THE OLD COUNTRY CHURCH

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=215 BGCOLOR="#999999" TEXT="#080000" background="0440eb82ermwup.jpg"> <bR> <div> "IN THE GARDEN"</div> <div>  <embed src="HTMLobj-502/In_the_garden.mid" autostart="false" width="145" height="70">  </div> <div> sound control</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="food for thought 3 homepage"><B>BACK TO HOME 3</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="guestbook.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GUESTBOOK"><B>VISIT GUESTBOOK</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="memories.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MEMORIES"><B>BACK TO MEMORIES</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="memories.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MEMORIES"><B>SELECTION PAGE</B></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=95 style=" border-bottom: 1px solid #000000;" BGCOLOR="#999999" TEXT="#080000" background="043b85f1ermwup.jpg"> <div> <B>FOOD FOR THOUGHT MEMORIES</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=385 width="100%" colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#660000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <I>THE OLD COUNTRY CHURCH</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I>THE OLD COUNTRY CHURCH</I></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="435" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 2150 WIDTH="431"><bR> <div> On a recent stay last Sunday at a place called "Maple Hill,"</div> <div> I looked around and sadly found a church I yearn for still.</div> <div> I came to see what used to be the dearest spot on earth,</div> <div> where Mom and Dad  brought  me along  to enjoy all it's worth.</div> <div> Now, it's mostly leaning, but all it's meaning comes back in memories joy,</div> <div> I found myself in thoughts daydreaming of then when just a boy!</div> <bR> <div> There lay the steeple where all the people</div> <div> once loved those chime bells ringing,</div> <div> for they would come each Sunday sequel, and join in hymnbook singing.</div> <div> That little church, to see it hurts, is now an old landmark;</div> <div> out back I found in lonely search the graveyard, old and stark!</div> <div> And through this church grows one white birch, a measure of time long gone.</div> <div> Among those limbs birds come to perch when summer days are done.</div> <bR> <div> The church was bright when painted white, has withered old and gray.</div> <div> Through wear and tear the roof shows light from skies of night and day.</div> <div> The old walls stand in crooked spans, and amid the rubble there;</div> <div> are wild oak vines seen all around that climbs through everywhere.</div> <div> And as I see  that spot I'm fond, my memories go inside,</div> <div> where all would meet in solid bond, to pray, to cry,  and abide.</div> <bR> <div> And people there were kind and fair and hugged upon their greeting.</div> <div> They washed each others feet with care at each third Sunday's meeting.</div> <div> And when we went to church and spent, almost an entire day;</div> <div> five preacher to the pulpit went - gave sermons their own way.</div> <div> They all spoke long 'bout the Bible strong and some folks rose in shame,</div> <div> confessing sins and all their wrongs to answer in God's name!</div> <bR> <div> There came a time a heart did shine, and one man heard his call,</div> <div> when ask to come and with God bind, he commenced to cry and bawl!</div> <div> He left his seat still trembling yet, and stumbled to the pulpit stand,</div> <div> and with the preacher's hug they met - took a burden from this man.</div> <div> I was told he came in cold and knew no Bible verse,</div> <div> but after "born again" - behold! Preached hell from the devil's curse.</div> <div> And many a' day he preached away and not once did he look:</div> <div> where the Bible lay on the shelf at bay, but his words came from that book.</div> <bR> <div> Now I defy any normal guy to explain that mystery; </div> <div> how that man could preach on high without prior knowledge be.</div> <div> And I recall my Mother's shawl, a Christmas gift from me,</div> <div> and I could see tear drops fall when she tenderly smiled at me.</div> <div> And I remember Dad so limber when called upon in leading - </div> <div> the congregation and each member in song and Bible reading.</div> <bR> <div> And they sang out in glorious shout, they hugged, they sighed and cried.</div> <div> We loved this church with hearts so stout, fulfillment was supplied.</div> <div> this church was small but pleased us all, it's memory will stay forever -</div> <div> in minds of those who can recall, of God's once great endeavor.</div> <bR> <div> William E. Hardison</div> <div> (Copyrights recorded)</div> <bR> <div>   <div align="center"> <div style="padding:0px; border:1px solid #999999; width:235px; margin: 0px;background-color:#F2F4FA;"> <form action="http://pub2.bravenet.com/elist/add.php" method="post" style="margin:0px;"> <div style="background-color:#DBE0F5;padding:3px;font:12px arial;color:black;"><b>Join the Mailing List</b></div> <div style="margin:10px; font: 11px arial; color: black; text-align:right;"> <div style="margin-bottom:5px;">Enter your name and email address below:</div> Name: <input type="text" name="ename" size="25" maxlength="60" /><br> Email: <input type="text" name="emailaddress" size="25" maxlength="100" /><br> <input type="radio" name="action" value="join" checked style="border: 0px;"/>Subscribe  <input type="radio" name="action" value="leave" style="border: 0px;" />Unsubscribe  <input type="hidden" name="usernum" style="border: 0px solid black; height: 0px; width: 0px;" value="126720699" /><input type="hidden" name="cpv" style="border: 0px solid black; height: 0px; width: 0px;" value="1" /> <input type="submit" name="submit" value="GO" /></div> <div align="center" style="margin-bottom:5px;"><a title="Free Mailing Lists from Bravenet.com" href="http://www.bravenet.com"><img src="http://assets.bravenet.com/cp/bn-elist.gif" alt="Free Mailing Lists from Bravenet.com" border="0"></a></div></form> </div></div>   </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mom_and_dad.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MOM AND DAD"><B>NEXT </B></A><A HREF="mom_and_dad.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MOM AND DAD"><B> POEM</B></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>