Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-04-11

TIE SHADOW.

! sr at nv task, with the suns bles,rh light
For NV richest of glt-, from morn tlli nIght,
Aud last to The sound of tho trnmpng feet,
That ara ringing along uu the stony street
Aud many a shndow of pnssers.by
Comes dlnming the light Ia my cnrGiul eye,
Like Outing INST on the ra~cnrnt thrown,
One moment II falls, aud the urNt - gone,
A., borne by tide that will not stay,
The passrr gucth MS destined wa,
Aud never look uut on tho ,hr"ngng train
70 waich # their iuutSt"ps return again
But every morn through the op"u door,
One lingering sh1duw hath marked the floor,
Too silnni lnd .low Tor the bnsy lhrung,
A. IT bor" som" weary weight along,
And RAISE nv ewes each day osee
When ~ pas-cih between the sun aud me
IT'S u worn old man, aud his locks of grov,
I ntrlmmrd and long, nu his shoulders Law;
Win Pnlsl"d hand, and laltcring tread,
III" totlercI'on, AID his weary head
J. bnwrd half way To- his nplher earth,
Aud they srr there hath been since his hou
uf birth
A century told and his lut is still
\ place mud the >uu- Of men To ill.
The t"n!rf leaves of the Cowslip green,
Nav b" through hts willow basket seen;
Or thr early roots from the garden pulled
Or The berries ripe which his hand haI, culIed
And he bnar"th them ."n from door To door,
Earning ms brrad-a scauiy store.
When The sumner sun shines warm and free,
Weary aud faint, weGn is he;
Ban hunger hath spurs for his tagging feet,
Aud he struggles on ia the sultry heat
Picking his careful way along,
Aud shrinking aside from the jostiins tlrong,
AVID p"erIng through misty eyes in VAN
Fora frrn"r spot for his trembling cane.
Few arc the objects that meet hi, sight,
H., 4
Few are The pleasures that U'cr him roll,
For he claims no kin with living soul -
There's one to tighten his waning iin
"" hath no daughter, nor son, nor wife
Aud has sire, and MS 6rOthers-long since the,
frll
Ia that CORY field where he fought 50 we'll
'Ts this worn old mana he tottcrs past,
Whose lingering shade on my floor is cast
Md only when he went bv my door
Have paused to sigh that T. too, was poor;
Aud still, (bnt Wherein cannot t"Il,)
A my eye on this tne-bowcd yeternn fell,
penNIv9 thought To NV mind hath sprung,
Of the DAYS when he, like myself was Young.
Aud his eye was clear, and his lap, aud brow,
Lighter aud treer lhln nluc are now
And hIs foot trod lirmIy and proudly then
Md the busiest rank, of lhr boldrst mon;
And again I've Thought that yet might be
Weary aud worn aud bowed rs he.
Twas thus that learned 10 love 80 well
The shadow that over NV threshold fell
Aud often turned with listening ear,
The sound OF his coming steps to hear,
Or 10 wlp" tear from mol>toncd ego
q, that aged man went slo'vIy hy.
So passed The Spring aud The summer away,
AID greeted him still each sunny dav
But missed hm at length one drwy mora,
When the sun looked over the golden corn,
nd waited I'm vain rprIIi tho lima, 4.
Bat n" tntt"ring Footsteps came that way
And my spirit was saddcr at cvouIldr,
A. iG some blr>.ing h1d hHrn druied.
hgiin aud again the dav passed bv,
a nd no lingering shallow had dlmnrd my eve;
Bui at length was reused by sulcn sound,
Aud heavy tread q or the stony grouud,
Aul | Turned from my window an anxious eye,
Aud saw where 4 dcsolafr hrarsc went by,
Aud knew from that colIin, ,ni~shapcd 81 wide,
That that aged mau At length had died
Wv eve sunk Back rs the train went past,
Aud the tears on my paper fell thick aud fast
Till the hai.drawn sketch my hand had traced
know not why should weep for him,
Whose sun of life had 50 long been dim
Unless IL might be that no other tear
or sorrow would fall DER his silent bier.
And yet it was not for him | wept
For sweet, | knew, was the sleep he slept
IIo had but sought that home at last,
Where the friends Of his youth had long since
passed;
But my bosom was swelling with feelings
strange
thought Time, and thought of Change
thought of Decays all blighting breath
\ Thought of Sorrow--a thought Of Death
Aud a Thought beside OF that peaceful homo
Where the clros ol earth have no power to .
come.
Twas g winqi.d tide that DER mo swept,
Wh"u know pithc steep that old nan slept, 1
hpd III" tears wonld roll from my brlmming
Uyr,
Aud wcpt-i wcpt--I knew not why
II T.. G.