunny meadows
And iycllow grain, and tossing plumes OF
corn,
Cleaning in hight, or glooming in the
shadow,
The hazy vistas OF the plain adorn.
There autumn's hand bestows redundant
treasure,
As clothed in garb OF glory, wreathed in
flames,
measure
A rich reward tor honest labor's claim.
The swirling winds their kindly forces rally
To weave fcccy mantle told on fold
And in white stiffness wrap the wondrous
valley
In sweet, warm slumber, thro' the winters
cold.
But still beyond, IN graceful curves uprising,
The verduous hiil-sdes meet the lingering
view;
With everVarying tints the eye surprising
A panorama old, yet ever new,
RICH BY HARD WORK.
VERMONT MAN IN MICHIGAN.
The Detroit journal of recent date
had the following letter from Dexter,