Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-07-13
MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD.

To the bridge across the stream,
On whose bosom, oft In dream
We had floated gently on
Through the night to early dawn.
On whose bank the mill. wheel lies,
While around 1t tall weeds rise,
But the old mill 1t has gone
And the place now looks forlorn.
Then we backward hauled our sled
Till we reached the farm house shed,
Where we stalled our silent steed
Much admired for Its speed.
To steed of different sort
Our attention then was brought,
And we gazed with fearful eyes
On the wood piles lofty size,
On the saw.h0rse. bruised and old,
Unprotected from the cold.
But we got ourselves In gear,
And the saw did deity steer
Through the beech wood, hard and dry,
While the hours went slowly by.
Thus It was not always play
For the children Of our day.
Many a task we had to do
All of which we clearly knew
Must be done with proper care,
And, in truth, twas very rare
When day was set aside
That we might enjoy a ride
Through the woods where branches met,
And the birds In sweet content
Built their nests and reared their young,
While their songs they sweetiy sung
To the fields where flocks and herds
Showed contentment like the birds,
Feeding near some little rill
While the cool breeze swept the hill.
Lying In some shady spot
When the air was dry and hot;
Or by lake and gurgling brook
Sweeping by with many crook.
ON whose surface, dressed in white,
The lily opened to the morning light,
But when the day was nearly done
1t closed Its petals one by one.
Thus we Travelled through the day,
Entranced with nature all the way,
And we hold in memory dear,
Thoughts of childhood, made more clear,
Since we've really come TO see
What our pleasures used To be
plaaenres whIch onr achoo, davs brouvht
And will nevar he Sorgot
WI,,' ou mU s. .nns oloai ane '"iii'
~. . Udt utn n,, Uu v ,h,nnh Oh. sno
WIZ ums tao ~ sSI IL .,In,v "e" viz '"'"
Tsm III ne Jul reacSea the sseSmo, bouse door
Than wa rnaH, omr fnn waa Gar.
Eor NE hoo rd tho mo star,a cali
AZ he stond w;,b,n the bs,i
Al 20 ioa rmaS ,ho. 20 nhav
Waa Tie omir nromar waw
To escape the chastening rod.
Which yraa aomattmao lon and broad
~ Was ,he awIys ne ~. a. ma s.and
Vn sne seaone liz, o1 e, , VI e'"""'
Anu ~ vi, uo' e.to oS y. ~ piay ov
u Wnen we aieu W , ha' s,, Uu' way
M Lan..ns app th oh ' thn s .gy,,ou,. .,o
nen We thouHht tnS seacnei eJe
failed 70 see OUT chiiulsn Prsnks
AS we stooa WITHIN tne ranns.
But we soon were maue aware
Ihat MS eye was Sveeywheio'
FOR dow upon the pase
Maze US sN up goon anu straight'
ana 70 think Q. sun ano.ner
when we pore the news 70 mother'
Yet we certain were OF two.
While those days we on recall,
still the happlest times or all
Were spent along some winding stream
where siivery waters orignt 9io geam'
OFT we sought some quiet nook
Close oeslae oappnng oro9k,
For tremor Of the pole,
Stretched across some Deep dark hole;
While the painful sting OF files
As they pierced our ears and eyes,
Kept US busy through the day
Driving pesky files away.
Thus we waited oft till night
For the trout that didn't bite.
Then homewsrd from our lengthy stay
Where the old road showed the way.
we buried on with head saI DoTea LOW low
Thst the hue s 1 tsout for which We soupb
Still swan The stream. unframed, uncaugh
r.. ,o-o ,,... ,,u, o., e.,.
And : sadness % $50 Ger ;eI us steals
That the time is drawing nigh.
ZEN we a., %u s h sag e dear
NAV we do II with no tear