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SELECTIONS 
 
 FROM 
 
 Poetical Writings 
 
 OF 
 
 / 
 
 MASON :^RAYMAN 
 
 Feom 1830 TO 1888. 
 
 /SS'^ 
 
 lb 
 
 <J " Time hath laid his hand 
 
 Upon my heart gently, not smiting It, 
 But as u harper lays his open palm 
 Upon his harp, to deaden its vibrations." 
 
 Longfellow. 
 
 CHICAGO : 
 
 S- C. GRIGGS & CO. 
 
 1888. 
 
r 
 
 
 COPYBIGHT BY 
 
 MASON BRAYMAN, 
 
 1888. 
 
TO THE 
 
 MEMORY OF MARY BRAYMAN, 
 
 THE 
 
 FAITHFUL WIFE AND LOVING MOTHER, 
 
 TO WHOSE 
 
 MODEST CHRISTIAN LIFE, 
 
 CULTIVATED MINrf^. GENTLE MANNERS, 
 
 SYMPATHY FOr'VhE SUFFERING, 
 
 AND 
 
 LIFE OF SWEET CHARITIES, 
 
 THIS VOLUME IS 
 
 GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED. 
 
^^ 
 
A FEW Copies of this little book are printed for 
 gifts to family and friends who may consider a 
 SEVENTY-FIFTH BIRTHDAY worthy of special recog- 
 nition. 
 
 The selections given are but incidents in a busy 
 life ; inspired, as may be seen, by domestic affec- 
 tion, valued friendships, and passing experiences ; 
 each colored by the emotions or circumstances 
 which produced it. Often, in such cases, more is 
 buried in the heart of the writer than reaches the 
 perception of the reader. 
 
 Into a labor of love, such as this, ambition of 
 authorship does not intrude. It is, simply, the 
 wish of the writer to leave somewhat of himself ; 
 that he, and they into whose keeping it may come 
 may have pleasant thoughts — he, for a little while, 
 of that which may be ; they, by-and-by, of that 
 which has been. To each, the loving assurance is 
 
 given — '•'• Mon coeur est isi!'^ 
 
 M. B. 
 
 May 23, 1888. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 May-Day Song, .---_- i 
 
 A Day in Switzerland, ----- 3 
 
 Twilight Hour, ------ 6 
 
 Parting, - - - - - - - 8 
 
 Smiling Providence, - _ - _ - io 
 
 Compensations, ------ 13 
 
 To My Absent Wife, - - - - - 14- 
 
 National Anthem, - - - - - 16 
 
 What is Life? ------ 18 
 
 A Fair Lady's Lament, _ - . - 19 
 
 New Year's Address, - - - - - 21 
 
 My Gold Pen, ------ 25 
 
 To THE Sun — Invocation, ----- 26 
 
 The Flag, ------ 29 
 
 A Lost Idea, ------ 30 
 
 Golden Wedding, - - _ - . 32 
 
 Faithfulness, ------ 34 
 
 Class Song, ------ 35 
 
 To Willie, - - - - - - - 37 
 
 Envy. -..-... 39 
 
 Decoration Days, ------ 40 
 
 Constancy — The Fairy, - _ . - 42 
 
contents. 
 
 Wife and Children at Gray Rock, - - - 49 
 
 Beaming Stars, - - - - - - 5i 
 
 Sweet Sixteen, - - - - - - 52 
 
 Restoration, ------ 54 
 
 For an Album, ------ 56 
 
 Flight of a Mocking Bird, - - - - 57 
 
 Song, -------- 60 
 
 The Orphan's Offering, . - - . 62 
 
 Dedication Hymn, ------ 65 
 
 My Little Mary, _ _ - . - 67 
 
 Our Sister in Heaven, ----- 68 
 
 To Wife at Home, ----- 70 
 
 Salutation, - - - - - "7i 
 
 Voyager's Hymn, _ . - - - 73 
 
 Another Birthday, ------ 74 
 
 Ever Returning, ----- 75 
 
 My Nellie and I, - - - - - - 77 
 
 Transition, ------ 80 
 
For Remembrance. 
 
 SONG. 
 
 FOR MAY-DAY. 
 
 The Spring-time, advancing, 
 
 Unfoldeth its flowers, 
 And sunlight is glancing 
 
 Through Flora's green bowers : 
 Thus life is unfolding 
 Its pages of light — 
 Our glad eyes beholding 
 Its images bright. 
 
 All nature is waking 
 
 From Winter's cold sleep, 
 And morning is breaking 
 O'er valley and steep : 
 
 Thus, harps that in sadness 
 Have slumbered too long, 
 Shall tremble with gladness. 
 And join in my song. 
 
SONG. 
 
 The bee, from her dwelling, 
 
 Revisits the plain, 
 And forests are swelling 
 With music again : 
 
 Then, rise from your slumbery, 
 
 Sweet sisters, and sing 
 In music's glad numbers 
 A welcome to Spring. 
 
 Louisville, Ky., May 23, 1841. 
 
A DAY IN SWITZERLAND. 
 
 'Tis the breaking of morn, 'tis the laughter of earth, 
 Her smile so bewitching, so dimpled with mirth ! 
 The mountain mists slowly recede from our sight, 
 Revealing Pilatus, all rosy with light ; 
 While over the hill-top, on meadow and stream 
 The sunlight is dancing in arrowy beams ; 
 And valley, and village, and forest, and lake, 
 Aurora's warm kisses from slumber awake. 
 
 Like a prayer, O Lucerne ! which innocence 
 
 breathes. 
 Thine incense is lifted in manifold wreaths. 
 While the murmur of waters that break on thy 
 
 shore. 
 Repeat, in sad cadence, the stories of yore. 
 
 At the foot of yon cliff stands the chapel of Tell, 
 Where his passionate prayer on the atmosphere fell, 
 When Switzerland's flag was for freedom unfurled, 
 And her patriot story went out to the world ! 
 
 3 
 
4 A DAY IN SWITZERLAND. 
 
 'Tis sure I am dreaming : in vision I see 
 The mountaineers gathering, resolved to be free : 
 From the glacier's rude track, from the valleys be- 
 low, 
 They band them together and conquer the foe. 
 
 O'er the face of calm Zurich, a glimmering sheen 
 Floats up her wild slopes like a mantle of green. 
 While the golden-leafed forest in sympathy glows, 
 And shadow and light in soft touches repose, 
 Till, joining their hands at the wane of the sun. 
 The heavens and earth appear mingled in one. 
 
 O, God 1 when I look on these wonders of thine 
 Where the light of thy love seemeth ever to shine. 
 Eternity's dawn seems to flash on mine eye 
 Adown the bright pathway that reaches the sky ; 
 And a future, all radiant with glory, I see 
 Through the gateway of gold that is open to me ! 
 
 Oh ! Switzerland's heart is the heart of the earth, 
 Where fancy, and feeling, and worship have birth — 
 Where the vision is boundless, the spirit as free 
 As a bird in the air, or a ship on the sea. 
 
A DAY IN SWITZERLAND. 5 
 
 I love her dark mountains of terrible form — 
 To drink of her ether — to rock in her storm : — 
 I love her warm valleys and murmuring streams, 
 Where the shepherd-girl carelessl}^ wanders and 
 
 dreams : — 
 I love her wild music — her legend and sons: — 
 Her love for the right — her abhorrence of wrong — 
 Her patlis, which the sandals of freemen have trod — 
 Her altars, which send up their incense to God ! 
 
