To Our Parents

WRITTEN BY REQUEST, FOR A GOLDEN WEDDING     Full fifty years together -         Father and mother dear -     Through pleasant summer weather,         Or wintry tempests drear, -     Thro' sunshine and thro' shadow,         Oft travel sore and tried,     Yet strong to aid each other,         You've journeyed side by side     A few brief years of climbing, -         One glad, exultant glance     At the sun bright world around you,         At the smiling heaven's expanse, -     And then, the slow descending         Into the vale below,     Where the light with shade is blending,         And the deamy waters flow     Full fifty years of travel -         Then, on your worn staves rest,     And welcome home your children,         And many an honored guest, -     We come to give you greeting, -         We come to bring you cheer, -     To hail with glad rejoicing         This fiftieth wedded year!     We know your hearts are asking         For one who is not here -     Whose voice was sweetest music,         Whose smile was very dear,     But the blessed Heaven that holds him         Is very near to you,     And the warm love that enfolds him,         Enfolds his parents too.     Then let the tears we're shedding         Have naught of grief's alloy; -     And let this GOLDEN WEDDING         Be one of tranquil joy.     God bless our honored father         God bless our mother dear!     And a thousand, thousand welcomes         To this fiftieth wedded year.