Press enter after choosing selection

Going West To Die

Going West To Die image
Parent Issue
Day
17
Month
December
Year
1880
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Wt'll, herc we are, my dcar old wife, on board Ihe train at last ! Our little all packcd in a trunk with lock and strap made fist. I hear the bell a riqgïn' and the whistle's piercin' cry ; Thcrc, wife we'rc inovin' out of town ; wc'rc goin' west to die ! Wc've been from Jane's to John's house, from John's house back to Jne, Till, dow, thcy'w lald their burdens down on board the western train ; Til rallicr hanl to send us ofl, all cripplcd up mul To find a place In which lo ilie Iwo thousftnd miles awa Siiicc we broke np a keeptn' house, thty've carted us a round, Till, now, it secins, a home for us on earth connot bc tound ; As sure a this old lace of mine can ne'er look ywag again, Sn ure we'll never more return to tronMe John :ind Jane. They send us to a stranger land, ü'er an untraveled road, That Marv, in her western home, inay bear the heaw load. It is'nt to be wondered at that my eves are tilled with tears, C)r that my form is bending down with more than weiht ol" years. I didn't think 'twould come to this - I didn't mean it should - No home is like your own home, though made oi" logs of woocf. No bread is sweet whrn eatin' it mid bitterneas and strife ; Pew cares to fill with pcace and love an old man's closing life. Now, o'er a long, untraveled road, we seek a stranger land- The old home circles broktn up at cruel Time's rom mand; But they cannot destroy onr love, 'tis stronger now than when Our heads wore not the silver locks of thro score ycars and ten. Since we broke up a keeping1 house weVe led a w retened lifie; mr put the blamc upon lier man, and John ujon hi wile. They think not of their infancy- of all those tender yeart, When night and day we toiled for them and wiped their AowtBg Uars. We lettre behind dB all the scènes of early years. dear An.l all the friends with whom wc've won the victories of lifc. We leave behind the little church, where olt wt'e knelt in praver, But, iood wife, we will never leftve the God that met us there. Although these eyes are growin' dim, I stíll can sec to read The precious truth In God's own Word, that children all should heed : "Honor thy father,'' taith the I-ord -"thy mouier honor, too, Then shalt thou live long In the land that God bas givcn you." Our latest days will dawn ere long -our journey's end is nigh- VVe're going west to Mary's home, we're going west , to die : Then He who sees the sparrow fait, wlio connts the ocean sands, É Will take us to our better house- the house not made with hands.

Article

Subjects
Poetry
Ann Arbor Courier
Old News