American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-01-21
- TX o.

| An yes, tnere is on LIE S uull stage
A wretched heart now lonely beating,
Which child by sorrow more than age,
Has found lfe's hopes too sadly hceung.
A heart which throbs in misery's round,
\ Weak, querulous, forlOrn and br KEN
On whose bear'd tablet is not found
OF early home, one cheerful token
| Forgive me, stranger III complain,
ForIam desolate and lonely
| My inmates have been grief and pain,-
My home has been the rude world only.
My friends have been the woods-the streams
/ The hills-the silent glens and mountains -
| My joys-dirl melancholy's dreams
On the wild cliffs and by the fountains =
| No other home have l NO other
Had my young days death early parted
My sire from me, -ny wretched mother
Wit. silent grief was brokcnhearted!
And now, not even one faint trace
No Hkeness,-tie, nor recollection
OF home or Jatier, holds place
In memory's dleary retrospection!
For scarce had reason lit mine eye,-
Ere two fleeing years had NUMBERED
orfllial love had formed tie,
My father in his cold grave slumber'd!
My mother--ah thou hapess one!
Thy widowed years in melancholy
Have darby and adversely run,
And sorrows shroud has wrapped thee whcllyi
MY mother-O! where are my tears
IS my heart cold in its complaining
All have wept in younger years,
I'LL not one drop is now remaining
My mother-Gud in mercy bless
Wlat time shall yet TO her be given,
Ahd may her lte-long wretchedness
be richly recOinpensed in Heaven!
Ny mother Der my infant days
In sorrow hung with care revealing
Lies evil snares and virtues ways,
Teaching me truth and pious feeling.
saw her weep-I heard her sigh
And often mark'd her sadly musng
And even then--I know not Why
Tears came, my infant eyes suiIusine!
Upon her breast lean'd my head
And ask'd her why she seemd forsaken-
She checked her gricf-'f'twas wrong" She said.
For God who gave, had justly taken
Then she seem'd calm 81 thought her SO.
And hop'd her days of grief were ended -
But twas the calm Of maniac woe,
Her spirit was with madness blended!
Oh then how hapless was my lot
:, IN VAN were tears my young eyes sleeping;
MY mother sooth'd me-owned me not,
But turn'd away and left me weeping,
Years pass'd away, and still she seem'd
AS one who lv'd not with tile living,
Save at short intervals, there bean'd
Light on her soul, sweet reason giving.
And then she sang as one whose dream
Had been in melancholy madness -
Maternal love was all her theme
And soon she sank again in sadness!
Years pass'd away cannot tell,
But from the tale Of others telling,
What in these gloomy years befel,
Or where found my orphan dwelling
zen as htful dream, TO Inc
They were void Of li.es beginning
But - my mother-mscry
4 i'nS' dark trance Of deep repning
SPECIFICS as death and listess, she
Lived on in silent desperation,
Shrouded in dark INSANITY
And lost IN dreary desolaton
Long, gloomy years were sadly past
Ere reason in her mind was seated
And still her soul vas overcast
AND lte's best prospects all were fectcdl
While !, as one whom none would own,
And from humanity excluded,
Strayed unprotected and alone,
by fancy and by hope deluded.
strangers care was all knew
And that was stern and tyrannisine.
But cruelty could not subdue
The spirit in my bosom rising
met oppression and withstood
Adversely and human malice.
And OFT IN melancholy mood
Drank deep from sorrows bitter chaI;cot
some hopes We're mine in Younger III;
- ana they were bright and warmly cherisb,d.
But they were lost in early strife
ana with them lies endcarments perish'd!
Since then-ah lisa dreary while
=, lhnd yet my years are few Dive WANDERED
Cloaking my anguish with smile,
And on dark scenes and conflicts nonder,d,
Mankind in GOODNESS round me gaze
And mark the smile on nv lips niav;no
But know not that my smile betravs
The agony within me prcying!
Ahey deem that unconcern'd and wild.
:, In pleasure my life am spending -
but oh! how often | have smiPd
when mad'ning pains my heart were yend;n,,
Nay, have laugIfd--haye galy SUNG '''-u'"s'
=, And dancedin sportiye animation,
10 quell the phrenitis which sunc
NY spirit On to desperation
Al ,I midnight havegroand and pra,'d
mhlle ron inine eyes hot tears were rushinp
iiS Wh sIa.te ca from my bed, and stray'd
"NF'S 'ns ~''a winds ard storms were rushing;