Daily State Sentinel

O, how sweet life's transient morning
Happy are Its golden hours:
Everything as brightly shining
As the dew-drop gilded flowers,

Childhood's heart! how light and joyous,
Pleased with all the eye beholds;
Ever gentle and contented
With the scenes each day unfolds.

Happy while there is a sunbeam
Dancing in its dazzling light;
While there is a sparkling dew-drop
Glittering on the flowrets bright.

While there floats a balmy zephyr
In its gentle stillness by:
While there waves a single leaflet
It can charm the willing eye.

While in reach a toy lingers.
Entertained it asks no more;
Busily the childish fingers
Note its treasures e'er and o'er.

Thus, in Innocence and beauty.
Pass those first endearing days!
Undisturbed by thoughts of future,
Flit out childhood's joyous days

After years of joy and sorrow.
Drifted down life's changing stream
We are anchored in that harbor
Where we dreamt life's coming dream.

There the heart in second childhood
Feebly thrills with hope and life,
Dreaming of that Home of Promise,
Far beyond this world of strife.

Sunny hair, once smooth and shining.
Hangs in locks of snowy white:
Eyes now dim, that once were beaming.
Full of hope and joyous light

And the voice, once sweet and thrilling.
Too, is faint and trembling now:
Tired, weak, and stiffened fingers
Press the wrinkled care-worn brow

Foot-steps now are slow and weary.
That were once so gay and light;
Hopes have flown and all is weary.
Where they beamed so high and bright.

Thus is life in its calm evening.
Ere we yield the fluttering breath.
Ere we, in that shadowed valley,
Sink into the sleep of death.

Brown Homestead, Ind.