Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-05-02

With soft cheek upon inc !iIIiIS tuS
Forge, the lifting winds, and the long stems
JyLose flowers The waters ike gentle nurse
Rear on its BOSOM quietly give way
And leaned an graceful attitudes In rest
How strikingiS the course OF nature tells,
By its light heed of human suffering,
That il was fashioned for happier world!
King David's limbs were weary. He haG Ned
From far Jeru salem, and now lie stood
With his faint pt ople FOR little rest
UDon the shore Il Jordan. The light wind
of morn was stirring, and he barred AIS brow
TO it's refreshing breath, for he had worn
The mouruer's covyr.ug; and he had not tet
That he could see h., people until
They gathered round hlu on the fresh green bank
And spoke their kindls words, and rs the sun
Rose up in Heaven he knelt among theG there,
And bowed his head upon his hands to pray
Oh when the near, is fuli--when bigtcr thoughts
Come crow,Iing thckly up for utternce,
And the poor common words OF courtesy
Are such very mOckcfy how uUch
The bursting he art may po"r itself IN Prayer!
He prtyct for Israel; and his voice went up
Strongly aud feFS er:ly -he pray'd tor those
Whose love had been his shield, and his deep tones
Grew tremulous--but oh for Absalom-
For hs estransed, misguided Ab,iiom-
The proud, bright beng Who had burst away
in all his pr,ncely beauty to defy
The heart that CHERISHED him--for him Lie pour'd,
In agony that would not be CONTROLLED
Strong supplication, and forgave ham there
Before his God, for his deep snfulness.
The pail was settled lie who slept beneath
Was straitend for the grave; and rs the folds
sunk to the still proportions, they betrayal
The matchless symmetry OF AbSalom.
His hair vet unshorn, and siiSen cur!s
Were floating round the t.sseis as they sway'd
To the admitting air, as glossy now
AS when IN hours OF gentle dalliance bathing
The Snowy fingers ofJudeas girls.
His helm Was at his feet-hiS banner solid
With trailing through jerusalem, was iaid
Reversed beside hm-and the JeweiPd hit
Whose diamonds liz the passage of his blade,
Psssess W. ,rrSss, >-syl ag tisdp0ess'' hre,S
Clad IN the caro- of battle, and their chief
The might, Ioao, stood beside his bier
And gix, upon the dark pail sreadtast'y
As 4 Inc fear'd the sluusbcrer nigh, stir
A SLOW stcp startled him. He grasp his blade
As ii a trumpet rang; but the bent form
OfDavid cnter'd, and ue gave command
In Il low tone to hjS few followers,
And left hIm with hi' dead. The king stood still
Til the last ecno died; then throwing Oft
The s,ckcloth from his brow, and .,ying back
The pail from the still testu IS VI his child,
He how'd his head upon HIM, and broke forth
In the resstless eioquence ofwo.
"Alas, nv noble boy-that thou shouId'st die!
Thou, who vert made so beautifully fair
That death Should settle in thy glorious eye,
And leave his stiffness IN this clustering halr!
How could he mark thee for the silent tomb,
Ny proud boy Abs,lomt
"Cold is thy brow, my son.-and am chill
As to nv bosom have tried To press thee
How was wont TO feel my pulses thrill,
Like rich harp-strng, yearning 20 caress thee!
And hear thy sweet "Iy Father" from these dumb
And cold lips, Absaiom!
"The grave hath won thee-l shall hear the gush
of music, and the voices otthe young
And life VIII pass in the mantlng blush
And the dark tresses TO the soft wind flung
But thou no more with thy sweet voice shall come
To meet me, Absalom!-
"And oh when am strcken-and my heart
Like bruised reed is waiting To be broken
How Willis love for thee, as depart,
Yearn for thine ear to drink It's last deep token!
rwere so sweet amid Deaths gathering gloom
To see thee Absalom!
"And now farewell! its hard to give thee up,
With death so like gentle slumber thee.
And thy dark sin!-0h! could drink the cup
II from this wo its bitterness had won thee.
Nav God have cald thee like wanderer home,
My erring Absaom!-"
He cover'd up his face, and how'd himself
A moment on his chilCl--then giving hum
A look OF melting tenderness, he ciasp'd
His hands conyulsively as If IN prayer,
And As a strength were given HIM Of God,
He ros. up calmly, and composed the pail
Firmly and decen,iy and left him there,
Asifhis rest had been breathing sleep. ROY
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