The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-08-29
MISS ). l.. HATFIELD.

MISS 5. E. HATFIELD.
Listen . | heard voice 4 solemn voice.
But sweet and fcrvent too. like that of PRAYER;
Such as would make angelic breasts rejoice,
And call to hearkcn from their starry sphere;
From yonder cot it comcs-1ll draw me near,
Its light shines like a star upon the night.
And to my wandering footsteps. far more dear,
better guide, pcrchance hoicr light.
Leading more near to heaven, than those above
my sight.
Oh It's lovely scene The gray haired sire
With lifted hands, implorng on each child
All that the lip can breathe, the soul desire,
To guide their footsteps through the worlds bleak
wild;
See how the glittcring tears his warm check gild
How rushcs through the wanc of years the glow;
How beams hi. look with all the father filled;
The ardency intense lights eve, lip, brow.
Which all his bosom 5 thoughts, hopes. fears, and
wishes, show.
Look at that fair-haird maid upon whose check
The rose of lovelinesS is deepening,
Mark how Scrcnclv pure, how calmly meek
Her cOuntcnancc Some unseen seraph's wing
Seems her: she i'll youth Is blithesomc spring,
And gives it to her God. All happy maid
Thus ever smile willing offering.
At morn. at eve. upon the altar laid.
And while obedience binds. safe. safe shall be thv
head.
There knccls the mother by her partners side
Silent her tongue. but Oh how full her eyes;
look at those sacred tears. whose gentle tide
ne loudcS1 torrent Of the lips supplies;
Oh, what cEn equal her bcSeeching sigh:
II tis not heard in heaven. then never came
Ihithcr the Sound of suppcations high
Nainly have nations piled the affairs flame
The intcnscst of them all. ne'cr reached moth
ers claim.
Beside her. rising into manhood form,
Her son. her secret pride and glory bows
Bright is his check with labor's color warm,
The honorable tint his forehead shows;
His eyes dark glance is yelled. as it would close
Awhile to all on earth. his heart deems fair,
His lips soft moving, tell. responsive vows
Are rising to his hoary fathers PRAYER;
Pleading with the high Heavens oh, guide from
every snare.
And yonder there's group in happicst being,
The fairy tenants of the cottage dome,
kneelnS before the eve Of Him, all-sccine.
Who watches if their thoughts or wishes roam;
The doll untouched i laid beside the drum,
That treasured instrument of loudc>t sound
stands close beside its master. but is dumb
As If forgotten on the dark>o ground
While lik. night. dc" closed flowers. tllr, bend
and cluster round.
Look at the little hand upon each brow.
Covering the face before the unseen God,
Listen. he might have heard the li>pcd vow,
Like cheruh-cchoeS seeking his abode:
Revile it not. dc>pi>c it not. We proud,
Nor say it is the .largon. learned by rote
Useless and mcanin glcSs-tho>c words allowed
Upon the youthful memory to float
Shall be the wakenng chord of many heavenly
note.
On. lovely scene. most lovely! would that thou
Dd>t not bcdcck the cottage bower alone,
But beneath every roof in beauty glow,
From the low hamlet to the lofty throne;
Then England. were the smiles Of heaven thine OWL
The bright patcrnal smiles Of Deity;
Then my loved country. would thy soil be known
The hallowcd and the blcst. the truly free.
And every evening hour a nations worship see.