Ballads and poems

Introduction

MR. YATES has endeared himself to hundreds of aged people, as well as to those who love and cherish the old, by his "Ballads For The Old Folks" which have appeared from time to time, fragmentarily, in the public prints. Rarely do poems so faithfully represent the moods and meditations of the aged as these of Mr. Yates have done. The soulfulness of his poems have moved many a heart, and moistened many an eye; their incisiveness has impaled many an error and left it quivering and dying. He has by the exercise of his poetic gift brought comfort to the sorrowing and rebuke to the impious. He has put into the mouths of the aged touching regrets for the wanton obliteration of old landmarks by the progressive, rushing, civilization of these modern times; and yet, not one of his characters is caught repining; they rather acquiesce cheerfully in the improvements of the day. One aged man goes to church — the model church — where everything is changed. A tear steals down his cheek as a swift rush of memories recall the past with its plain meeting house and simple services, but the old man forgets all this Avhen the polite usher attentively shows him to one of the best pews where he sits joyfully, as the old tunes are sung and the Gospel is preached in its purity, as in the days of his youth. Mr. Yates' poems have had a wide circulation. Like beautiful autumn-tinted leaves, they have been wafted by the

VI INTRODUCTION.

gales of popular favor hither and thither, and I, for one, am glad that they are gathered up at last, and substantially bound together in this garland. The author still resides in Batavia, N. Y., Avhere he was born :N'ovember 21st, 1837.