Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-04-09
poetrp.
For the Journal.
Lines on the Death Of Harriet Dana

BIT LAoLA.
u was the evening hour. Serene and sweet,
The radiant moon resumed her nightly throne,
A nd starry eyes watched DER the sleeping earth.
| sat beside my open window. Sad,
And mournful thoughts came stealing o'er my heart,
For tha day had stood beside the grave,
Which closed upon a fair and youthful friend
Had Shed the farewell tear, and cast the long,
Last, lingering glance, upon the lifeless form
Had turned awav. and now in solitude,
Sat dreaming of the loved, the early lost
saw sleeping babe. The ROSY hue.
Ofhealth and pleasure beamed upon its cheek.
Beside it's little cot mother knelt,
And loving sisters watched its peaceful rest,
Sweety il lay, while oer its dimpled lips,
| A transient smile of Joy and pleasure came
AS though the Angels watched the sleeping babe
And filed its mind with dreams of future bliss.
| IA change came o'er the spirit of my dream"
| saw lovely child, whose prattling to ngue,
And Joyous face, drove sorrow far away,
And filled with JOY the parents loving heart.
She grew in beauty, mid the fragrant groves,
| Which natures hand had planted near her home,-
Sweet birds and flowers, companions other life.
| N'SNfA
Was daily visited. aud, from on high,
The snless stars looked nightly down. to bless,
A heart as pure and guiIeless as themselves.
"a change came o'er the spirit of my dream"
The gentle being was no more child,
For eighteen springs had passed above her head ;
Yet was her heart as pure. and free from guile,
As when in chdheods thoughtless, happy hours,
She roamed enrapured meath the woodlands shade
The sweet and lovely things of natures realm,
! Had breathed a silent language to her soul,
And filled her breast with gentle, chastened though
The merry, ringing laugh, Of childish mrth,
Was changed to quiet smiles and calmer Joy,
| No sorrow ever yet had touched her heart,
But youngest farest OF the hou,e hold band,
She was the worshped idol of her friends,
IA change came DER the spirit of my Dreams"
In deepest grief she knelt beside the couch,
On which a cherished sister slept in death.
In anguish md dispair she bowed her head,
| And burning tears of heartfelt sorrow wept.
But when the funera train bore to the grave,
The breathless form of one SO loved and mourned
She, too. had sunk beneath disease and grief,
And pressed the bed OF sickness and of pain.
With anxious care, and tender love. her friends,
Watched by the bed side of the fading girl
But all their skill and tenderness was vain.
Slowly declining, tilI her wasted cheek
Was white and hHeless as the cloth beneath.
They saw, with speechess woe that they must yel
Another blossom to The Angel Death.
"A change came DER the spirit of ms dream"
Within grsveyard's quiet, lone retreat,
A new made grave was seeH, and by its eide.
Anothey waited 10 receive ts prey.
Slowly and sadly sshlet'.n approached.
Upon bier open coffin stood,
Aud fair, youthful maiden slept within.
Lfe,ess and pale, with PLACID face she lay,
n Aud beautiful in death. Her glossy hair
Was smoothly parted on her snowy brow
Fair flowers strown around and, in her han
/ A pure white rose, half opened, had been place
A parting sue fingered on her lips
And de- alh but seemed sweet and health fui see
The crowd drew back. sud slowly round the bier,
The msurners came to take last farewell.
Kissed, for the last time, the icy cheek;
!, And, with last, long look in whose fixed gaze,
The very soul se-med ebbing out, they turned,
And, for moment not sound was heard,
p Save the low sob orheartfelt agony
u The coffin now was lowered in the gravel
= The earth fell on it. ringing out the knell,
Ofhope aud happiness to many hearts.
RI Tho drama other life was closed The last
Sad scene was ended, and the curtains fell.
| dreamed no more.