The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-03-29
OR PR TIN
Sabbeth in the Country.
BY T. BUCHANAN READ.


To- a:ion,
F.oc. hillside hoTnes anj hanie;s in the y.ile.
Cae after one, IN Sabbath gaIb srrayed
Their nantes breathing OF deep oaken drawers
Ana sutique chests, the people throng, and take
TIE Tarious pathways which convergng lead
Here - his quiet shrine among tho elns
Oh, happy hour, beloved of peace and heaven!
Around, aud over AL, the white calm hes
Flooded with perfume aid mysterious light;
So sweet, So beautiful. II seems day
Los; oG; ci Ecen, See, where children come
Like hopes unchecked, still running in advance,
with llnocent laughter, hut not over Loud
Plucking the purple violets by the way;
While from their feet the butte 1y. reIea-cl
-; ye,:er lay from out his winter cell,
Darts L? With GcyiaIs a,ght, sal like a wasp.
Wsver, across th2 meadow, Happy sounds,
Iy HAPPIER faces follow e., sill approach.
whRi round std ra1dy chccks are there, 20 which
Health Ike the sun, with duly welcome comes,
Leaving the impress CT his glowing hand,
Ia; .udtenly their tongues 20 whisper low
D-op, IS their eyes look wondering on the stranger.
And into decotous columns, two by two,
They file tcfJrc me aith shy glanccs cast
From shadowy b1ms and SNOWY hoods turned back,
81 Ha,ron care arranged. Some in their hands
Bear ;he s.naIl volume beck ol praise or prayer;
Aud some Nrh freedom loving feet released
Printing The dusty path, their !iltle shoes,
Fof Sunday polished, carried 2. the side
To t-s resumed q; yonlel slile which gains
The highsay near the church. And. follow ing soon
The larger people come: the youths and maids
Joining their steps as chance or fancy leads
And. after these, stout men with faces brown.
Ana 5roxner hands which on the plough-helyes tooa
uaElcrel. the last weeks sunshine At theiI side
TIE uia;Tnrs with fair t,cws but halfway cleared
OF household cares, aich, of accomplished. Still
IS ott recur, nonotcnous only cheero1
Py v.rsu0Gs sense Of dGty and lie light
O. happy chi ldren, or encouraging words
Heard al the veil served meal; or better stiIl,
Finding approval in their cain hearts
whose gentle teInpers rouni their daily toii
Shed music and halo else unknown.
Here following s,lll WITH reverend steps aaL slew,
Their garments venerable with age, and out
OF joint with modern custom, come the sres
And mo hers Of the county, siiver-htred
Ooe leans upon his care, with knoi;ed hanis,
Ana oak long bowed ans gnarled by tempestsi one
Stands upright rs 4 winter pine. To-day
He genres lot n his long sur:out Of drab--
TIE coai Of many ca7es ana sweeping shirt.
Bushirg the s,l5ble, proofs TO winds rhelma;Ic--
Now laid aside un1ll November calls.
Bet IN the Sp-iug-tiIne garments OF the past.
Sec what i brow Is there, Y he-c Tine delights
TO place the warning record of The years!
Note nc calm eve grown mild with gh, OF v!sioG,
Assisted by his arm his partner, bowed
walks lettering, with palsy-slakIng heal,
En3 numbering 10 herself. Perchance she dreams,
'ri.hin Der haZy brain, OF that b igti hrur.
fow buried beneath half a century,
When cn the selfsane arm she proudly leaned
kll1, III the blush Of youth upon her cheek,
Crossed The same pasture and, returning, heard
N! answered an3iher name"