The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-10-15
REV. GEO. W. HARLAN

Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Editor The Cash-Book:
| am enclosing, with the request
that you re-publish beautiful little
poem written as tribute to that ven-
cradle and remarkable minister and
teacher, the Rev. George w. Harlan,
on the anniversary hfis ninety-sev-
enth birthday.
The poem appeared in the Christian
Observer Of date September 22nd, and
as you will notice, was addressed to
Mr.. Harlan at Pennington, Mo-, but
as Mr.. Harlan labored at what is
known as Fruitland in this county, as
teacher and minister in 1860-61, /
thought it was we'll worth asking you
to reproduce it in the Cash Book as
there are still few living who knew
Mr.. Harlan as our teacher and owe
him much gratitude and love for his
noble and exemplary Christian life.
| Amongst the "boys" who attended
his school in 1860 and who are now
living and whose names recall, just
at this moment, are ]. w. McCombs,
Eli Alternately, Oliver Alexander, e.
s. Templeton and Alexander McNeely
of Fruitland; ]. F. Oliver of Neely's
Landing; r. w. McNeely of Rum
Branch; Geo. w. Whitelaw of Berk-
ley, California, ex-Congressman R. II.
Whitelaw, and the writer, of this city.
There may be and doubtless are 9TH
ers whose names have escaped me for
the moment but the great body Of
students of old pleasant Hill Acadia
my" of 1860, have answered the roll
call of still greater Teacher.
The life of this good man has not
been without it's reward. He has
created spiritual and intellectual in
fiuence for good in this parto four
state that no one can calculate or de-
termine. His life has been bene-
diction to hundreds of our people and
his name and virtues have been low
ingly perpetuated in many homes in
this county by naming children after
him.
Ninety-seven and still active in the
work of the Good Shepherd He was
recently elected as Stated Clerk of the
Potosi Presbytery. We believe that
no other religious body in the United
States has so old and able Clerk to
write its history and preserve its rec
ords. Here is the poem;
For the Christian Observer.
Beyond the Four Score Years and Ten
| (By Anna Frances Lee Smith,
Beyond the fourscore years and ten
| l watch the shadow softly fall;
| Family my dull ears catch the call
That rises from the haunts of men.
see the little ones at play,
With dancing steps and flying hair;
Sweet laughter fills the summer air
My children's children, young and gay.
My thoughts turn back to long ago,
/ To days of youth, and manhood's
prime,
The joys and griefs, the love sublime
That filled my heart to overflow.
Oh, the long years I've lived! How far
Adown the rail of time my feet
|, Have sped to where the passes meet
Beneath life's fading evening star!
Early l heard the Masters voice
That babe me take His cross and
bear
With Him the sorrow and the care
Of this sad world. And / rejoice.
That through the fourscore years His
love :
Hath burned household fire, whose
light,
With never-wavering fame, all
bright,
Still sheds its radiance from above.
With the dear helpmate sent from God
I've dwelt serene with thankful
heart,
Yet when misfortune's deadly dart
Hath pierced my soul, I've blessed the
| rod
Of. Christening. And now, pray
For a clear vision to the end
God of my fathers, Master, Friend,
Be with me through life's closing day!
Written for Rev. George w. Har-
Ian, Pennington, Mo-, on the occasion
'iill Your Bio