The Republican journal., 1899-08-24

Were all unknown, undreamed Of, at least
were far away.
We used To borrow fire. before matches came
to town,
And build fire upon the hearth no cook :
ing stove around,
The pot was boiled upon the crane, and
cakes i'll the spider baked,
As it stood upright upon its legs, tile Goals
beneath 1t raked
A baker, too, before the fire in which the
pies We're placed
Was used by mothers in those days and the
table, too, was graced
By goodies which none need to scoru, as
many can attest.
WHO still declare with earnest zeal, the old
ways were the best.
The farmer, too with scythe on arm, atield
would daily turn,
Not dreaming once his horses strong could
cut the clover down.
Or hoe row of corn and beans. or help him
al the day,
ept to plow aud harrow. all III the good
old way
In fifty years what changes have been
wrought
What rare discoveries, what help to mortas
brought,
What prophecies fulfilled concerning the
latter DAYS.
OF sages who foretod such strange and
wOndrous ways,
The telegraph was an infant scheme fifty
years ago
And people wondered, doubted scorn ed, as
they ofteniwill, you know.
When any progress has been made from out
the beaten path
There are plenty who will disbelieve and
meet it with laugh
The message came 'What hath God
wrought" the first
But not the last, for people daily wait
around for distant news athirst.
The telegraph on land, the Alta ntic cable in
the sea
The telephone the photograph, and cleo
trcity,
With all the wonders in its train OF which
we hear to-day,
Have all been brought to right and things in
the good old way
Are all too slow for this fast age. for iftv
years have shown
Such wonders, such inventions, as never be-
fore were known.
Recall the days when we were young, those
happy days of yore,
No coal oil gave the light by which we scam
ned our pages Ger
The tallow dip did service then the children
now would stare
To see tallow candle, the sight indeed is
rare.
Deep in the caverns of the earth the coal
oil has been found,
The treasure stored in ages past for US be-
meath the ground,
We have the horSeleSS carriage now, the
bicycle as well,
And of the farming implements / hardly
need to tell.
But III mention here the reaper that cuts
and binds the grain,
And losses off the bundles upon the fertile
plain.
There is many another wondrous thing of
which there was no thought
Or if there was in those old days, they sure
could not be bought.
But do you sigh for the good old days. as
some are wont to do,
Deploring every forward step and scorning
all things new?
So do not I, each forward step hail with
And earnestly and truly pray, God ever
speed the right.
And now, my friends, my tale is told in a
rambling broken way,
And to our host and hostess, these closing
words I'll say,
We came to-day within your pleasant home,
We wish your joy and may each year return
The comforts, pleasures you enjoy to-day,
And may each added blessing come and
with you stay,
Your friends and kindred hear the well
come sound
And bring them tributes as they gather
around.
The mystic links of friendships golden chain
Are here employed, we forge them DER again,
We bring unto this shrine our constant love,
We claim for you the blessings from above.
May you be spared the lonliness of age when
one shall walk alone
None to assuage the sad, the lonely hours, as
onward still they speed,
But may your days be filled with many
worthy deeds,
And your children call you blessed, as the
Scripture promise reads,
And you be happy still in word in truth, in
deeds. M. A. P. S.
Aug 6, 1899
For Over Fifty Years.
N Ou d