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35

MEMORIES.

Shall we sing, or shall we weep
As life's memories we keep?
For so varied is the store
That we ponder o'er and o'er,
And who can results appraise
Of events of bygone days?
Days when life seemed perfect sunshine,
Not a cloud that we could tell,
Days when life seeemed utter darkness
That no morn could e'er dispel.
Sunny summer bliss has been
Smitten by an anguish keen;
Dreary days of doubt and dread
Have brought bright surprise instead;
Swift have followed smiles and tears
All along the circling years.

Memories! memories! how they gather
 Around everything we know,
 Keeping fresh the long ago,
 Lengthening out our joy, our woe,
 Whether we desire or no—
 Are we fain to have it so,
 Or would we such thought forego,
Choosing blank oblivion rather?

Never, never can we smother
Memories of father, mother,
Memories of sister, brother,
Memories of many another;
Memories of vanished faces,
Memories of altered places,
Memories of sin and sadness,
Memories of good and gladness,
Memories of sweet successes,
Memories of dire distresses,