Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-12-20
Tbr 4Familp Circle.

touchlng interest, by the amlable character
the deceased, and the high hopes of usefuInes
and ommence which he entertained, as he wa
ambitlpusly pressing forward in his course of
collegiate education, but which were foreve
blasted, even by the first blow in the series c
affections, he was doomed, through the insclu
table wisdom of Providence, to suffer.
The first portion of the lines were write
some year ago, the Sequel" recently the Who'll
being the melancholy outpourngs ola mother
heart, (if we are rightly informed as to the au
thorship) over the hopeful son. of whom the per
formance shows her, we think, in all respects, S,
worthy.-ED
For The Green Mountain Freeman.
The Afflicted Mothers Offering
[Dedicaiedto The Youthful Readers oCtHe Freeman
Bright shone the summers sun, and smoothly
passed
The happy hours Of IIenry'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
OF their frst-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,
We consecrate to Thee, and to Thy work
"Alone." And when, with ibrahamic faith
The smiling babe at the baptisnal fount
Was offered up again the patents prayed
80 Thou, who hast Thy covenant mercies kept
"With all Thy faithful ones, and to their seed
"A blessing hast ensured, remember us:
And may this child, like him* whose name he
bears,
"Bo ever Thine"
Time sped its rapid course
Flhd pabe- astripting" sruUn; wlrlr uook IN nunu,
Ambitious to excel, cen to fault
And yet no fdult-urged onward in his course
With speed surpassedb by none. knowledge the
prize
His Young ambition sought; the great and all
Propelling power, his teachers praise
Thus passed
The sunny days of Henry's earliest youth,
Meanwhile, parental ,oatchfalness, awoke
To every deviation from the path
Their wisdom marked, upturncd alternately
The eve of faith to God next, duty sought
Oft filed with fear, again with hope sustained
( His destiny, as on pivot hung,
Seemed fearful, save when mighty faith pre-
vailed;
But goodness Infnte-Great Ruler OF all
Hearts and destinies- well
His covenant of old, and guided still
HIS fearful course.
At length the crisis cam
Scarce had he passed the middle of his teens
Fer he had gained the love and confidence
OF youth and age, ofteacher, pupil, ALL
All spoke his worth, and forward looked, wh'
he
Some place of sacred trust and usefulness
Should fill, in active life. The ordeal
Was passed and he assumed the teoche
charge.
Fraught with the highest hopes, yet tremblln
ly,
{ He entered on his task-succeeded well;
Again the charge resumed. The cheerful ey
Beaming with ecstacy; the fluent tongue,
AS at the close of each revolving week
He HE'D him to his home, spoke forth the joy
That filled his youthful heart. "Mother, {
In my element" he often said, then sped
Him back to love and be beloved.
l. But an
How changed quick as the lightning'a fiji
-. the dart
II Was hurled, that laid his prospects low.
struck
The spinal nerve. His head with pain
racked.
T. came-ii went--ogan his hopes revived.
Another dart was hurled; another-and
Another still. Yet as the sapling bends
Before the Rtful gale and rises but
To meet fercer blast. So he, with firm
Resolve, his purpose fixed, to!led on, and TIM
The painful years hepassed. His slender fr
Unable longer to sustain the shock,
Sunk fearfully towards the tomb. His liml
Grew weak and tremulous; his brilliant eye
Expressive of the warmest sympathies,
Grew dim; his books reluctantly were laid
Aside his dearest friends were hidden fror
His yiew-and he was hind
"Falher, Thy will
"Be done," burst from his aching heart
81 soon shall lay this feeble body down.
grave
"No terror hath. My peace is made with
any father and my mother dear, my brothe
"And my sister too--dear as my lilc:-
"Oft have grioved your tender heOrts-fo
"Forgive my faults and follies, all, that
"May die in peace ;-come knee beside me
Then ferventy poured out his prayer to G
But still he suffered on another year.
Inveterate disease as tho 'twere not
Enough to close his longing eyes on all
i. He loved on earth, now sealed bis hearing
Entire. The sweetest melody passed by
Without charm the choicest books wer
Unheord-the voice of dearest friends, m
Intendeness, unrecognized ;-andh9,
Like one entombed alive, or in dark