The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-01-03
Growing Old.
To Reuben Kidder, st. Louis, Mo.

Dear old friend Reuben. On Christ
mas morning | received your photo,
thanks. | do not think any resident of
the town receiving Christmas present,
attaches more value to it than | do to
your own dear self, as one of your
lady friends said on looking at your
photo. On opening the envelope | did
not-looking through sun glasses, reeog-
nize your face. but on changing glasses
| saw at once your features, and ex-
claimed in an audible tone, why Reuben!
you have grown old. After studying
the photo for some time, it occurred TO
me to look at myself in the mirror.
did so, and came TO the conclusion that,
not only Reuben had grown old, but
dexter" also, during over sixty-three
years of our acquaintance, real friend
ship and the business relations of life.
My old friend, there are points in our
lives that cannot be matched. | will
write out in The near future few, and
if the REPORTER will type them, | will
send YOU an issue of the paper. will
only state one point of you personally
at ills time.
Last June, | spent half a day very
pleasantly with our old and mutual
friend Samuel Dean at Madison. Mr.,
Dean made many inquiries of you, as he
ever has on our meetings, and at once
Uncle Dean burst out in IA hearty laugh.
Uncle. where does your laugh come in?
Il will tell you" About forty years
ago "Rube" asked me to loan him some
money. | did so, later on we met on the
highway, and Rnbe said. | will pay you
the borrowed money now, and in settling
we could make the exact change lacking
ten cents. Ruhe said never mind, | will
hand YOU dime sometime. Later on
Rube left the county. After more than
thirty. five years later, Rube came into
SHOW hogan aud drove up to see me.
was very glad to see him, he looked
natural and his fingers ierked about as
natural till they jerked from his pocket
dime, handing it to me he said,
there's dime belonging to you.
"What do you mean Rube: RUDE eX-
planned The old transaction and his
promise to hand in "A dime sometime,
and Uncle Dean gave another hearty
laugh, saving that a man who could re-
member The liability of dime for forty
years must have a good memory, but
there its just like Rube." | will stop
right here for fear may write more.
Now Reuben please read the following
and see what j. G.. Sake has to say on
Growing Old. When read, ask yourself
if "Reuben and Dexter are MOTTO
great degree, Sin it,
I'M GROWING OLD.
MY days pass pleasantly away;
My nights are blest with sweetest seepi
| feel no symptoms of decay;
have no cause to mourn nor weep;
My foes are impotent and shy,
Ny friends are neither false nor cold,
And yet Of late, often sigh
Pm growing old
NV growing talk of olden times,
My growing thirst for early news
My growing apathy to rhymes,
My growing love Of easy shoes,
My growing hate of crowds and noise,
My growing fear of taking cold
All whisper, in the plainest voice,
I'm growing old
m growing fonder of my staff;
I'm growing DINNER in the eyes.
I'm growing fainter in my laugh;
I'm growing deeper in my signs;
Pm growing careless of my dress.
I'm growing frugal OF my gold
I'm growing wise I'm growing,-yes,-
I'm growing old!
see it in my changing taste;
see il in my changing hair:
see it in my growing waist;
| see it in my growing heir;
A thousand signs proclaim the truth,
As plain as truth was ever told,
That, even in my Wanted youth.
I'm growing old
All me! my very laures breathe
The tale in my reluctant ears
And every boon the Hours bequeath
But makes me debtor to the Years.
Fen Flattery's honeyed words declare
The secret she would fain with hold,
And tells me in "How young you arei'
I'm growing old!
Thanks for the years!-whose rapid flight
Ny sombre Muse too sadly sings;
Thanks for the CLEANS of golden light
That tint the darkness of their wings;
The light that beams from out the sky,
Those heavenly mansions to- unfold
Where all are blest, and none may sigh,
Pm growing old"
s. ID. 4.