The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-04-26
For the National Era.
LIGHT AND DARKNESS.


Stood with me by this messy we'll
The sun was set. | scarce could trace
The beauties of her changeful face,
While clumsy ] her pitcher filled,
And twice or thrice the water spilled
She stood moment and no more.
A smile, a glance, and all was DER
Her pitcher full, she would not stay,
But sprang with fawn-ike foot away,
And left within my heart light,
That gilded all that summer night.
darkling wild before me lay;
But boldly thence CROPPED my way
Ifpitalls or if snakes were there,
did not know did not care.
Well knew !, by their rich perfume,
That clover nestled in the gloom,
And from each little censer-cup
Wild roses swung their sweetness up,
And elders spread their fiowery arms,
To ward me off from watery harms;
And where the gurgling brooklet screamed,
The crcket's ringing Ginning seemed
The very shadow OF noise,
Or dreaming Silcnce's talking voice,
And filed me with tender JOY.
was glad and fearless boy.
Yet, in my bliss, chaled TO wait
The slow uplighting of my fate.
The shades of night | scarcely child
Rebelled al those the future hid.
Thick as the breathing flowers, unseen,
Fair priZcs-scarce a blank between
My feet encompassed, was sure,
For Inc and for my love in store;
Was sure,-for us the scent. from those,
The springing hopes from these, arose;
But how longed 10 see each prize
Dance mirrored in her love-proud eyes
For honors, wealth, and fame, should DC
Won more for Bessy than for me.
How soon my fortunes dawn was red,
How soon the hated shades were fed
How quickly, on LIES chcquered ground,
Wealth, fame, and honors, have found
If serpents st,mg, hid my pain,
And flung them strangled off again
And iftheir fangs were in my soul,
still strobe forward TO the goal
How soon I've wrung from crooked Fate
The slave OF those that strive and wait
For boyhood's gay obscuriiy,
A glare of void prosperity,
And for that bamy night of June,
Bright horror of a winters noon
Once more, in manhood's flush and pride,
! stand the gray old well beside.
The shades are fed and white and still
] see the meadow and the ril,
Each leaf that, by the north wind tossed,
l. A.
And shining snow, that signing sifs
Through withered stalks that fringe the drifts
No more need to grope my way
II lies before me plain as day,
Across wide and wintry void,
Where all is brilliant, clear, and cold
Yet pause 10 view, with waicry eyes,
The dazzling mound where Bcssy lies.
In darkness lurketh hope but light
OF stares us into blank alright
1t shine. in empty mockery,
To gid and fiout our misery.
As when his gricfs have touched his brain,
The doting exile sues in vain
To tread the pale and bubbly wake
That through the waves the ship doth make
White ghost of returning road,
To lead him TO his lost abode
We seek to walk DER Memory's track
Time will not give his bargains back,
But, for the dross we craved Of old,
EFFORTS, and keeps, lfe's brightest gold
How many years of noie I'd give,
One little week of then TO live
My manhood's powers matured and skilled,
For youths vague promise ne'er fulfilled,
And all the bays my brows that Irvine,
For Bessy's little hand in mine
Nay, all my lands, nook 10 have
Beside her, in her lowly grave
Yet he is weak, or short, of sight,
Who cannot bear the wholesome light,
Nor by lis aid, unbIenching, brook
In Fatc's unveiled stern face 10 look
BehoIding in its circuit fair
No revelation but despair.
Unto the iar-eyed sailors view,
The wreck il gives-the haven, TOO.
raise my eyes. From heavens blue dome
II shines-from Bessy's waiting home
A beacon sure, TO guide my way
Up TO no cold nor dreary day.
The winter reaches not the sky;
But in its sunny purity
The tender gaze I see once more,
Methinks, that warmed my heart of yore.
The laurels, that for thee won,
My reckless grief doth trample on;
But lure me with thine image fair,
Until with thee the palm bear-
Until another night shall close
Upon my triumphs and my woes,
And lay me by thy quiet side,
Thou buried JOY, my hopes young bride,
Until again the shadows fee,
Beloved, and gaze on thee.