The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-10-14

has for US.
AS with drowning man, so Is the
past telescoped before me In a min
ute, and the stages Of the pleasures and
gladness of our former years Of delight
full associations are all flooding NY mind
At one moment.
It seems but yesterday, that we were
all, together, in school rs happy
scholars, as pupil and teacher. or at our
many delightful social gatherings,
where the weavely wheat grew, or the
happy miller lived, or the roses were
red, or the desert dark to cross. &c,
though since all these things were, 3
quarter Of . century has passed into the
endless ages Of time. 1t seems but one
short day or two since we began to
drop. one by one. from each others i'm
mediate associations to prepare for and
take up the ardent and stern duties Of
our life work, and those duties that at
tend the change from single to mar
ried life. We, my friends, the youths
sturdy young manhood and womanhood
Of yesterday, are the aged and infirm
man and woman Of today.
Sweet memory. waited by the gentle gale.
OFT up the stream of time ! turn my sail.
To view the haunts Of. long lost, happy hours,
Blest with far greener shades. far sweeter
nowers-
Friends, the felicity Of life is TO be
free from perturbation, TO understand
our duties toward God and man to en-.
Joy the present without any anxious de-
pendence upon the future. Not tc
amuse ourselves with either hope OF
fear, but TO rest satisfied with what We
have for, ~ . rule, it is abundantly
sufficient for being so we want nothing
and thus are contented and happy. We
carry the great fountain, the well-sprinl
of Joy within our own souls, and within
our reach are the blessings Of mankind
but friends. We so often shut our eyes
and, like the traveller in the dark, fal
lover the things We seek, finding then
not
True Joy 10 . serene and sober emo
tion, and they are miserably out wit
take laughing for rejoicing. The sea
of real joy Is within. He that can lool
death In the face and bid IL welcome
lopen bis door to penury and want an
gladly hail Its entrance, bride his ~
petite and rejoice In sorrow, this Is tn
man whom providence has establishes
In the possession Of inviolable delights
The pleasures Of the vulgar are ur
ounded, thin, superficial, but those G
the refined sacred and eternal.
So friends, with these few thought
before you, again bid you welcome
this our first grand picnic. A heart
WELCOME to this our great grand tests
dsy. A gracious welcome to this firs
grand reunion Let us make It one c
, those joyous days, one of those happ
occasions, which will live In ou
memory and taste sweet TO US while th
soul lives.
Again bid you welcome. but friend
, schoolmates.
We are changed, we are changed. and 5,
r not here.
q All whom saw in the vanished years.
n There were graceful heads with their ringle
bright.
. Which tossed In the breeze with a play {
b light
Q There were eyes. In whose glistening. lsugl
al ter lay
: In faint remembrance of dull decay.
: There were steps that few o'er the cowsli
As n. for a banquet. all earth were spread.
|, There were voices that rang through q
Q sapphire sky
n And had not q sound of mortality.
, Are they gone? Is their mirth from the gres
hills past?
Q Have We looked on death since we met las
Il Brothers, sisters, all, l bid you we