Newspaper History presents media sourced from a United States newspaper dating back 108 years.

  • Sweet Sixteen

    From The Birmingham Age-Herald, May 7, 1913.
     By Samuel Minturn Peck.
     
    
     Tho’ starlight through the lattice vine
         Fell slanting on her brow
     The roses white, with dew a-shine
         Swayed on the wind-rocked bough
     And waved a perfume quaint and fine
         Like incense round her mouth
     Where dwelt mid curve and hue divine
         The glamor of the South.
             Just sixteen years of joys and fears—
                 Just sixteen years hath she
                     But her eyes are blue
                     And her heart is true
                 And she’s all the world to me.
     
     The rose tree hid the stars from me
         But I could watch her eyes;
     They shone like stars upon the sea
         Soft mirrored from the skies.
     Her little hands upon her knee
         In folded stillness lay
     And in the dusk gloamed winsomely
         Like lily buds astray.
             Just sixteen years of joys and fears—
                 Just sixteen years hath she
                     But her faith is sure
                     And her soul is pure
                 And she’s all the world to me.
     
     A silence fell. It seemed a spell
         Had fallen on my Sweet.
     I saw her quivering bosom swell
         I heard my heart a-beat.
     I spoke!—but what? I cannot tell
         I hardly know the rest;
     But as the timid tear-drops fell
         I clasped her to my breast.
             Just sixteen years of smiles and tears—
                 Just sixteen years hath she
                     But the wedding chimes
                     Will ring betimes
                 For my little bride to be.