The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-31
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION
WASHINGTON, ID. G.

w ASHlNtT HUN, ~. "
For the National Fra.
REVELLING.
BY GAIL HAMILTON.
Come 10 my Christmas FEAST
have spread yol noble cheer;
The scarlet holly hath lent her glow,
And the fragrant oil burns clear.
Vaor and Beauty, and Love,
Gather around my board
wait in my old, ancestral hall,
And the biood-r wine ispoured.
am Lord of the revel tonight,
Crown ye the brimming bowl.
Let mr,h and Laughter. and dance, and song,
Rouse up the dropping soul.
Aha hear, You have come al my call;
There's sweep OF roses in the oaken hall
Nay, before you enier OF perfume
Floats heavily into Tie empty room
Aha little sister, i..rice welcome tonight,
Ills many year since you pa sed from my sight
Resi-, al last, in the vacant chair,
Which many a year has waited there.
M-thinks your check Is n thought too white,
Aud your blue. mild eyes have a saddened light.
q sweet Iiule sister, how gaily we played
Brneaih the balm eilead's Pickering shade.
1 can see tic gleam OF your twlnkllng feet
In the soft dense richard grass
Ana the clover droops its purple bead,
Dew laden, as you pass
Again from my side you dart away,
And defy to follow after
Again from the heaps of new-nown hay
Steals up your smolhered laughter.
Or, dp-toe you stand by the gu rden wall,
Where the morning shadows iiHger,
Dimpling such dainty, resisting lips,
With the up ola rosy finger
Is robin, or. ia it The breeze.
Rushing mp there in the apple trees?
Was il a fairy you watched 50 long,
With wisul, peering eyes,
Ia the morning glcry's crimson cup,
Ere The sun had gatherei its incense up
For his worship in the skies?
% dear liiile sister. the day : gone by
think rememb, you sill and white
think all the sunshine pallet oui of your eye,
Yet you are here tonight
Was il not true, this pretty ring
OF yellow silken hair,
] clipped from that ow-Iying head,
With tender needless care,
Surely the president hand OF Death
blessed in after times,
That Ted your stainless soul beyond
The shadow of my crimes
Crimes, Crimes Who speaks that word
Who dares at banquet Of mine!
o raise, hue sister your goblet of gold,
pledge you in Chan wine
What staieier step, what queener form, lady OF tn,
Right royal greeting is thy need and seat at my RICH
hand.
Ha, Stay know the eyes that glow beneath tina
maichless brow:
know The smile those dear lps-my mother! il is
thou,
O noble name! and noby worn alike through woe and
veal
Here, mother n little child low thy feet knee-
pray thee lay upon my head thy lender hand once
more
pray thee press upon my cheek the mothers kiss OF
Dear love that for my childish pain could find a quick
relief
Dear heart, rejoicing in JOY. and saddened in my
o rno,,rrs eyes, why gaze long upon my upturned
face
O mothers smile on mothers lips why did you leave
Turn, away that mournul look; it rends my secret
soul!
Relentless my shrinking heart he waves of memo
ry roll
There sharper pane Than dcaths-a woe that brings
tenrs.
But graves the brow with deeper lines than pa,rarcha
years
- mother. did my madness bring such guerdon 10 Thy
truth,
hear, as in troubled dream, the winds of autumr
rave
The restless whirl of whered leaves above new-made
grave.
thought shadow hid The sun forever from my sight
% happy thai dream, since you here tonight
That may deem it was Dream you being here to
night
Ring out the stirring song.
Pour forth the rosy wine!
will tonight all hearts he light.
TO ishi toni ghI is mine.
Beautiful, beautiful shining one,
ROBBED i'm the light Of a sofiened sun,
Gliding hiiher with noiseless tread,
Who bows not bel fore thee is i-besied
Io, thus welcome thee peerless guest,
Growing with garlands the Queen al the Feast.
Nay not TO my throne, not by my side
Come TO my arms-my iong-lost bride!
Law :hy head my yearning breast,
And calm the pulse OF its wild unrest
Melhnks, my darling. your lips are chill.
Your heart against mine is strangely still.
IL used TO lhrob al my downward look,
And read your face : luminous book
That face is calmer and winter now
Than when YOU whispered your marriage VOW.
Then il was hu. he'd from your fears excess,
But was trembling with tenderness.
q Love. that day seems very far,
Distantly glowing, tremulous star,
Bitter ay bitter The yeats have been,
The piiiless years that rolled between.
Why cid that glory depart soon?
Who queached the light of your fair young June?
sieart of my heart, life of my life,
Here behold you, beautiful wife;
Yet thought witnessed you, day by day,
Fade like The of summer away.
thought yon went down 10 the silent dust
All. me the woe
1 thought you up TO the heaven of heavens,
Long ago.
Did tne heart you should slxays have regned with
Open its portals TO deadly sin!
Did the demon that turks IN The red wines glow
Nerve my for n mnr,erous blow
Silent serene, You are standing there,
And yet, O God! can almost swear,
Could frenzy itself such measure deal,
saw the CLEAN of the flashing s;eel
O fearful gleam hideous dream!
% flashing, fearful light.
OLl.s; in hat ii was a dream,
Since you here TO night.
That | may deem it was dream.
You being here o-might
Avauni, ye Phanioms Of the Brain,
r. vaunt. nor mock my soul;
ro-uis h, tonight, my heart is light
crown the trimming bowl.
Sweet fIiends. for you, the tired and true,
pour the pnf;?le flood
fIo, meniais. sisvesj Ito helsh race!
Who hath wrought me this foul disgrace
Wae. wine II is blood!
Gone-gone-gon
The mirth and the music fife;