Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-12-17
THE CLOSING SCENE.


w THU lie roller realm Of lifrless ircos
The russei year inhaled the dreamy air;
Like rene tanned reaper in his hour Of ense,
When all the fields are ling bsown aud bare.
The gray barns, lccking from their bazy hills
Oer the dim waters, wild dcping in tho wales,
sent down the air greeting 10 tho mills,
On the dpll thunder Of alternate nails.
All sights were mellowed, mud all sound suhdued,
The hills seemed father, and the streams sang
low;
AS in dream, the distant woodmsn hewed
Ills winter log with many muillsd blow.
The smbntiled fores STA, armed in gold,
Their banners ght wit h every martial hue,
Now STOOD like some cad beaten host Of old,
Withdrawn afar in Time: remolest blue.
On slumberous wing, the vulture tried his fight;
The dove scarce heard his sghinfi mate. com
plant;
And like a star, slow drowning in the light,
The village church vane seemed 10 pale a nd faint.
The senueI cock upon the hillside crew
Crew thrice, and all was stiller than before
/ Silent Till rome replying warder blew
His allie N horn nnd then was heard no more.
Where, eri, the jay within the elm's tall crest,
Made garrulous trouble around her unfcdgec
young
And where the orioIe hung her ,waying nest,
by every light wind like censer swungi
har The oiavn o1 II,n
The busy swallows circling ever near,
| Forebodiug, as the rustic mind believes,
An early harvest, and plenteous year:-
Where every bird which charmed the vernul feast
Shook tho sweet sumbcr from its wings at morn
To warn the reapers of the rosy east;-
All now songIess empty and forlorn;
| Alone, from out he slubble pped the quail
And crosked the crow, through ali tho dream!
! Alone tie pheasant, drumming in the vac,
! Alape echo 10 the distant cottage loom.
There no bud, bloom upon ih4 bowers,
The ,pirdes wOvC their thin STROUD night By night;
| The thistle down the only ghost of flowers,
| Sailed slowly by-psssed noseess out Of sight
Amid all ths-in this NEST cherries air.
! And here tn e woohine shed upon the porch
lis crimson leaves, as If year stood there,
Firing the floor with his inverted torch -
And all this, centre of The scane,
The while ehnred ma,ron, " i,h monotonous tread
Piled the swift wheel, aud with her joyous misn,
Sal like Fate, and watched the flying thread,
She had known sorrow. lie had walked with her
OFT supped, and broke with her the ashe n crust
And in the dead leaves, still she heard the stir
or his black mantle trailing in the dust.
While yet her cheek was bright with summer bloom
Her csuntry summoned end she gave her all.
And twice, war bowed to her his sable plume
Regave the swords, 10 rust upon the wall.
A nd struck for liberty tho dying bow;
Nor him, who TO his sire and country true,
Fell mid the ranks OF the invading foe.
Long, but not loud, the the droning wheel went on
Like the low murmur Of hive at noon;
Long, but not loud, the memory of the gone,
Breathed through her lips sad and ,remulou
At last the thread was snsppcd-her head wa
bowed
Life dropped the dStaff through his h snds serene
And loving neghbors smooihed her careful shroud
While Death and Winter closed the Ausum
fceuc.