 'Tis night! and the shadows are gathering now, 
 On placid Lucerne, and on Rhigi's dark brow : — 
 The eagle is seeking her nest in the rock: — 
 The shepherd how gently he foldeth his flock ; 
 And parents and children surround the bright 
 
 hearth ; 
 A picture of Heaven that is lent to the earth. 
 Till no longer on glacier or glimmering stream 
 The sentinel star shoots his silvery beam. 
 And the hand of Omnipotence seemeth to fall 
 Like a veil of deep silence to rest upon all ! 
 
 Washington, May 16, 1869. 
 
TWILIGHT HOUR. 
 
 O, twilight hour ! oh, twilight hour, 
 Thy golden moments gently fly, 
 
 With music on their waving wings 
 Like doves along the placid sky. 
 
 O, twilight hour ! my heart would tell 
 Its silent memories all to thee, 
 
 And from the mirrored past reveal 
 The unwritten page of life to me. 
 
 O, twilight hour! thy soothing tone 
 Is falling soft and whispering low, 
 
 And changeful breezes gently sway 
 My wearied senses to and fro. 
 
 O, twilight hour ! thy shadows fall 
 In mantling slumbers down. 
 
 And sleep's dim visions rest on all 
 Like fallen leaves on autumn ground. 
 
 6 
 
TWILIGHT HOUR. 
 
 O, twilight hour! thy waning ray 
 Reminds me of my life's decline, 
 
 When I shall fade from eaith away, 
 And rest, and silence shall be mine. 
 
 Oh! twilight hour, and night will cease, 
 And smiling morn will kiss the skies, 
 
 And Heaven's own light of love and peace 
 On me, on me, again shall rise ! 
 
 Springfield, Ills., Nov. 7, 1858. 
 
PARTING. 
 
 Oh, breathe not at parting 
 
 One sigh of regret, 
 But know that most kindly 
 
 I'll think of thee yet. 
 
 Like dews of the morning, 
 Pure, pearly and bright, 
 
 That flash on the sense 
 Like a mirrored delight, 
 
 Is the first bond of friendship 
 By sympathy twined — 
 
 By accents of kindness 
 And union of mind. 
 
 Like the rose of the summer 
 When blasted and dying, 
 
 Its fragrance is sweetest 
 Though desolate lying. 
 
 8 
 
PARTING. 
 
 So affection survives 
 
 Through adversity's blast, 
 
 And the heart's first emotions 
 Are true to the last. 
 
 Then grieve not at parting, 
 Nor absence regret ; 
 
 Remember, I never — 
 No ! never, forget. 
 
 Buffalo, N. Y., Sept. G. 1835 
 
SMILING PROVIDENCE. 
 
 Time may be lost 
 
 In eternity's glow, 
 And the mountain be crossed 
 
 To the valley below : — 
 Beauty may fade, 
 
 Friendship grow cold, 
 And life pass away 
 
 As a tale that is told : 
 But love that is kindled 
 
 In truth and in purity, 
 Remaineth unshaken 
 
 Through life's darkest day. 
 
 In the blush of the morning. 
 
 In odor of flowers, 
 In maiden's' fresh bloom. 
 
 In twilight's still hours ; 
 Along the last journey 
 
 The pilgrim doth tread* 
 
 lO 
 
SMILING PROVIDENCE. 11 
 
 And when o'er the River 
 
 His spirit hath fled : 
 Every wli ere — alway — 
 At midnight — at noon-day — 
 In each — over all, 
 Like a curtain doth fall, 
 The shadow and sign 
 Of a spirit divine. 
 
 'Tis the spirit of love 
 
 That shines from above — - 
 
 God's love unto man, 
 
 And man's unto man ; 
 
 To father, and mother, 
 
 To sister, to brother, 
 
 To maiden and lover ; 
 
 To the babe that is sleeping. 
 
 To the swallows, swift sweeping 
 
 Across the blue sky ; 
 To the rock in mid-ocean, 
 Defying its toil and commotion 
 
 While navies go hurrying by. 
 
12 SMILING PROVIDENCE. 
 
 In all the earth, and its seas ; 
 Through time — through eternity, 
 God's mighty hand doth fall 
 In boundless love upon all. 
 
 Kansas City, Mo., May 23, 1887. 
 
COMPENSATIONS. 
 
 Two mountain rills did sing and glow 
 Through rocky glen to vale below ; 
 So near, so like, it seemed to me, 
 That e're they'd reach the oblivious sea 
 They'd meet, and in one channel flow. 
 
 Still, on they wander, each alone. 
 Till lost in distant ocean's foam ; 
 
 But, wrought in mist by sunlight blaze, 
 They meet amidst the rainbow's rays — 
 They meet, they mingle, and are one ! 
 
 And it may be that unseen bands 
 Do keep and guide true hearts and hands ; 
 And when this clouded life is o'er. 
 The loved will meet to part no more, 
 On shining shore, in spirit lands ! 
 
 RiPON, Wis., October 8, 1883. 
 
 13 
 
TO MY ABSENT WIFE. 
 
 Afar from thee, beloved one, 
 
 With anxious cares oppressed, 
 I mark each day's declining sun 
 
 That parts thee from my breast : — 
 For when the twilight hour has come. 
 
 My fondest thoughts unfettered flee. 
 Back to my own, my much loved home- 
 
 My LITTLE ONE, and thee! 
 
 My days of childhood and of youth, 
 
 Like troubled visions seem, 
 And all proclaim the solemn truth. 
 
 That " Life is but a dream " : — 
 But yet, through every dark'ning cloud, 
 
 The light of Heaven hath shone. 
 And answering to my prayer, bestowed 
 
 My WLFE, and little one ! 
 
 The treasures of my heart are bound 
 Within that silken tie, 
 
 14 
 
TO MY iiBSENT WIFE. 15 
 
 Which all my youthful liopes hath crowned 
 With faithful love and constant joy : — 
 
 And 'mid the changing scenes of life 
 Should fortune frown and pleasures flee, 
 
 A source of joy is left, my wife — 
 My LITTLE ONE, and thee ! 
 
 With watchful care, I see thee now 
 
 Still bending o'er our child, 
 Thy tears are on her infant brow, 
 
 And yet, she sweetly smiles. 
 Her Father's voice is lingering near 
 
 To mingle with thine own, 
 To greet with love and kindly cheer. 
 
 His wife and little one. 
 
 Columbus, C, 1840. 
 
NATIONAL ANTHEM. 
 
 Sung July 4, 1S37, ou the Field of the Massacre at the River 
 
 Raisiu. 
 
 Hark ! the rising anthem stealing 
 O'er the hind, from sea to sea ; 
 Louder still, its notes are pealing — 
 Hark I the cry — a world is free ; 
 Let the chorus, let the chorus 
 Join in Freedom's jubilee. 
 
 When our fathers tried the ocean — 
 Dared the terror of its waves ; 
 
 When, in battle's dread commotion, 
 Thousands sank to hallowed graves ; 
 
 Then thev bade us, there thev bade us, 
 Freemen die, but ne'er live, slaves. 
 
 Oft with savage hosts contending. 
 
 See 3'oiir noblest sons expire, 
 
 Altai's, rights and homes defending 
 
 From the SDoiler's dreaded ire ; 
 
 i6 
 
NATIONAL ANTHEM. 17 
 
 See your dwellings, see your dwellings 
 Girt by foemen, wrapt in fire ! 
 
 Crowned with gifts of God's bestowing, 
 Hail, Columbia, great and free ! 
 
 Land, with peace and plenty flowing. 
 All thy children joyous be ; 
 
 Let the stranger, let the stranger, 
 Find a pilgrim's home in thee. 
 
 Bid the trumpet, swelling loudly. 
 Peal the old and grand refrain ; 
 
 Let the banner tremble proudly 
 O'er the dust of heroes slain. 
 
 Sleeping, resting, resting, sleeping 
 On the Raisin's crimsoned plain. 
 
