"Fond Recollections of Bygone Days"

           1.  Long years have passed old friend, 
               Since we first met in life's young days, 
               And friends long loved by you and me, 
               Since then have passed away. 
 
           2.  But enough remains to cheer us on, 
               And help when thus we've met 
               To think and talk of the many gone 
               And the few who are left us yet 
 
           3.  Our locks old friend now thinly grow 
               And some hang white and chill 
               While some like flowers amid autumn's snow 
               Retains youth's color still. 

           4.  And so in our hearts though one by one 
               youth's sunny hopes have set; 
               Thank Heaven, not all their light is gone; 
               We've some to cheer us yet 
 
           5.  Then here's to Thee, old friend and long: 
               May Thou and I thus meet 
               To brighten still with harp and song 
               This short life ere it fleet 
 
           6.  And still as death comes stealing on 
               Lets never old friend forget 
               Even while we sigh over blessings gone, 
               How many are left us yet! 

                    Birthday, October 8, 1929 [H.G. Arnett] 

(78, 79)      [untitled poem, 1930, age 82]

         I am enjoying the happy reflections 
         consequent on a well spent life 
         with the hope of a glorious immortality 
 
         I have always been physically and 
         mentally healthy, only having one long 
         spell of "malarial" fever over 38 years 
         ago and lay prostrated 80 days, but retained 
         my full mind all the while. 
 
         A brief sketch of my habits in life-- 
         I was an early riser and late to bed 
         A hearty eater and a constant reader of  
         books, magazines and daily newspapers 
     
         I was a big meat eater and liked strong 
         coffee and rich milk also all kinds of  
         fruits and greens in season.  I never 
         used any medicine of any kind except  
         when I had that protracted spell of fever 
 
         I never used Tobacco in any form, nor 
         drugs or dope in any shape or preparation 
         but have been a constant user of ardent 
         spirits all my life, since I can remember 
 
         But I used Whiskey and Brandy in a  
         moderate way and believe every family 
         should if able keep a sufficient stock  
         of pure Whiskey and Brandy on hands 
         all the time as a "Family Medicine" as 
         I think it is ahead of all other remedies 
         for all diseases of the whole human race 
         if properly and scientifically used 
 
        I was raised up nearly a double  
         orphan boy my father having died 
         Sept 1st, 1854 being 74 years and  
         over ago and my mother died on the 
         30th day of the same month, 1873, being 
         now over 55 years ago. 

         I have been very industrious and have 
         worked in moderation seeing that all the 
         corners were kept up=  My hearing at 
         the age of 6 years being impaired and my 
         feet in an abnormal shape from my  
         birth much handicapped my progress in this life= 
 
         I have borne all my afflictions and 
         troubles with great fortitude incidentally 
         including my frozen feet about 36 years 
         ago caused by drifting saw-logs in the 
         winter season, causing bunions to form 
         on the bottoms of my feet --in my older 
         days nearly rendering me a complete 
         cripple which I have endured very patiently 
 
         Often times the pains in my feet were so  
         excruciating it seemed almost to be  
         unbearable but I bore it all even then 
         without complaint or a murmur= 
 
         My feet are not giving me the pain 
         they did a few years ago but my worst 
         trouble is getting around on the farm 
         and other places any more 
         My general health is far better than it 
         was one year ago and my feet are both  
         nearly healed up and I eat hearty enough= 
 


(80)            "Friends, Work Landed"   [1930, age 82]
 

        I have had my ups and downs 
        good luck and bad luck 
        losses and gains and when I come 
        to sum it all up, I think I have on 
        the whole what I deserve 
 
        It is all a matter as to what, during  
        the later years, the waves will cast  
        upon the sands of time 
 
        If it gives you friends notwithstanding 
        your years;  If it gives you health; If 
        it gives you work sufficient to keep your 
        mental and physical activities alive, then 
        life is worth the living 

(43)                      "My Old Friend"    
 
           1.  Long years have passed old friend 
               since we first met in life's young day 
 
           2.  And friends long loved by you and me  
               Have since passed away 
 
           3.  But enough remains to cheer us on 
               When thus we're met 
  
           4.  To think and talk of the many gone 
                And the few who are left us yet 
 
           5.  Our locks old friend now thinly grow 
                And some hang white and chill 
  
           6.  And some like flowers amid Autumn's snow 
                Retains youth's color still 
 
           7.  Although in our hearts youth's sunny hopes have set 
                Thank Heaven, their light is not all gone 
 
           8.  We've some to cheer us yet 
               And here's to Thee, old Friend 
 
           9.  And long may Thou and I Thus meet 
                To brighten still with harp and song 
 
          10.  This short life ere it feet 
 
          11.  But still as death comes stealing on 
                 Let's old friend not forget 
 
          12.  While we sigh over blessings gone, 
                 How many are left us yet                             

	       H.G. Arnett,  April 1st, 1931 [age 82]