The Newtown bee., 1895-05-03
WARREN.
FIFTY YEARS OF HAPPY MARRIED LIFE

The following poem by Rev Alpheu | Gardner was read at the recent goldel | wedding celebration of MT and MT
 Charles Curtis: Dear Friends, fifty years ago today, You two, were both made one, they say. ] In nuptial bands, you, then were tied, One was groom the other was bride. Little ou knew what before you lay, | Or that you'd live to see this day, But heaven has smiled upon your life, Since you became both man and wife. Blest you have been, yes, more and more, Both in your basket, and in store, In family life, as parents true, Great favor God has shown to you. And now to-day, the grand review Of fifty years, for both Of you. The Golden wedding, it is called, Be not amazed nor appalled,, Fifty years of marital life. To live together-man and wife; | Is a period long, you see, As anniversaries agree. Twelve anniversaries brings in
 The golden. There's silver and tin, There's cotton and paper withal, Silk and fine linen above all, l There's leather, crystal and wooden
  Pearl and rnby last in the van, These in disorder frankly give, Because you both in health now live. The thirteenth is golden, say, Diamonds, twenty-five years away, The anniversaries now past, We're at freedom to range at last.
 Themes numberless, cluster around
 A scene like this, with thoughts profound, Profound and startling, come to view,
 As.fifty years unfold anew. As panorama we survey,
 See what was, and is today,
 Who then did live upon this earth;
 Who ruled in church and State, of worth, Who the gospel preached, who souls won Whose work on earth, long since was done. John R. Keep was the pastor here,
 The people did him much revere.
 He's gone-his days on earth are done,
 He has his life with God begun,
 Eternity's before him sure
 In heavenly glory hen endure.
 Most ot his flock have also died,
 They've crossed the river-stemmed the tide In eighteen hundred and forty five,
 Webster and Clay were both alive,
 Also Calhoun, rom a Southern State, All Statesmen brilIiant-very great. The telegraph was one year old,
 Morse, it's inventor so we're told.
 Folks nomination, first news sent.
 Showing the world the grand event.
 Victoria is England's Queen,
 Who to throne came at just eighteen, Seventy and six is now her age,
 "God bless the Queen,"i is all the rage. Sir Robert Peel is the Premier
 Gladstone's in parliament that year. Louis Phillipe for fifteen years,
 Has reigned in France, so it appears.
 But kingly rule must shortly end
 To republic, things there tend.
 We leave the Old World and return; To tell of home land we do burn. Texas and Florida, this year
 New states became, it's very clear. The stars now count, from first to last, Just twenty-eight when this years past, Our galaxy-our Union fair
 We love all well, good sisters rare.
 But this was fifty years ago,
 It's long time, as you must know, How great the change since then, has come What conflicts seen beneath the sun, What bloody fields, ot human slain In this our land and on the main. For union we have fought and won, To union duty is not done.
 We love the church, we love the state, What owe to both, is very great We love our home-fanily, well, So great our love no tongue can tell, But there's no end to this great theme, It's like one long-one wondrous dream. These fifty years, ot moments made, Have come and gone without our aid. He's given them, who reigns on high. His thrones above-still he is nigh. These fifty years are all his own Yet for their use we must atone, We're stewards of the grace of God, Living under HIS staff and rod. We've seen affiiction in these years, Our hearts have bled, our eyes shed tears, Dear ones have crossed to unknown shore, Not lost-oh no. they're gone before. The home beyond is growing fast; Farewell to earth will soon be past; And we shall reach our heavenly home, Our friends all meet-no more to roam. The wedding then will golden be, At marriage supper, Christ we'll see, The bridegroom's voice we'll surely hear, When we at heavenly home appear; "Ye blessed of my Father, come," eve ell done." Eternal life is won.