 Freemen, take the boon — preserve it. 
 
 Bend to none but God the knee ; 
 Wear this badge — yet more — deserve it, 
 '' Worthy sons of Liberty," 
 
 Shouting welcome, shouting welcome. 
 To the Nation's jubilee. 
 Monroe, Mich., July 4, 1837. 
 
WHAT IS LIFE ? 
 
 Say, what is life ? A broken stream — 
 The shadow of a joyless dream — 
 A rugged path, by sin defiled ; 
 The curse of Nature's erring child. 
 
 Say, what is life ? A fleeting year, 
 Whose childish memories still are dear 
 When sickness casts in withering spell 
 Around the long and sad farewell. 
 
 Then, what is life, or mental light ? 
 Though cheered by visions fair and bright ; 
 Ah, soon the earth to earth returns — 
 The lamp of hope no longer burns. 
 
 But, far beyond its feeble ray. 
 The vision wakes to endless day. 
 And borne above earth's fleeting things, 
 To Heaven its adoration brings. 
 Buffalo, N. Y., May 23, 1833. 
 
 i8 
 
A FAIR LADY'S LAMENT 
 
 On the early demise of a remarkable Horned Toad, a present 
 from her admirer in New Mexico. She taught this intelligent 
 bird many polite accomplishments, and nursed it with great ten- 
 derness ; but it pined away ; its feathers fell out, and it died, evi- 
 dentl}^ from exaggerated home-sickness. 
 
 My head with grief is bow^d down, 
 
 I'm drenched in tears from heels to crown ; 
 
 My sun of life hath hid its light, 
 
 The world to me is dreary night : 
 
 Hot tears are streaming down my cheek, 
 
 As o'er thy dust I pause to weep — 
 
 My heart is crushed beneath a lode 
 
 Of grief for thee, my horned tode ! 
 
 O, sad the hour when boyish hand 
 Did pluck thee from thy native sand : 
 A mournful scene it was to see 
 Thy last farewell to Santa Fe, 
 As swift on rattling rail you rode 
 To Northern climes, my beaucheous tode ! 
 
 19 
 
20 A FAIR lady's lament. 
 
 Methinks I see thee, even now — 
 
 Thy " great brown eyes " and " massive brow: " 
 
 Thy dulcet voice did sweetly sing 
 
 While soaring on thy dimpled wing : 
 
 No flying flocks of unicorns 
 
 Could match thy thousand matchless horns : 
 
 Quick, as the lightning from on high 
 
 I've seen thee trap the careless fly : 
 
 ! proud was I to call thee mine ; 
 Yet, must I, must I, thee resign, 
 And see my care in vain bestode. 
 My joy, my life, my precious tode ? 
 
 1 sit me down in mournful mood. 
 And o'er my sad bereavement brood — 
 The future scan with prophet's ken. 
 And think of all that "might have been." 
 Wo is me, my heart is breaking, 
 
 While the muse, from slumber waking. 
 
 Sings this sad funereal ode 
 
 To thee, my jeweled, horned tode ! 
 
 RiPON, Wis., Aug., 1885. 
 
PARTS OF NEW YEAR'S ADDRESS. 
 
 WRITTEN FOR CARRIER OF STATE REGISTER. 
 
 The year 1850 was full of exciting events, notably the rush of gold 
 
 seekers to California. 
 
 " Blessed be the man who first invented sleep : " 
 And I bless thee^ La Manclia's valorous knight, 
 For thy quaint wisdom, which doth creep 
 Like twilight visions o'er mv yielding sight, 
 When days last beam hath melted into night, 
 And ocean's waves, with smothered swell, 
 Bieak o'er the shore in giant might ; — 
 And, faintly pealing through each rocky dell, 
 Expiring echoes bid the slumbering world fare- 
 well! 
 
 The fleecy clouds are hastening slowly home. 
 
 Folding their snowy wings to rest ; 
 
 The stars that stud the azure dome 
 
 Are faintly mirrored in the ocean's breast ; 
 
 The moon, from 'neath her rocky crest, 
 
 21 
 
22 PARTS OF NEW YEAR'S ADDRESS. 
 
 Looks coldly down upon a slumbering world, 
 Like the gray eagle from her Alpine nest, 
 When wrathful storms are round her eyrie curled, 
 With lightning in their folds, like freedom's banner 
 furled. 
 
 And this is retrospection's hallowed hour, 
 When all the hoarded memories of the past, 
 Come stealing o'er the soul, like gentle showers. 
 From vapory clouds, which scarce the sky o'er- 
 
 cast ; 
 This the hour, when, hurrying fast. 
 The unfledged year is borne along, 
 Yet pausing, till the trumpet blast 
 Of TIME, shall swell the funeral song 
 Of THIS OLD YEAR, we've lovcd so well and long ! 
 
 ******* 
 
 Now, no more on dark Atlantic's strand, 
 They shrink from savage foes, a feeble band ; 
 No longer doomed, b}^ fierce and rude alarms. 
 To sow and reap amidst the clash of arms ; 
 But surging on, a formidable tide, 
 Up Alleghany's steep and rugged side — 
 
PARTS OF ISIEW YEAR's ADDRESS. 23 
 
 They mount o'er snowy cliffs and onward go, 
 And fill up all the fertile plains below. 
 
 Soon Mississippi's turgid wave 
 Their swift advancing footsteps lave ; 
 And westward still, with undisputed sway, 
 The STAR OF EMPIRE takes its shining way. 
 
 O'er trackless plains, their columns sweep. 
 And traverse forests, dark and deep ; 
 Where bright Nebraska's sparkling flood 
 Peals her wild hymn to solitude ; 
 And spreading out on either hand 
 Their swarming ranks invade the land ; 
 Far north, where swathed in virgin snow. 
 The fur-clad wanderers fearless go, 
 And south, where seething Rio Grande 
 Flows to the sea o'er burning sand. 
 
 Yet on — still on ! through forests drear. 
 Where mountain heights through mists appear, 
 Like rocky billows reared on high, 
 Whose cloud-capped summits seek the sky. 
 
24 PARTS OF NEW YEAR's ADDRESS. 
 
 The mountain scaled — the desert passed, 
 The long sought goal is reached at last ; 
 And poising on her wings of light 
 The star of empire stays her flight. 
 
 Like Bethlehem's glorious guiding star, 
 Which led the shepherds from afar, 
 She hovers o'er the western verge, 
 Where continent contends with surge — 
 Where golden sands and glittering mines 
 Reflect each ray that on them shines : — 
 Where, echoing from her deepest cell. 
 Pacific's voice, with ceaseless swell. 
 Breaking with loud anthems on the shore 
 Keeps time with hoarse Atlantic's roar- 
 Their wall of waves encircling round. 
 This broad Republic, '' ocean bound ! " 
 
 Tt» * Tt» * ^ 
 
 Springfield, III., Jan. 1, 1851. 
 
MY GOLD PEN 
 
 Lost its diamond point after twenty years faithful service ; then 
 
 was cast aside for five years. The lost diamond has been 
 
 replaced by another. Let's see how it works in its 
 
 old age. 
 
 Oh, bless the time, the hallowed time. 
 When life was clad with golden hue. 
 
 And every line fell into rhyme, 
 When this old Pen was new. 
 
 Through long, long years, of smiles and tears 
 Have friends been kind and lovers true ; 
 
 Clinging so near, no doubt, no fear, 
 Since this old Pen was new. 
 
 Like summer flowers, in autumn hours. 
 My locks of brown have faded too : — 
 
 My gift of song hath slumbered long. 
 Since this old Pen was new. 
 
 Oh friend, again, the lost refrain 
 
 Now swells with faithful prayer for you. 
 
