The Southern Herald

THE OLD-FASHIONED HAIR.

The shade toned air of the ancient long
Is the kind I shall always love best.
And tho faces it framed with its beautiful grace
Of the dear ones long since gone to rest.
There were tresses and ringlets and long braided locks,
There were beautiful bonnie bright curls,
And high combs and side combs, and fair shining coils,
That were worn by the old-fashioned girls.

I remember the roach that my grandfather wore
Brushed back from his broad honest brow,
With an elegant, easy simplicity, which,
Though I look for, I never see now.
And my grandmother's hair—snowy white, hid away
'Neath a head-dress of dainty white lace,
Curving down from her brow in a smooth silver band,
Framed a queenly and beautiful face.

As the proud, noble face of my great uncle George
Looks down from the canvas at me,
With the "old-timey stock," and the fine powdered wig—
'Tis as handsome and grand as can be!
But the dearest and loveliest hair in the world
Is my mother's soft, beautiful brown,
With a touch of the gold, and a glint of the sun,
And away to her knees falling down.

And it tells its own story of womanly grace,
And the old-fashioned modesty, too,
Or that sweet indescribable beauty of soul,
And the mother's love, tender and true.
For the angel that painted the rainbow could find
Not a tint so exquisite and rare!
Oh the wealth of luxurious, rippling waves
Of my mother's brown, beautiful hair!

So I honor the hair of the sweet long ago
Whether silver, or dusky, or fair,
For it brings back dear faces, and good honest hearts—
And I love it—the old-fashioned hair!

—Margaret A. Oldham, in Dress.