Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-06-29
? Q = 2 r z.
THE ORPHANS OF CASTLE MEN,
ZlES.
BY THE HON. MRS. NORTON.

BY THE HON. MRS NORTON.
Mav.,lay is While We, the un~ illing Spring
Checks with rapacious irown the opening year
Onward. where bleak winds have been whispering
The punciusl hours their ancient playmate near
But those who have long looked Ior thee. .siaho ny
Like msn who welcome back a TREND herea'ed,
And cannot smile; because his sadd"n'd aye
Da,h mutey tell them how his soul g'ieved'
Even thus ire g,rct thine alIer'd face to day,
Thou friend in mourning gnrb chill, melancholy
May!
TO thee the first and readiest smiles Of Earth.
Lovely with life renew'd were always gwen;
To theo belong the sunshine and the mnih
" hich batbed all Nature with glow from
Heaven
To thee the Joy Of Cbidhcod's earnest heart,
Ills shouting song, and light elias ic tread
His brow high arch'd and laughing lips apart;
Bright NJ the wreath thnl hound his rosy head
Thou vert Of innorence the halliday.
Thou garlanded and glad thou ever-bloonng
May!
Yet will I not reproarh thee for Thy change;
Closed be the flower, and lenfiess be The tree
Smile not as thou weri wont: but sad and strange,
And joyless let Thy ta,dy coming he.
so shall miss those lnisnt voices les5,
Calling each other shrongh the garden bowers
Meeting and parting in wild happiness.
With steps that ic NJ light blossom show
Ny little Orphan'd Ones, who'far awny.
Breathe, amid Handicapped hill, !e, uo1e w'n-
try May!
An, boys! your playground is deser'spo',
Revisited alone, and bahed will, tears;
And where ve pass your May-dny, knoweih not
The mother who hath watcb'd your dawnIng
years.
The task Is given TO a WOmdn's heart.
liver the hardest to a woInan's sMrow,)
Fierrely to tear the bud and,'ee apart.
And give each cherries day n cheerIess NOR
low.
The sunshine Of your looks hath passed away.
And what to me is -'pring, and what the breath
Of May!
Mine is no more the Joy to see We come.
Aud deem each step hath -eme peculiar grace
Yours is no more the mothers welcome home,
Smiling at each beloved, familiar face
The ewes that watch We n0tC watch hut TO guard.
Sternly they keep what cruelty was won;-
The eyes that watch'd ye then. had their reward
In the deep love Of what they ook'd upon.
Oh. l am thankful III this dreary May
Recalls not, save BY name, tina, brighter. happier
day.
should have fel; more mock I'd, if there had been
More peace aud sunshine round me, had the
grove,
Clad in transparent leaves of tender green,
Been full Of murm'ring sounds Of Natures
love;-
should have wept more bitterly heneaih
The irail Luburnum trees, 40 faint and Fair,
| should have sicken' d AT the liacs breath,
Thrown BY the warm the silent nir;-
hot now, with stern regret wend my way.
I.kaow thee not, thon cold and unfamiliar May.
But oh young blossoms Of lfe's cheqn~r' Spring,
Rude is the grasp that ,end- y" from the bough,
Leaving the promise other years may bring
ColdIy beuenlh a strangers eye 10 grow!
il was not worth the sacrifice Of youth,
The suffering and the care Of years gone by.
To learn how little kndliness and truth
Dwell in the semblance Of humanity;
Or feel the hopelessness Of life decay,
While mock'd with joyous names,-like thine,
thou ,ardy May! /