I'M GROWING OLD.

Southland Times, Issue 1551, 15 March 1872, Page 3

I'M GROWING OLD.

[JOHN G. BASE.] My days pass pleasantly away, My .nights are blessed with sweetest sleep, I feel no symptom of docay, I have no cause to mourn or weep ; My foes are' impotent and shy, My friends are neither false nor cold ; And yet, of late, I often sigh — I'm growing old ! My growing talk of olden times, My growing thirst for early news, My growing apathy to rhymes, My growing love of ea«y shoes, My growing hate of crowds aud noise, My growing fear of catching cold, All tell me, in the plainest voice — I'm growing old ! I'm growing fonder of my staff, I'm growing dimmer in the eyes, I'm growing fainter in my laugh, I'm growing deeper in my sighs, I'm growing careless of my dress, I'm growing frugal of my gold, I'm growing wise, I'm growing — yes — I'm growing old ! I feel it in my changing taste, I see it in my changing hair, I see it in my growing waist, I see it in my growing heir ; A thousand hints proclaim the truth, As plain as truth was ever told, That even in my vaunted youth 4 I'm growing old ! Ah me ! my very laurels breathe The tale in mj reluctant ears ; And every boon the hours bequeath . But makes me debtor to the years ; E'en Flattery's honeyed words declare The secret she would fain withhold, And tell me in " How young you are ! " I'm growing old ! Thanks for the year whose rapid flight My sombre muse too gladly sings ; Thanks for the gleams of golden light That tint the darkness of their wings ; The light that beams from out the sky, ' - Those heavenly mansions to uafoliiy* Where all are blest, and none may sigh : " I'm growing old ! " 1