--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Pearson, Sarah E. H. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 14 number: 2 published: 1910-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Pearson, Sarah E. H., “When Life Was Young,” *Improvement Era* 14, no. 2 (December 1910): 147–149." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1402unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1402unse start_page: 147 end_page: 149 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1910-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1402unse publication_year: 1910 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1910, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # When Life Was Young When Life Was Young. Dedicated to Justus W. Seeley II., on his Sixtieth Birthday. BY SARAH E. H. PEARSON. [The Coat of Arms published herewith is the crest of the Hawley family, of which the author is a member, and appears, I believe, for the first time in print, in Utah, to arouse interest among the members rf said family in the genealogical history, both in the little book, House of Hawley, as well as the records, containing over seven thousand names, now in the hands of the Utah Genealogical Society. Jacob C. Hawley, of Oasis, Utah, recent missionary in Michigan, has, I believe, been largely instrumental in placing the records and gathering new data.— S. E. H. P.] When life was young, its kingship all before you, Its untried paths with bloom and beauty hung, Those were the days when as a child I knew you And Annie — sweet companion you had won. Watched with a child's un jealous admiration The wildrose bloom upon her glowing cheek, As your fond eyes taught Love's initiation. And hers replied with lustre mild and meek. The years are long since then, Time's pathway leading Through dewy morn, with its lush grass and flowers, On to the mountain top, the hour glass reading The flush of noon through intertwining hours, The pathway rugged oft, and steep for climbing, Oft wind-swept, snow- bedecked, or burning sand. 148 IMPROVEMENT ERA. To you — subduers of the wilds of nature — Grim civilizers of that cliff-bound land — Homes, trees by running streams, and orchards ripening, Erstwhile refresh your footsore, toiling band. Just twice I saw you 'midst those early struggles, And Rogers asked me, with a sneer, your plight, Laughed scornfully at prophesied successes; Fore-claimed for you the certain losing fight. "I know the place," he said. "Such desolation! I rode that country through the Indian raids. Coyotes and rattlers! End of earth's creation! The world's debris thrown next the Gate of Hades!" As leaders' foretime saw their homes in vision, The furrows, plants and trees before they grew, So later seers saw other fields elysian Spring, through their toil and faith, to actual view. — Well I recall that first, rude, one-roomed cabin, A visit from a young, unhappy wife, The bread of kindness loving hands extended, Mute sympathy that was the wine of life. Well I recall the letter on the mantle, My shiver as the postmark stared at me; It was from home! Could there be aught the matter? My wishing eyes would pierce the seal to see. I turned a startled gaze to Annie, seeing Eyes brooding mystic message to be read; But quivering lips vouchsafed no explanation — How could she tell me that my love was dead! The letter was her own. I put it from me, Thrust forth the memory of it from my mind; I would not let intruding thoughts crowd on me. To pale-faced Fear I cried, "Get thee behind! Life hath too much of gaunt, despairing sorrow — Presaged, the lifelong path of agony! Papa, we'll laugh the ghosts away — to-morrow." (Oh, in thy neck to hide my tears today!) I'll feel my father's rapturous arms — to-morrow Bask in his loving, understanding smile, WHEN LIFE WAS YOUNG. 149 And know I could not from the angels borrow More happiness than shall be mine — the while. I'll tell him of my wanderings, and double The dreams wherein I stumbled through the dark; When mother's shade was guide through stress and trouble, And always led me t'ward a shining mark. Then, in my dream, I saw them both, at even, Walk hand in hand, and marveled as I smiled; My sweet young mother, lo, for years in heaven, And father, darling, here with me the while. No, that part of my dream is out of reason ! (What matter tidings that the letter gave!) So, trusting, I returned home— just in season, To cry my heart out on my father's grave. These are the flashlights thrown upon the canvas From memory — pictures of the long ago, The blue and gold of youth, and hope, and gladness, Grey days of toil, of sober thought, of woe. These are the ties that bind us to each other, That hold the present handclasp warm and true ; Insures the valid title, sister and brother; Growth of the soul insures, by balm and rue. Our hill of life is now in its declining, Care's silver frosts our hair: we're growing old; And warp and woof of life, of God's designing, Shows sorrow's filling midst its cloth of gold. You in the limelight — I along the shadow- Both striving, where God placed us, true to be. I know thy worth, thy friendship's loving service, Thy tenderness, and thine integrity. Long may'st thou live, to gather life's best blessings, And long enjoy the vigor of thy youth. Long may thy hand dispense thy meed of plenty, Thy influence be cast for God and Truth. Mellow and golden be thine age, surrounded By peace and kindred,^far from world's alarms; And, like a sheaf of ripened wheat, be garnered, Celestial fruitage to thy Master's arms. OgdkN, Utah.