 That skies be bright, as shown their light 
 
 When this old Pen was new. 
 RiPON, Wis., Sept. 22, 1885. 
 
 25 
 
TO THE SUN:— INVOCATION. 
 
 I. MORNING. 
 
 Hail I Light of the East, 
 
 Be thy glory increased. 
 
 As thou rendest the skies 
 
 In the pride of thy rise, 
 
 Awake thou the sleeper, 
 
 And comfort the weeper. 
 
 In the pride of thy might, 
 
 Thou conquerest the night. 
 
 When streamlets are dancing. 
 
 In spring-time advancing. 
 
 And April and May 
 
 Shall their treasures display. 
 
 Then the birds of the spring 
 
 Thy praises shall sing. 
 
 And nature, awakening to beauty again, 
 
 Shall bring thee her treasures from hill-top 
 and plain. 
 
 26 
 
TO THE SUN : — INVOCATION. 27 
 
 II. NOON. 
 
 Thou God of the day 
 
 Thy brightness display, 
 
 And gladden mine eye 
 
 With thy rays from on high. 
 
 To the soul of mv sis^ht 
 
 Speaks thy redolent light ; 
 
 So to the eye of the mind, 
 
 And the senses refined, 
 
 Thy quickening power 
 
 Hath lent to this hour 
 
 Enriching reflections, 
 
 And sweet recollections 
 
 Of years that have flown 
 
 No more to return ; 
 
 And the fathomless future ! a shadow it 
 seems — 
 
 Like the past, that is fading in fugitive 
 dreams ! 
 
 III. EVENING. 
 
 Thou Star of the West 
 Return to thy rest. 
 
28 TO THE SUN: — INVOCATION. 
 
 May no cares now encumber 
 
 Our sweet hour of slumber, 
 
 Till Aurora, bright beaming, 
 
 Breaks in on our dreaming. 
 
 Thou fleest the wind 
 
 As it murmurs behind ; 
 
 And the hours in dread silence 
 
 Are weighed in thy balance. 
 
 Through the dark day of doom. 
 
 Thy splendors shall bloom ; 
 
 And moved by the will 
 
 Of Omnipotence still. 
 
 Thy smile on each morrow immortal shall 
 
 rise, 
 Forever adorning^ the vault of the skies. 
 
 Hamburgh, "N". Y., Aug. 15, 1831. 
 
THE FLAG. 
 
 APKiL 6, 1862 : 
 
 Ofttimes to-day, the flag went down, 
 In furious fray and wild retreat, 
 
 And Shiloh's crimsoned battle-ground 
 Was trod by traitors' feet ! 
 
 APRIL 7, 1862 ; 
 
 But when the morrow's sun shone out, 
 High o'er the field it floated free ; 
 
 And, trembling to the battle shout 
 Each star flashed glorious victory ! 
 
 Little Rock, Ark., April 6-7, 1869. 
 
 29 
 
A LOST IDEA. 
 
 A shining drop of writing ink 
 
 Was trembling on my pen. 
 When I besfan to think, and think, 
 
 Of a line to make a rhyme, just then. 
 
 I thought of winter's cheerless days — 
 Of raining, hailing, snowing — 
 
 Of gentle spring, with chastened rays 
 Of mellow sunlight glowing. 
 
 I thought of the early budding flowers, 
 And of the violet's meek, blue eye 
 
 That seeks in morning's golden hours 
 Communion with the star-lit sky. 
 
 There came a linnet, wild and free, 
 
 Of mellow song and glistening feather, 
 
 And seemed to say, " Come, go with me. 
 And we will soar and sing together." 
 30 
 
A LOST IDEA. 31 
 
 At once it seemed a dreamy trance, 
 
 Did o'er my senses steal, 
 And swift as fairy's winged dance 
 
 I flew o'er flowery fields. 
 
 I quite forgot that drop of ink 
 
 Was rusting on my pen, 
 And never once did stop to think 
 
 Of a line to make a rhyme, just then. 
 
 Springfield, III., July 10, 1846. 
 
GOLDEN WEDDING. 
 
 When Life's young Spring puts forth its flowers. 
 
 And sunshine crowns the hiughing hours — 
 
 When youthful hearts in rapture meet, 
 
 And melt in one at Hymen's feet ; 
 
 Oh ! then, how blest the scene and hour, 
 
 When Love asserts its mystic power ! 
 
 When Summer comes with mantle green 
 And smiles upon the opening scene, 
 Then bursting buds and warbling strains 
 Fill gladdened Nature's bright domains. 
 And cheerful toil and childhood's song 
 Move in sweet concert all day long. 
 
 When Autumn bows with ripening sheaves, 
 And fall, like rain, the crimson leaves — 
 When fields are clad in sober gray. 
 And feasts of fruit prolong the day : — 
 How lovely, then, is life's decline. 
 When hands and hearts more closely twine ! 
 
 32 
 
GOLDEN WEDDING. 33 
 
 When Winter sweeps the barren field, 
 And Nature sinks in ice congealed — 
 When bud, and fruit, and flowery spring, 
 No more their fragrant offerings bring ; 
 Though, day by day, the feeble form 
 Bend low before the gatherijig storm, 
 Yet the true heart shall ever be 
 From sorrow's storm and tempest free ! 
 
 God bless the pair, in love grown old, 
 Who wear, to day, the Crown of G-old — 
 Bless the glad memories of youth — 
 The lover's vow — the maiden's truth — 
 The Summer and its mellow rain^ — 
 The Autumn with its yellow grain — 
 The Winter of their sweet content — 
 Their earth and sky so kindly blent. 
 Till joined in Heaven, supremely blest," 
 Their weary feet find endless rest ! 
 
 Little Rock, Ark., Jan. 1, 1873. 
 
FAITHFULNESS. 
 
 The little rill, that leaps and glows 
 
 Adown the mountain's side, 
 Through many a plain majestic flows, 
 
 A river, deep and wide. 
 
 Ever away, to the toiling ocean, 
 
 Whose waves assail the troubled shore ; 
 
 Mingled, lost, in its wild commotion. 
 River and rill are known no more. 
 
 Nay ! mists that rise from the seething tide, 
 Seek the high hills : — the gentle rain 
 
 Falls on the thirsty mountain's side, 
 And Rill and River are born a^^ain. 
 
 "o" 
 
 So love, that is born in the earl}^ time. 
 Though on the waste of waters cast — 
 
 Though carried by storms to far-off climes. 
 
 Will turn to its own sweet home at last. 
 
 Gray Kock, May 6, 1883. 
 
 34 
 
SONG. 
 
 CLASS OF 1877. 
 On graduation, Ripon College. [Class motto " Volens ei Potens."] 
 
 Our feet are on the shining shore, 
 And flowery fields before us lie ; 
 Old, beaten paths stretch out before, 
 Up to the mount that seeks the sky, 
 Where all who bow at learning's shrine 
 Are crowned with wreaths by hands divine. 
 
 The years may come, the years may go. 
 
 The flowers may droop and bloom again ; 
 Come summer's heat, come winter's snow — 
 Rise rugged hills that vex the plain ; 
 Yet willing hearts and able hands. 
 Shall win for us those classic lands. 
 
 O, sacred home ! our college halls, 
 
 Here hope shall rise and passion burn ; 
 
 35 
 
36 SONG. 
 
 Fond memory shall each scene recall ) 
 As oft our feet to thee we turn ; 
 And happy seventy-seven shall be 
 Our spirit's year of jubilee. 
 
 And when the parting hour shall come, 
 
 With clasped hands, we'll strive in pain 
 To live once more the days agone, 
 And, swelling out the old refrain, 
 
 With saddened hearts and cadence low 
 We'll sing the song of long ago ! 
 
