Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-11-16
THR PORTAGE SENTINEL.
POETRY.
THE SUNSET OF LIFE.

=
ssE!Evcning crept along the valley,
Blushed upon the distant hill, gss-a -
And the golden hush of sunset
: z Fell 80 sweetIy and so stn, ~. vs.
That the meadow and the mountain, +
,-, And the oceans heaving breast,
Seem TO battle themselves in sunlight
From the windows of the West. '-.---
: Parting CLEANS, so gay and golden; -
= gsStreamed across the white and blue,
,'TiH the clouds mid heaven, e s
Melted in the blushing hue.
- And It fell, that golden glory, --
sss On the rpples of the sea;
Dancing, dazzling, wreatbing ,,-.ss-
Smiles so glorious and free.
And the struggling of the sunshine, ~
II. 7straying through the lifting trees,
Is Smiled upon leaf-hid cottage,
Opened to invite the breeze p ..- .--s-
And two wavy, glimmering sunbeams
Meeting in the open door, -. o.
One from Heay'n. and one from ocean, --
Lit the ceiling and the floor.
"a In the meeting Of the sunlight,
Where its glory kissed his brow,
Sat old man the threshold, --@-
Thinking of by-yone-and now,
On hs staff: his hands were folded, e 50.
And he rested there his chin; s~-
zst While his face with sweet expression,
go Told the peace that reigned within.
q Still he sat, intently gazing,
. ., Through the aisles of arching green, -..s.
Out upon the glorious vista,
In the mellow distance seen s.
Listening to the murmuring music
s9zsOfths wind and gentle waves; E,&
Like approving ages, calling ;
To the present, frem their graves.
Years of labor bent their voices
S To the harmony within;
Deeds of love and duty Ginning,
- With a conscience void of sin;
Heavily sounds of holy grandeur,
z Such as eartl's may never be,
Heard he. rs he sat there, gazing
Out upon the and s9a.
land then the sun went sinking downward,
ssfg Andshis soul rose nearer home;
- Drinking deep of healing waters
.xaz Flowing from the heay'nly dome;
= Then the holy star of twilight,
- Flineing dews upon the air,
; Throned itself upon the sunset,
r7.s Like spirit reigning there.
eeAs the star, with light unbroken,
.s7a Gazed into his raptured eyes,
=, With its pencil beams descending,
g@$: Came a message from the skies.
= And the angels gentle voicings,
- Stealing sweetly from above,
..s Drew his soul stin mp and heav inward,
- On the wings of light and love.
~eaThen the sun beyond the ocean,
s-e Gathered in his rays to rest; s..-
As noble Chief, in falling,
=. Il, Folds his honors to his breast.
: Outward sense and scenes fading,
With the sinking of the sun;
: But within, those angel voices,
- Spoke eternal Gay begun.
Fading lights, still failing, dying,
r - Gilt the edges of the cloud,
u Till the noonbeams fell upon them
- Like the stiffness of shroad.
And the stints grew grey and leaden,
ss-A As the flushing followed down,
= Who're the sun, when in the heaven,
{ = Last had his golden crown.
-
AS the moonlight softly slumbered
- Where was once the sunbean's fall,
Round the old man closed the shadows,
With their dark and deep:ning pail.
Still upon his staff he rested,
= With his weary. wntery head
~SsGone was all the golden glory
- Day was done; the old man dead.
Who shall say how pure a vision
SAsSRests apon that spirits eye,
~ Changing sunshine into soul-light;
8 Faded to unfadng skies?
.z. Who can knc.F how sweet that sunset,
f.z sShadowing forth the gates of gold,
= Which unto his soul unfolded
r ysu tn earth is vet