Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...

I20 ANNALS OF OUR ANCESTORS
But sweeter is the feast than wealth
Or luxury can afford,
When plenty dwells within the home,
And love sits at the board.
And when the home-made feast was done.
And all good-bys said o'er.
Perhaps a good stout horse was led
Up to the cabin door;
Perhaps the young wife clambered up
And sat behind her beau
Now tell us, father bridegroom, was
The wedding journey so?
And slowly did she take her way
(Now that she had her Will)
Along the narrow bridle path
So shady and so still?
Perhaps beneath the trees sometimes
They rested by the way
"Ten minutes for refreshments"—brides
Still do so to this day.
Perhaps they passed through Wilmington—
Perhaps they stayed a while
Then on to Cincinnati rode
For many a weary mile.
In that far day, I've heard folks say,
Pigs roamed the city street;
Perhaps they scattered right and left
Before the horse's feet.
The little house, at first their home.
Stood lonely in the wood;
Now sun and stars look through the roof
That gave them shelter good.
If there sometimes the bride was sad
And missed her sister's chat,
The babies soon began to come
And put an end to that.
******
All this was years and years ago:
Still stand they side by side.
Again we meet the groom to greet,
Again we bless the bride.