 Gray Rock, June, 1877. 
 
TO WILLIE. 
 
 WHEN ONE YEAR OLD. 
 
 The winter waned, and spring came forth 
 
 All clad in fragrant flowers, 
 As if the joyous heavens and earth 
 
 Had joined to crown thy morning hours. 
 
 The spring-day fled, its flowers did fade 
 Ere their wild paths thy feet could tread, 
 
 And summer sun, and oaken shade 
 Alternate kissed thy beauteous head. 
 
 At twilight hour, light elfin wings 
 Did fan thine eyes to dreamy sleep. 
 
 And fairy footsteps left their trace 
 In dimples on thy rosy cheek. 
 
 The autumn came and went again, 
 The swallows left the eaves. 
 
 And zephyrs round thy cradle cast 
 The many tinted leaves. 
 
 37 
 
38 TO WILLIE. 
 
 Again as winter's frosty zone 
 
 Binds all the beauteous earth, 
 We greet the genial morning sun 
 
 That smiles upon thy birth. 
 
 On thee to-day from loving eyes, 
 
 A welcome light is shining, 
 And round thee many a kindred heart 
 
 Its tendrils close are twining." 
 
 May all thine earth's appointed years 
 From sorrow's blight and care be free, 
 
 And fervent prayers be heard alway 
 
 That heaven's own peace may dwell with thee. 
 
 Gray Rock, Jan. 31, 1874. 
 
ENVY. 
 
 Men dread the deep volcanic fire, 
 That slumbers 'neath the ground, 
 
 For oft it bursts with flaming ire 
 And spreads destruction round. 
 
 Its ruins o'er the plain below 
 
 In black confusion lie — 
 Bright summer's face is veiled in woe, 
 
 And flowers and fruits all withering, die. 
 
 'Tis thus, when passion's kenneled brood. 
 
 That lurk in jealous minds. 
 Break forth in wild, destructive mood. 
 
 Like burning desert's poisoned winds. 
 
 The heart that's doomed to feed its fire 
 Is like the shuddering victim cast 
 
 To bear the envenomed scorpion's ire — 
 To writhe — live on— yet die at last ! 
 
 Springfield, III., Nov., 1843. 
 
 39 
 
DECORATION DAYS. 
 
 O ! Comradas, come with reverent tread ; 
 
 Around our altars closely gather ; 
 The living few, the unnumbered dead 
 
 In loving bond are linked together. 
 
 Close up the ranks, so thin and broken ! 
 
 Call the roll, but pause and wait, 
 For tottering limbs give mournful token 
 
 That some tired comrade may be late :- 
 
 Late ! too late to come and greet us : — 
 That once clear eye is dull and dim ; 
 
 Mark him " Absent," but he'll meet us 
 Beneath the turf that covers him. 
 
 Faithful, through all the lingering hours, 
 The marble guards his narrow bed ; 
 
 Come ye, with laurel crowns and flowers 
 To bind upon his royal head. 
 
 40 
 
DECORATION DAYS. 41 
 
 And oft as freemen gather round 
 These altars where our martyrs fell, 
 
 Shall music's sad, awakening sound, 
 And faltering speech, the story tell. 
 
 What though our cries no echo bring 
 From their lone tombs so dark and cold ! 
 
 Like flowers shall sacred memories spring 
 From out their hallowed mould ! 
 
 Kansas City, Mo., March 4, 1888. 
 
CONSTANCY; OR THE FAIRY. 
 
 There was a time, in other days, 
 Ere sacred learning's genial rays. 
 Had cast their light on human kind 
 And warmed to life the immortal mind — 
 When Birds and Beasts and garden Flowers, 
 Could prattle sweet, with speech like ours, 
 Who loved with love, perchance as true. 
 And long to last, as mortals do. 
 A winged sprite had Fancy wrought, 
 Of airy scenes and giddy thought, — 
 A merry elf as e'er was seen. 
 In summer, o'er a village green — 
 Who loved among the flowers to flit, 
 And gaily on a sunbeam sit. 
 Her name was Fairy — Fancy's choice. 
 Of nimble wing and winning voice, 
 Who ever by the sweetest flowers. 
 Was welcomed to their sunny bowers. 
 
 42 
 
CONSTANCY; OR THE FAIRY. 43 
 
 Once on a time, as maidens say, 
 She sallied forth to spend the day ; — 
 Light as air she flew along, 
 And straining forth her little song. 
 Came where her gay and blooming friends, 
 Long since had fixed her journey's end. 
 And there arrived, in joyful mirth. 
 She vowed to try their love and worth ; 
 And ere she paused to greet the rest. 
 The blushing Rose she thus addressed : 
 " O ! Rose, if blighting storms should come, 
 When I have wandered far from home, 
 O! will you bcj (I know you will,) 
 My constant friend, and love me still ? " 
 ** And do you doubt," the Rose replied, 
 -' My love and truth, though ills betide ?" 
 A bending lily caught her view. 
 An ancient friend and lover too : 
 " O ! Lily, now, if ills I find. 
 Will vou be faithful, true and kind ?" 
 '^ And could I change? " the Lily cried, 
 With fainting blush of injured pride ; 
 
41 CONSTANCY ; OR THE FAIRY. 
 
 And pale its cheeks with sorrow grew, 
 To think its love could prove untrue. 
 The Tulip, then, she gaily sought ; 
 To win a vow was all she thouo-ht : 
 " O! Tulip fair, in moments gone. 
 Thy kind embrace I oft have known, 
 And O ! if Fortune yet should chide, 
 May I, my love, with you abide ? " 
 " O ! aye, O, aye ; in truth you may. 
 My love shall last for many a day. 
 And when the storms of life are near. 
 My heart shall bid you welcome here." 
 
 Then on she flew, with lighter wing, 
 Nor yet her ditty ceased to sing, 
 Until a friend, a faithful one, 
 Of modest mien, who grew alone, 
 Far in a quiet, lovely spot. 
 Where else than she had been forgot ; 
 The pale, blue Violet, scarcely seen. 
 Beneath its leaves so close I ween. 
 That none would think a flowret there. 
 Had not its fragrance filled the air. 
 
CONSTANCY; OK THE FAIRY. 46 
 
 The Fairy paused and ceased to sing, 
 And musing, checked her antic wing : 
 " O ! Violet blue," she whispered sweet, 
 '* I long have sought thy lov'd retreat, 
 Once more to greet thy modest worth. 
 And bid thee share my happy mirth ; 
 But as I'm bound to other scenes. 
 Where fortune's blights may intervene, 
 *' O ! may I yet, where'er I be, 
 Hope for a faithful friend in thee ? " 
 The flowret, bent by dews of Heaven, 
 Recalling scenes by memory given : 
 " O ! Fairy sweet, ye've known me long. 
 Since early spring has swept along ; 
 'Twas then, ere other flowers were known, 
 I stemmed the chilling blast alone ; 
 To shield thy form, my leaves I threw, 
 And proved a constant friend to you. 
 But now, since genial summer's come. 
 You've quite forgot your early home. 
 But let it pass, and try my truth. 
 If evil fortunes blight thy youth." 
 
46 constancy; or tee fairy. 
 
 O ! then how light the Fairy's wing, 
 She scarcely dreamed of fortune's sting, 
 But on a sunbeam flew away. 
 To sport the smiling summer's day. 
 
