The Song Sung On The Occasion

THE SONG SUNG ON THE OCCASION

The following song was sun by N. W. Cheever and Mrs. Dot Hill, of Detroit, at the 60th anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Roswell Waterman, Feb. 22, 1902:

THE DOWN-HILL OF LIFE.

In the down-hill of life, when I find I'm declining,

May my fate no less fortunate be,

Than a snug elbow chair can afford for reclining.

And a cot that o'erlooks the wide sea;

With an ambling pad-pony to pace o'er lawn,

While I carol away idle sorrow,

And blythe as the lark that each day hails the dawn,

Look forward with hope for tomorrow.

With a porch at my door both for shelter and shade too,

As the sunshine or rain may prevail;

With a small spot of ground for the use of the spade too,

And a barn for the use of the flail;

A cow for my dairy, a dog for my game,

And a purse when a friend wants to to borrow,

I'll envy no nabob his riches or fame,

Or what honors may wait him tomorrow.

From the bleak northern blast may my cot be completely

Secured by a neighboring hill;

And at night may repose steal upon me more sweetly,

By the sound of the murmuring rill;

And while peace and plenty I find at my board,

With a heart free from sickness and sorrow,

With my friends I will share what today may afford,

And let them spread the table tomorrow.

And when I at last must throw off this frail cov'ring,

Which I've worn for threescore years and ten,

On the brink of the grave I'll not seek to keep hov'ring,

Nor my thread wish to spin o'er again;

And my face in the glass I'll serenely survey.

And with smiles count each wrinkle and furrow,

As this old worn out stuff, which is thread-bare today,

May become everlasting tomorrow.