FullReads

One human glance of grief upon the grave
Of all that fortune gave
The loiterer takes–then turns him to depart,
And grasps the wanderer’s staff and mans his heart
Whatever else the element bereaves
One blessing more than all it reft–it leaves,
The faces that he loves!–He counts them o’er,
See–not one look is missing from that store!

Now clasped the bell within the clay–
The mould the mingled metals fill–
Oh, may it, sparkling into day,
Reward the labor and the skill!
Alas! should it fail,
For the mould may be frail–
And still with our hope must be mingled the fear–
And, ev’n now, while we speak, the mishap may be near!
To the dark womb of sacred earth
This labor of our hands is given,
As seeds that wait the second birth,
And turn to blessings watched by heaven!
Ah, seeds, how dearer far than they,
We bury in the dismal tomb,
Where hope and sorrow bend to pray
That suns beyond the realm of day
May warm them into bloom!

From the steeple
Tolls the bell,
Deep and heavy,
The death-knell!
Guiding with dirge-note–solemn, sad, and slow,
To the last home earth’s weary wanderers know.
It is that worshipped wife–
It is that faithful mother! [3]
Whom the dark prince of shadows leads benighted,
From that dear arm where oft she hung delighted
Far from those blithe companions, born
Of her, and blooming in their morn;
On whom, when couched her heart above,
So often looked the mother-love!

Ah! rent the sweet home’s union-band,
And never, never more to come–
She dwells within the shadowy land,
Who was the mother of that home!
How oft they miss that tender guide,
The care–the watch–the face–the mother–
And where she sate the babes beside,
Sits with unloving looks–another!

While the mass is cooling now,
Let the labor yield to leisure,
As the bird upon the bough,
Loose the travail to the pleasure.
When the soft stars awaken,
Each task be forsaken!
And the vesper-bell lulling the earth into peace,
If the master still toil, chimes the workman’s release!

Homeward from the tasks of day,
Through the greenwood’s welcome way
Wends the wanderer, blithe and cheerly,
To the cottage loved so dearly!
And the eye and ear are meeting,
Now, the slow sheep homeward bleating–
Now, the wonted shelter near,
Lowing the lusty-fronted steer;
Creaking now the heavy wain,
Reels with the happy harvest grain.
While with many-colored leaves,
Glitters the garland on the sheaves;
For the mower’s work is done,
And the young folks’ dance begun!
Desert street, and quiet mart;–
Silence is in the city’s heart;
And the social taper lighteth;
Each dear face that home uniteth;
While the gate the town before
Heavily swings with sullen roar!

Though darkness is spreading
O’er earth–the upright
And the honest, undreading,
Look safe on the night–
Which the evil man watches in awe,
For the eye of the night is the law!
Bliss-dowered! O daughter of the skies,
Hail, holy order, whose employ
Blends like to like in light and joy–
Builder of cities, who of old
Called the wild man from waste and wold.
And, in his hut thy presence stealing,
Roused each familiar household feeling;
And, best of all the happy ties,
The centre of the social band,–
The instinct of the Fatherland!

United thus–each helping each,
Brisk work the countless hands forever;
For naught its power to strength can teach,
Like emulation and endeavor!
Thus linked the master with the man,
Each in his rights can each revere,
And while they march in freedom’s van,
Scorn the lewd rout that dogs the rear!
To freemen labor is renown!
Who works–gives blessings and commands;
Kings glory in the orb and crown–
Be ours the glory of our hands.