The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-11-11

sutute Juiy ~, the HfSt prize Tor composition Wa
awarded to ihe writer of the following poem
"TlIE SPELL OF A GENTLE WORD.
ny MARGARET }. BURwEIE,
Twas night, and the cool and perfuned breeze, '
Breath'd soft mid the boughs of the waving trees,
Or low TO the wild wood d-howers it sighd, @
" bile the tiny buds to its tones replied;
But when the gay music of fairy gee |
In the clear, calm midnight rose merrily, ss b."
And a thousand glancing beings of air, ID"
Like countless gems held their revels there, y
1t lied from the woods and the flowers away. III
And stole TO silent room, Wherelay &@r.a .,
dying girl - r" ."@'0.53 ...H .tF&W @.m
Her mournf1 eyes -l&& aU
Look ont from their tears on the dark ming skies,
W here single star in its glory shone, %t
Like naughty heart, bereft and lone. n,
Round the marble brow waved the clustrng iair, ~
And the tiny hands We're clasp'd in prayFr;; aas
she spoke, and eachrinw and trembling wjrd
Was sad as the wall Of the widow d bird
"Oh! sweet is the spell that the zephyr filings
AS 1t sweeps DER the wild harps silyery strings
And soft Is the murmur'd minstrelsy
of the flashing waves Of the summer sea
And the rain drops breathe, as they near the Garth
a giadsome chorus of joy and mirth; ...
The blue-bells ring ever in tones Of glee .,
And plea5and sound hath the huinmnc bee;
And though strangely sad is the spirits sigh
w hen the crimson clouds leave the evening sky
Yet when the sunbeams burst on the sleeping flowers
With flush Joy on their petals bright, ..
They ope with chorus Of wild delight.
The gem that CLEANS on the velvet vest,
That shelters each slumberng 1oweret's breast,
And has whispered all night of its home on high,
Where its sisters dwell in the beaming sky, -.
Takes sweeter tone when the dawnng day
Bids 1t leave the earth on its heavenwa.d way
The dancing brook mlirinurs joyous tale,
vi the leafy wood and messy vale;
And have you not heard, when the shades of night
HING dark DER the earth, and the stars were bright
soft, sweet tone like the violet song
Or the lay Of the waves Us they glide along?
But no. 1t is sweeter than they, by far,
Ils the spirit-stran of some wand ring star.
But softer than music of star or lea,
Than dew drops murmur, or hum of the bee,
Than the tale of the brook, the song of the bird
Is the mystic spell of a gentle word
1t falls on the heart as the summer shower
On the fading leaves of the thrstng flower;
Like beam OF hope, with its cheering ray
1t llghtens the gloom of lfe's dreary way; -
And when the darkness Of death draws near,
And the spirit shrinks with nameess fear, 81"
II tells the soul Of radiant shore
Where sorrow and signing are known more.
But am alone no loved one is nigh
TO bend kindly DER me and pray e'er die;
hear the clear song of the joyous bird,
but listen i'll vain for gentle word
Then an aged man with his locks of snow.
Press d al earnest kiss on her,tever'd br0w;
She had knelt with him Oft al the hour of prayer
IN her childhood home, when the world seem ksir
And thousand flowers on her path were shed -
But now, when they all were faded and dead
And her heart was sad, and her soul most drear,
And death hover'd DER her, he only was near
"My child."-he said" though none DER thee may
weep, .t'
Fear not, for the angels vigil shall keep
BY thy lowly grave, and u requiem sing .
For the bud that died in its blossoming
lon star that is shining so brightly above,
Would tell thee tale of Gods mercfu love:
For cen as il glOws through the darkness of night
zhy spirit shall beam in the land of light;
Thy mother, my dear one awaits thee on high,
She would welcome her child her home in the sv"
MY mother" she mu mur'd-a sweet smile play d
Round the tiny mouth, while the cool breeze strayd
Mid the clustering curls of that low, pale brow
And breath'd on the cheek Of stainless snow:
But the dark eye was cosedhe maiden ne 'er stirrd
Her spirit had passed with that gentle word,