Golden Wedding

How high and far away appears,
In young love’s golden prime,
The misty height of fifty years
Dim in the deeps of time.

How low, when on its crest they stand
Gray lovers, true and tried,
Still dwelling in their Eden land
With many a love beside.

We hail you on that emerald steep,
Serene in ripening years;
Amid the harvest sheaves ye reap
In mingled smiles and tears.

Still golden in the light that beams
Upon the westward slopes,
Down which ye move in chastened gleams
Of fadeless loves and hopes.

The Bridal Angel comes more near
With love’s immortal crown,
And richer boons as year by year,
To time’s abyss drops down.

Long may the sunset gold abide
To light your lingering feet,
Still moving heavenwards side by side,
Where once more may we meet.

Title: Golden Wedding
Creator: George Shepard Burleigh
Bibliographic Citation: Poems by George and Ruth Burleigh, edited by Mary Louise Brown, 1941, held by Little Compton Historical Society, Box A47.24
Date: 1889
Subject: Marriage; Occasional Poem; Love; Human Destiny
note: This poem was published as part of a story about the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Oliver and Ann Brownell, reproduced below from a transcription by Lizzie Carr.; "The fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of Hon. Oliver C. Brownell and Ann Brownell was celebrated at their residence on New Year’s evening. It was very numerously attended by relatives and friends, and many came from other towns to manifest their high regard for the worthy couple. Among the guests were Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Ballou of Providence, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Brownell, Mr. and Mrs. Eben Brownell, A. J. Davis and wife, the latter a daughter of the host and hostess, Mr. Henry Chase and the son and daughter of Mr. Charles Kirby, Mr. Daniel Cornell and wife of Fall River, Mr. and Mrs. James B. Hamlin of New Bedford, Capt. Forbes Manchester and wife or Westport, and Rev. George F. Walker of Hampden, Mass. The municipal authorities were represented by the Town Clerk and all the members of the Town Council. Several ex-members who had set in Council with Mr. Brownell in former years were also present. Many congratulatory letters were received from friends unable to be present. Mr. Brownell has been a reader of the Providence Journal for 50 years, generally renewing his subscription on the anniversary of his marriage, which pleasant duty was not omitte don his fiftieth. He has served his town as a member of the Town Council for 20 years, a large part of the time being President of the same. He has also represented his town in the General Assembly for 25 years. Mrs. Brownell was born on the spot where they have always lived, and in that same room she was born, married and strange to say all her children were born. During the evening “Auld Lang Syne” was sung with hearty emphasis, remarks were made and a prayer offered by Rev. George F. Walker. The following hymn written for the occasion by George S. Burleigh was also sung."; The article mentions that the celebration was held on New Year's Eve. The Brownell's marriage happened on January 1, 1840, which would make January 1, 1890 their 50th, so the party (and hence the reading of the poem) date from December 31, 1889; Find-a-Grave for Oliver Brownell (1819-1898); Find-a-Grave for Ann Bailey Brownell (1821-1903)

Item sets: Burleigh Resources ALL; George Shepard Burleigh Poems

Media: Golden Wedding