Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-12-14
FORMER PASTOR
WRITES RHYME
DIR. BADGER WRITES POEM
ON EIGHTY YEARS
OF LIFE

he fGf. LIZ. AflTeu .. bduS6T, Oh
Waukesha, who at one time occupied
the pulpit of the First Presbyterian
church of this city, recently cele-
brated his eightieth birthday. The
Waukesha Freeman prints a most in
teresting poem, written by DR.. Badger.
Several members of the local Presby-
terrain congregation read the rhyme
and we appreciate the fact that it
was called to our attention.
Following is DR.. Badgers poem as
printed in The Freeman:
Twas eighty years ago today
That | was born on earth;
And ST / live to celebrate
The day that gave me birth.
Twas Mendon town where I was born,
The county of Monroe;
The state, New York, the Empire State"
Where began to grow,
To mans estate of powers complete
Full ready for life's work;
With body, soul and spirit trained
For service in the Kirk.
The county seat was Rochester
On River Genesee;
The country round was noted far
For its prosperity.
The golden wheat fields pleased the eye
Twas beautiful to see,
A country blest with happiness;
people great and free.
Our modes of life have changed since then
The world is not the same;
There're only love and suns bright rays
That answer to their name.
Some eighteen million people lived
In the United States
When l was born into the world;
But now within our gates
Six times as many millions live
Where then the forests grew,
And happy are these homes of men,
And beautiful the view. =
The tallow candles then were used,
And run in molds of tin,
Ger which / see grandmother bend
And pour hot tallow in.
With a machine the farmer milks
His cows at morn and night,
Oh! what would 'Old Black Nance have
At such fearful sight
She kicked me headlong out the barn
AT sight of only pail
And Milking-stool in hand to use,
The thought, it turns me palel
When I was young learned to drive
The oxen at the plow;
A gang of plows the farmers use,
Drawn by tractor, now.
I swung the cradle in my youth
l .'raked and bound in pain;
Now farmers ride about their fields
While harvesting the grain.
We rode in buggies in those days,
And carriages so fair;
Now automobiles are the rule, =
While some fly through the air.
The human voice would carry then
But fifteen rods so;
While now the changes are great,
Around the world twill go.
The schools are not what then they were;
Perhaps they're better planned
Then if we but only stir,
The ferule smote the hand.
The colleges have also changed,
More courses now than then;
The students, too, It's my belief,
Act more like gentlemen.
The Sunday schools have changed indeed;
Then half hour was spent
Reciting verses had learned
Then back to church we went.
For then church services were held
But one short hour apart;
And children spent the time between
With verses learned by heart"
When l was but a child of eight,
Gods Spirit said to me,
Go preach my gospel to the world,
And I will be with thee
Since l was fourteen years of age,
I've preached the gospel plan
How God gave His beloved Son,
A Saviour unto man.
At four score years I'm preaching still,
And pointing out the way
To heaven earth, and heaven above
To all whom God obey.
God blest the pathway have trod
Abundantly through life;