

l?^ 



m 



<w, 



-iii^ 



^^JT was just a plain old farm house, 

 II But tlie dear old place I knew 

 II SeeuLs a palace now, for distance 

 Lends enchantment to the view, 

 And toaiight, through rosy gla-sses. 

 Once again the scene I .see, 

 Of those careless days of boyhood. 

 Ah! so dear, so dear to^ me. 

 I can hear the low. soft murmur 

 Of the gentle summer breeze. 

 Just outside my attic window, 

 'Mid the branches of the trees. 

 And, In fancy I imagine. 

 Once again beneath the shade 

 Of those trees. I am playing. 

 As in bygone days I played. 

 I can hear the reapers -singing 

 At the cradle far away 

 In the wheat-tield, and the laughter 

 of us children at our play. 

 By the odor of the^se lilacs. 

 In the vase beside me here. 

 The old place Is silhouetted 

 Right before me. strong and clear; 

 And this sprig of honeysuckle. 

 With its old-time, sweet perfume. 

 Brings a hundred scenes and faces 

 Close beside me in the room. 

 Dreams. The noi.ses of the city 

 Faintly fall upon my ear. 

 And the sound dispels the vision 

 Of the old farm-life so dear. 

 Ah! the old farm. It was humble, 

 But each blade of gi-ass poswsessed of 

 Charms for mp that helped to make it 

 Of all spots on earth the best. 



— Grand Rapids Herald. 