 But Ah ! the blighting storm was nigh, 
 And clouds swift Q^atherino: hid the sky. 
 Now rude the drenching torrents pour, 
 The Fairy's fancied bliss is o'er. 
 And soon by sad experience taught, 
 That every good with ill is fraught. 
 She vowed to turn, nor wander more. 
 From those dear friends she loved before. 
 With struggling wing, she toiled anew. 
 Came where her friends in safety grew; 
 But each disowned the suppliant elf, 
 And only wished to save itself. 
 The Tulip, Rose and Lily too. 
 Their leaves around tliem closer drew. 
 Nor friend nor shelter could she find. 
 But seemed to certain woe consigned ; 
 When viewing from its lowly home. 
 The hapless wanderer sorrowing come. 
 
CONSTANCY; OK THE FAIRY. 47 
 
 The Violet still with heart sincere, 
 Pitying, dropped a dewy tear, 
 Unclasped its leaves and on its breast. 
 Soothed the weary sprite to rest. 
 
 And now had ceased the raging storm. 
 And nature took her wonted form; 
 The Fairy too, with life renewed. 
 Told her heartfelt gratitude; 
 Viewed the present and the past; 
 How friends desert at fortune's blast, 
 That all in life she e'er had known, 
 Had proved untrue but one alone. 
 
 The Violet said, " In world like this, 
 We vainly hope for endless bliss ; 
 We pause at every summer flower, 
 And pass an idle, guileless hour : 
 We fondly dream, with giddy mind, 
 Of faithful friends we've left behind ; 
 But when the transient, flitting day. 
 On wings of time has flown away, 
 We seek for those we'd nigh forgot. 
 And kindred claim — they know us not. 
 
48 CONSTANCY ; OR THE FAIRY. 
 
 And may thy bosom deeply feel 
 This lesson which thy woes reveal : 
 That earthly friends are seldom found, 
 Who friends will prove, when fortunes frown 
 That one kind heart, if true indeed, 
 Is still enough for every need : 
 In future then, be this thy aim 
 'Tis all thy erring heart can claim." 
 
 Buffalo, K Y., June 21, 1834. 
 
TO WIFE AND CHILDREN AT GRAY ROCK. 
 
 What though we dwell apart to-day 
 
 And snow-clad mountains rise between ? — 
 
 What though wild wastes obscure the way, 
 And voiceless stillness crowns the scene ? 
 
 What though to catch the loving speech, 
 
 In vain my feeble senses try ? 
 What though my sheltering arm would reach. 
 
 To draw my blessed and loved ones nigh ? 
 
 O ! ever loving, faithful wife — 
 
 Thou more than friend ; my patient guide ; 
 My heart yields half its love of life. 
 
 When thou art absent from my side. 
 
 My children absent ; yet how near 
 
 Your ministering hands and words do seem ! 
 
 And time and distance disappear 
 Like visions of a passing dream. 
 
 4 49 
 
60 TO WIFE AND CHILDREN AT GRAY ROCK. 
 
 For you, for me, no burning tears 
 Shall dim the glance of loving eye ; 
 
 No sorrow now, though hurrying years. 
 Through web and woof like shuttles fly. 
 
 Away, my spirit ! sweep away, 
 
 O'er mountain peak and trackless plain. 
 
 Nor fold thy wings, till closing day 
 Shall smile thy welcome home again. 
 
 Boise City, Idaho, Jan. 1, 1879. 
 
BEAMING STARS, 
 
 "As I look at the quiet stars, beaming so beautifully to-night, 
 like so many eyes of the Deity, I wonder if they are not eyes ? 
 We could then account for His Omniscience." 
 
 Oh ! in the calm and sacred hour 
 
 When all my thoughts to God are given, 
 
 I turn ray tearful, kindling eyes 
 In gratitude to Heaven. 
 
 I there behold the gems of night, 
 
 A glorious, bright and beauteous throng, 
 
 Crowning creation's brow with light. 
 And hymning their eternal song. 
 
 Their gentle smile, their smile of love. 
 
 Bright beaming from on high 
 
 Pour on my heart a holy flame 
 Like God's Omniscient eye. 
 
 It must be so — the starry host 
 
 That nightly shine o'er land and sea. 
 
 Are but the sleepless sentinels — 
 
 The Omniscient eyes of Deity ! 
 
 Springfield, Ills., Oct. 4, 1850. 
 
 51 
 
SWEET SIXTEEN. 
 
 For daughter Ada on her Birthday. 
 
 Oh ! many a Spring on flowery wing 
 
 Hath gently flown along, 
 And birds, and bees, and budding trees 
 
 Have joined in many a morning song, 
 Since first mine eyes, in glad surprise. 
 
 Did fondly rest on thee. 
 And it did seem, or I did dream, 
 
 An angel bright had come to me. 
 
 Now like some miser's hoarded store, 
 I count those moments o'er and o'er, 
 And bless each golden link between 
 That hour and this, — 'tis " Sweet Sixteen." 
 
 Come near, incline thy cheek to mine, 
 
 As in thy childhood's play, 
 And on this breast securelj^ rest, 
 
 Where thou hast nestled many a day ; 
 
 52 
 
SWEET SIXTEEN. 53 
 
 And thou slialt dream, and I will dream, 
 
 Of blissful moments yet to be, 
 When kindred feet thy coming greet, 
 And thou shalt hasten back to me — 
 Then shall thy voice awake again 
 The loved — but half forgotten strain. 
 Thy Mother's smile shall grace the scene, 
 And sisters sing of " Sweet Sixteen." 
 
 I remember, well remember 
 
 That hour of sweet romance. 
 When eyes like thine, did answer mine 
 
 With many a modest glance. 
 The long — long years of smiles and tears, 
 
 Since then flee all away ; 
 And bright, I see, my child, in thee — 
 Thy Mother^ s youth renewed to-day. 
 The beauteous past, a shrine has found 
 To twine its broken tendrils round. 
 And love hath weaved a chaplet green. 
 To crown the hopes of " Sweet Sixteen." 
 
 Chicago, Ills., Maj^ 6, 1855. 
 
RESTORATION. 
 
 Unto our God on Judah's hills 
 Be songs of holy joy once more — 
 
 Let Canaan's rocks and sparkling rills 
 The King of Heaven and Earth adore. 
 
 For He will set the captive free — 
 Will rend the proud oppressor's chain, 
 
 And from the isles of every sea 
 Bring Israel to His fold again. 
 
 The Holy City's tottering spires, 
 
 And crumbling walls again shall rise — 
 
 Love shall re-light her altar-fires. 
 
 And clouds of incense sweep the skies. 
 
 There, 'neath the fig tree and the vine 
 Shall Judah's daughters peaceful rest. 
 
 And gray-haired fathers safe recline 
 On sacred Calvary's hoary breast. 
 
 54 
 
RESTORATION. 55 
 
 Those tuneful harps that hung so long 
 Upon the weeping willow's stem, 
 
 Shall swell again old Zion's song 
 Within thy gates, Jerusalem ! 
 
 Louisville, Ky., Jan. 16, 1842. 
 
FOR AN AUTOGRAPH ALBUM. 
 
 Haste, O friends, and bring with thee 
 From out the snow-drift's bosom, 
 
 The first sweet flower that blooms in spring. 
 The blue-eved violet blossom. 
 
 Round it bind in silken cords 
 Wing of sprite and foot of fairy, 
 
 Till angels come with loving words 
 
 And bless thy gift — a crown for Mary. 
 
 RiPON, Wis., July 25, 1887. 
 
 56 
 
THE FLIGHT OF THE MOCKING BIRD. 
 
 On the deck of the "Southern Flora" descending the Ar- 
 kansas was a Mocking Bird. A flock of children in search of 
 amusement and mischief, opened the door of its cage, and it flew 
 away to the forest upon the shore. 
 
 Far from his native orange bowers — 
 
 From the deep magnolia's shade, 
 Which darkens all the languid hours — 
 
 Where songs ne'er cease, nor violets fade, 
 A little bird was rudely borne 
 
 E'er his untutored wood-notes wild. 
 Had filled the groves at early morn 
 
 With careless lays of nature's child. 
 
