IN MEMORIAM^ O. M. LORD. 3 



To me the outward look is cold, 

 I miss the sunshine of the days of old, 

 The magic hand I fain would hold 

 Of her whose happy smile was more than gold — 

 When we were young. 



Beneath the orchard bloom we strayed, 

 And garlands with flowers and leaves we made, 

 And revelled in the fragrant shade, 

 Unmindful of the time and part we played — 

 When we were young. 



Tier home is in the better land ; 

 Mine still lingers here by a single strand 

 Of silver cord, the loving band 

 That kindly, fondly bound us hand in hand — 

 When we were young. 



The orchard trees now brown and sere. 

 Rejoiced in golden fruitage many a year, 

 Are emblems of our lives while here ; 

 Poliage and bloom and fruitage follow near — 

 While we grow old. 



The bells, the mirth, the songs, remain 

 In memory with a sad and deep refrain 

 Of youthful joy and mingled pain, 

 With buried hopes I would not wake again — 

 For I'm alone. 



But brighter hopes now lead the way ; 

 The end I cannot see, but humbly pray 

 For strength and light while here I stay, 

 And faith to share her home in endless day — 

 No more alone. 



On May i, 1852, father, in company with two other men 

 (both died many years ago) landed on Wabasha prairie (now Wi- 

 nona) at about 10 o'clock P. M. Unable to get lodging, for the 

 little cabin where they applied was filled to overflowing, the three 

 men returned to the bank of the Mississippi River and passed the 

 night on the sand, sleeping soundly wrapped in their blankets. 

 At daylight, (Sunday) after breakfast, they started for Rolling- 

 stone, their destination. These three men were the first of the 

 settlers to visit the country back of the bluffs of the Mississippi, 

 w^here father finally located and which became his home for more 

 than fifty years, though not continuously. In July, 1852, he 

 brought from Michigan my mother and two brothers, Gerry and 

 John, now dead ; also bringing with them their household goods, 

 a span of horses (driving part of the way), a cow and farming 



