Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-03-11
lloutb's department.
The Afflicted Mothers Offering,

For the Green Mountain Freeman
The Afflicted Mothers Offering,
dedicated to the Youthful Readers ofte Fireman.
Bright shone the summers sun, and smoothly passe
The happy hours on Henry's natal day.
And as the shades Of evening gathered round
Their humble cot, the gladstone father bowed
Beside the couch, where lay the mother
Other first born child; and offered up
In unison with her their grateful prayer:--
Father in heaven, we dedicate ourselves
"Anew to Thee and this thy precious gift;
"Thrce welcome CHARGE pledge of our mutual love,
awe consecpte to Thee, and to Thy work
Alone" And when, with Abrahamic faith
The smiling babe al the baptlsma fount
Was offered up, again the parents prayed
30 Thou who hast thy covenant mercies kept
"With all thy faithful ones, and to their seed
"a blessing hast ensured, remember us:
Sand may this child, like him* whose name he bears,
9'Be ever Thine"
Time sped its rapid course -
The babe STRIPPING stood, with book in hand,
Ambitious to excel, cen to a fault
And yet no fault urged onward in his course
With speed surpassed by none. knowledge the prize
His Young ambition sought-the great and all
Propelling power, his teachers praise
Thus passed
The sunny days of Henrys earliest youth,
Meanwhile, parental ,catct(iiness, awake
To every deviation from the path
Their wisdom marked, upturned alternately
The eye of faith to God; next duty sought,
Oft filled with fear; again with hope sustained.
His destiny, as on pivot hung,
Seemed fearful, save when mighty faith prevailed:
But goodness Ininite--Great Ruler of
All hearts and desnies-remembered well
His covenant of DID, and guided still
His fearful course
At length the crisis came.
Scarce had he passed the middle of his teens
Fer he had gained the love and confidence
Of youth and age of teacher, pupil, ALL
All spoke his WORTH and forward looked, when he
Some place Of sacred trust and usefulness
Should Gil, in active life. The ordeal
Was passed; and he assumed the teachers charge.
Fraught with the highest hopes yet trembHngly,
H entered on his task--succeeded well =
Again the charge resumed. The cheerful eye,
Beamlng with ocstacy;-the fluent tongue
AS at the close of each revolving week
He hied him to his home, spoke forth the joy
That filled his youthful heart. "NIother I'm in
My element" he often said; then sped
Him back to love and be beloved.
But ali!
How changed quick the lighning's flash the dar
Was hurled that laid his prospects low 1t struck
The spinal nerve. His head with pain was racked
1t came it went again his hopes revived.
Another dart was hurled another-and
Another still. Yet as the sapling bends
Before the ftfu gale, and rises but
To meet iercer blast so he, with firm
Resolve, his purpose fixed, toed on; and thus
The painful year was passed. His slender frame
Unable longer to sustain the shock,
Sunk peacefully towards the tomb. His limbs
Grew weak and tremuous; his brilliant eye,
Expressive of the warmest sympathies,
Grew dim; his books reluctantly were laid
Aside; his dearest friends were hidden from
His views-and he was blind.
"I'athcr, thy will
"Be done" burst from his aching heart. 81 soon
"Sha lay this feeble body down. The grave
''No terror hath, My peace is made with God.
"My father and my mother dear; my brother,
Sand my sister too-dcar as my llfe;
"Ot have grieved your tender hearts, forgive,
''Foigve my faults and tolies, ALL that
"May die in peace. Come kneel beside me now"
Then fervently poured out his prayer to God.
But still he suffered on another year.
Inveterate disease! as tho 'twere not
Enough to close his longing eyes on all
He loved on earth, now sealed his hearing up
Entire The sweetest melody passed by
Without a charm; the choicest books were read
Unheard--the voice of dearest friends, melting
In tenderness unrecognized;-and he,
Like one entombed alive, or in dark
And dreary prison bound, was left to weep
And grieve alone. One glimmering avenue
Alone remained. The pressure of the hand
The burning kiss imprinted on his cheek,
Spoke volumes to his aching heart and he
Was comforted The sense of feeling yet
Remained unframed The alphabet again
He learned to trace; as one by one he spelled
Each letter out, cen like The veres child,
Thankful that cen so, he once again
Could recognize his friends, and read the sweet
And blessed words of his Redeemcr, God
And thus he fingered through another long
And tedious year. And thus his fondest hopes
Forever flown; his "ary castles" dashed
In atoms at his feet--his first affections
Crushed; he fingers still, spectacle
To all who doat on human greatness, or
Who trust in earthly good. His chastened spirit
Waiting until his final change shall come
North Cambridge, "
Henry Martyr, Missionary to INDIA