 With weary wing and feeble rage. 
 And restless throbbings all day long, 
 
 He beats the bars of his prison-cage 
 Nor yields his sorrowing voice to song. 
 
 Alas, sweet bird ! what gentle hand 
 Shall come to set thee free ? 
 
 57 
 
58 THE FLIGHT OF THE MOCKING BIRD. 
 
 What pitying voice in all the land 
 Shall, weeping, plead for thee. 
 
 Not hand of man who plucked thy nest. 
 Will loose the bars of thy prison door ; 
 
 Nor woman's, who, with love's caress, 
 Would hold thee captive evermore. 
 
 But children, who, like thee are praying. 
 
 For fairer fields and brighter skies. 
 Will find thee in their careless straying, 
 
 And bid thy trembling pinions rise : 
 For, children are like singing birds 
 
 Whose strains o'er fragrant meadows ring- 
 And their sweetest, gentlest song is heard 
 
 Where from the moss the violets spring. 
 
 So, once, upon a smiling summer's day, 
 Scampering about in idle glee, 
 
 A flock of children came that way. 
 And set the hapless warbler free. 
 
 Forth from his cage the captive flew. 
 He rose on the air and poised his wing. 
 
THE FLIGHT OP THE MOCKING BIRD. 59 
 
 And swept away through the ether blue 
 To the land of endless spring. 
 
 And there in the deep magnolia's shade, 
 
 Where blushing flowers their fragrance 
 breathe — 
 Where clustering vines that never fade, 
 
 Like lovers hands, their tendrils weave : 
 From the bending bough of the orange tree. 
 
 Where gather at noon the tuneful throng, 
 To swell the tide of minstrelsy, 
 
 The mocking bird sings his wild-wood song. 
 
 Arkansas River, May 16, 1860. 
 
SONG. 
 
 My heart seeks not the festive throng 
 
 Where rival beauties shine — 
 Where swells the tide of mirth and song, 
 And flows the sparkling wine ; 
 
 But bounds with hope and promise bright, 
 When thine doth shed its gladsome light. 
 
 Mine eye seeks no returning glance 
 
 From eyes that wander wild and free, 
 But tearful turns to thine, which rest 
 With sweet, confiding love, on me ; 
 For all their tell-tale beams combine, 
 And seem to whisper- — " I am thine." 
 
 M^^ feet seek not the frequent paths 
 
 Where pleasure's laughing votaries tread. 
 
 But stay where o'er thy pensive steps 
 
 Meek twilight's veil is spread ; 
 
 For o'er that sacred, dreamy hour 
 
 Affection's spell hath magic power. 
 
 60 
 
SONG. 6 1 
 
 My baud thrills not, when others grasp, 
 
 Who all my inmost thoughts would share, 
 But when thine own I gently clasp, 
 My very heart is trembling there — 
 It trembles wild, but not alone. 
 It beats responsive to thine own ! 
 
 Springfield, Ills., March 15, 1851. 
 
THE ORPHAN'S OFFERING. 
 
 It was Mary, Planting a Rose by lier Father's Grave. 
 
 Years had fled, aDd spring had bloomed ; 
 The parent rested m the tomb, 
 And cahn and silently, 
 In nature's changing imagery, 
 The seasons went and came — 
 And reverent children, mournfully 
 Whispered the loved one's name. 
 
 Oh, Filial Love, Heaven's sacred boon — 
 Through every change still living on ; 
 Not fortune's blight, nor weight of years 
 Can dim thy light, nor quench thy tears : 
 Still memory, with her living spell 
 Illumes the themes she loves so well, 
 And grateful voice of heart and soul, 
 Rise and bless her sweet control. 
 
 And still the dead in silence slept, 
 
 And still the living crowd rushed on, 
 
 62 
 
THE orphan's offeeing. 63 
 
 Thoughtless, save one, who silent wept 
 By a Father's grave alone. 
 
 Many summer suns had smiled 
 Upon that Father's faithful child — 
 Many friends, with love had crowned her. 
 And gathered joyfully around her : 
 But, more than earthly friend beside — 
 More than all of worldly pride — 
 More than hearts by love endeared. 
 Was that Father's name revered. 
 
 Sacred dust ! Oh, calmly sleep ! 
 Faithful mourner, cease to weep ! 
 Know ye, 'tis the will of Heaven 
 To claim the boon that God hath given ; 
 Know ye not, that severed ties — 
 All vain hopes and sympathies ; 
 And prayers of faith, though oft denied. 
 Are to our spirits sanctified ? 
 
 Plant the rose, but not in sorrow. 
 Its drooping buds will bloom to-morrow ; 
 
64 THE orphan's offering. 
 
 And though the winter's cruel storm 
 May rend its bending, fragile form, 
 Its blossoms, newly gathering, 
 Shall live to grace another spring ! 
 
 Fkedonia, N. Y., June 10, 1835. 
 
HYMN. 
 
 On Dedication of House of Worship. 
 
 Hark ! 'tis the One Creative Word : — 
 A world of glorious form appears : — 
 
 Through all the realm of God is heard 
 The music of rejoicing spheres. 
 
 In solemn woods — by living streams — 
 Their roof, the cloud and starry sky, 
 
 The holy men of Adam's race 
 Stood, face to face with Deity. 
 
 When, on Moriah's sacred mount 
 The stately temple reared its head, 
 
 God sent his winged minstrels there. 
 And heavenly blessings on it shed. 
 
 To-day, our Lord, our God, our King, 
 We humbly seek Thy smiling face. 
 
 And to Thy feet our offering bring, — 
 This earthly temple to Thy praise. 
 
 ^ 65 
 
-66 HYMN. 
 
 O, on this altar set Thy seal ! 
 
 And listen when Thy people pray ; 
 Unto our souls Thyself reveal ; 
 
 And, Father, be with us alway. 
 
 OsHKOSH, Wis., May 14, 1876. 
 
MY LITTLE MARY. 
 
 Oh ! tell me not of emeralds, 
 Or jewels from the mine ; 
 
 Of sparkling shells or snowy pearls, 
 That deep in ocean caverns shine ; 
 
 Nor yet of gentle music — 
 Of whispering zephyr's song. 
 
 Or notes of lute, that gaily sweep 
 The trembling cords along. 
 
 For, brighter than the jeweled sky 
 
 Or ocean's treasured gem. 
 Is that fair face and loving eye. 
 
 And sunny smile that gladdens them. 
 Springfield, III., July 15, 1850. 
 
 67 
 
TO OUR SISTER IN HEAVEN. 
 
 Three beautiful sisters who were accustomed to sing together, 
 were separated by the death of one. 
 
 Three sisters we, like three wild flowers, 
 
 Grew side by side in life's young spring, 
 And through the summer's golden hours 
 Did to each other closely cling ; 
 But, sadly and wild. 
 
 E'er summer was gone. 
 Oh, sister, child ! 
 
 The ruthless storm 
 On the cold earth laid 
 
 Thy leaves all withering 
 In the cypress shade ! 
 
 Three sisters we, like three young birds 
 Had dwelt in one sweet nest so long, 
 
 That our glad thoughts and loving words 
 
 Did peal in one rejoicing song ; 
 
 Oh, now, no more ! 
 
 Thy voice is heard ; 
 68 
 
TO OUR SISTER IN HEAVEN. 69 
 
 But thy kind words 
 
 Still linger near, 
 Like echoes dying 
 
 On listening ear ! 
 
 Three sisters we ! bright silken bands 
 
 Of faith and hope, by death unriven. 
 Yet link in love our hearts and hands — 
 Two on earth, and one in Heaven ! 
 And, poised above 
 
 The pearly gates, 
 On wings of love 
 
 Thy spirit waits. 
 Till ours shall flee 
 
 From sin and sorrowing 
 To Heaven and thee ! 
 
 Springfield, III., 1844. 
 
TO WIFE AT HOME. 
 
 No morning gleam, no opening flower, 
 No ripening fruit, no noontide hour ; 
 No sunset, that so brightly glows ; 
 No twilight, in its calm repose ; — 
 No sleep, that comes, its balm to shed 
 Like fairy whispers round my head, 
 Bear on their wings such jo}^ to me 
 As one brief hour of rest with thee ; 
 For in thy gentle, kind caress. 
 Is a whole life of happiness. 
 Thine the pure thought, the heavenly mind 
 Thine the quick sense, the soul refined ; 
 And thine the sweet, unconscious art. 
 That chastens love and purifies the heart. 
 As trodden fields, by April rain. 
 With bud and blossom smile again. 
 So when thy hand in mine is pressed, 
 Awakened memories thrill my breast ; 
 For know, our Father from above, 
 Will keep us safe and bless our love. 
 
 Natchez, Miss., Aug. 13, 1864. 
 
 70 
 
SALUTATION. 
 
 FOR DAUGHTER MARY. 
 
 Broken be the seal of silence, while to tliee, 
 
 My daughter ! words of love and trust be borne 
 On angels' silvery wings. Let my spirit be 
 
 Very near to thine ; Nor you, nor I, too deeply 
 mourn 
 The sainted ones whose memories in our bosoms 
 burn ; 
 For soon, through the deep gloom will heavenly 
 light be spread, 
 And incense rise, as from a hallowed urn. 
 
 While prayers ascend, that heaven may shed 
 Its brightest, sweetest blessings on thy head. 
 
 For thee, the middle watch of life is long : 
 Tis noon ! on thee its rays benignant smile ; 
 
 Home, kindred hearts, and hopes to thee belong. 
 Like summer-time on some Arcadian isle, 
 
 Where flowers and fruits do bloom and blush the 
 
 while. 
 
 71 
 
72 SALUTATION. 
 
 God give thee joy in all thy life and ways — 
 Far from the world's cold rule and ready guile : 
 
 Thy hand I hold in mine always, 
 The many to thee, the few to me, remaining days. 
 
 Chicago, May 16, 1888. 
 
THE VOYAGERS HYMN. 
 
 'Tis sweet to know, when morning's beam 
 
 Its welcome radiance round us sheds, 
 That Home, with fond entreaty seems 
 To pray for blessings on our heads ; 
 To feel from care a sure release, 
 And know that all is love and peace. 
 
 'Tis sweet to know, when far away 
 
 From that loved spot we roam, 
 That angel voices chide our stay 
 And gently lure us home ; 
 
 That many a wish and many a prayer 
 Are breathed for us in silence there. 
 
 'Tis sweet to know, where'er we be. 
 
 That God doth reign with loving will ; 
 That, on the land, or on the sea. 
 His hand doth guide us safely still ; 
 
 And that His smile, 'mid darkest night, 
 Fills all our paths with radiant light. 
 
 Mississippi River, 1856. 
 
 73 
 
ANOTHER BIRTHDAY. 
 
 TO ADAH. 
 
 Life's rising sun, with mellow beam 
 
 Is shining on thy path to-clay, 
 And Fairy bands, with dimpled hands 
 
 Are strewing flowers along thy way. 
 
 What though the beauteous face of earth 
 Be hid in Winter's snowy sheen 
 
 The icy King shall offerings bring. 
 
 And sweetly smile on " sweet sixteen." 
 
 This day our hearts we give to thee — 
 For thee, our prayers are given. 
 
 That Love and Truth may crown thy youth 
 And all thy trust be built in Heaven. 
 
 Go thou, my child, and gently wear, 
 
 The cross and crown that wait for thee ; 
 
 For, smiles and tears, through coming years 
 
 Alternate, shall thy portion be. 
 
 Gray Rock, Jan. 9, 1881. 
 
 74 
 
EVER RETURNING. 
 
 Come, rest with me by the toiling mill, 
 And list to the drowsy water's flow. 
 
 Through many a crevice, in many a rill, 
 Down on the mossy rocks below : 
 
 Or, seek the softly murmuring stream, 
 Through the meadow winding along, 
 
 Where willows wave and crystals gleam. 
 And the waterfowl drones her solemn song. 
 
 Behold the wide and flowing river 
 
 That gathers the sparkling mountain rills, 
 
 And bears them onward, on forever. 
 The ocean's mighty depths to fill. 
 
 Our path is by the moaning ocean. 
 
 Whose warring waves assail the shore, 
 
 Where, mingling in its wild commotion. 
 River and rill are seen no more. 
 
 /D 
 
76 EVER RETURNING. 
 
 Lo ! vapory clouds, like incense rise, 
 When sunbeams woo the melting sea, 
 
 And float away to distant skies, 
 
 Where thirsty plains and mountains be. 
 
 On many a frigid, airy peak, 
 The mists distil in gentle rain, 
 
 And rivulet, stream and river seek 
 The ocean's pathless depths again. 
 
 And thus, my friend, 'twill ever be. 
 
 While sunlight gleams and waters flow ; 
 
 From mountain top to toiling sea, 
 
 God's ministries will come and go. 
 Saratoga, :^^. Y., 1869. 
 
NELLY AND I. 
 
 O, lovely green lake ! 
 
 Will thy voice nevermore 
 The echoes awake, 
 
 That sleep on thy shore ? 
 Yes ! there's life in the breeze, 
 
 And warm winds are playing 
 Among the dry trees — 
 
 Swinging and swaying 
 The tops of the trees. 
 
 How gently, lovingly 
 Those days went by 
 
 As winter was waning 
 For Nelly and I ! 
 
 The ice-king was broken 
 
 With many a shock. 
 And again the green water 
 
 Saluted Gray Rock, 
 Retreating and beating 
 
 On old Gray Rock ; 
 77 
 
78 NELLY AND I. 
 
 While up through the snow-drift, 
 The violet's blue eye 
 
 Seemed to smile on us, 
 My Nelly and I. 
 
 The oak tree and maple 
 
 Their offerings bring — 
 The thrush in the meadow, 
 
 The lark on the wing. 
 Repeat, in glad chorus 
 
 A welcome to spring — 
 Soaring and singing 
 
 Along the blue sky 
 To gladden our coming, 
 
 My Nelly and I. 
 
 How peaceful the summer ! 
 
 How fragrant the flowers ! 
 How soothing the silence 
 
 Of twilight's soft hours ! 
 The wings of bright angels 
 
 Seemed hovering nigh, 
 (lasting light shadows 
 
 On Nelly and I. 
 
NELLY AND I. 79 
 
 Oh, visions of beauty ! 
 
 How transient they seem ; 
 Like the flash of a thought 
 
 Or the flight of a dream ! 
 For my joy it hath vanished - 
 
 My spirit is weary — 
 The shadows grow dark 
 
 And the path is all dreary : 
 The bird that sang sweetest 
 
 Hath flown from the nest ; 
 Our darling, our dear one, 
 
 Hath gone to her rest. 
 Now, lingering, now longing, 
 
 On wings I would fly 
 To the home that is waiting 
 
 For Nelly and I. 
 
 Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 1, 1887. 
 
TRANSITION. 
 
 A little way — a little while — 
 A little shock — a parting tear — 
 
 A GUIDING HAND — a happy smile : — 
 Lo ! Earth is past, and Heaven is here. 
 
 RiPON, Wis., July 17, 1883. 
 
 R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS, PRINTERS, CHICAQQ.