The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-11-01
Sflsttea :gestFy,
THE CLOSING SCENE.
DI T. B. READ.

THE CLOSING SCENE.
BIT. B. READ.
The following is pronounced by the
Westminster RcricU to be uuquestlona'
bly, the finest American poem ever writ
ten: ....:. ."
Within the sober realm Of lcaflcsS trees, '..
The r,,ssct year inhaled the dreamy air;
Like some tanned reaper, in his hour Of case,
When all the fields are lying brown and
bare. ......
The gray barns looking from their hazy hills,
Oer the dun waters widening in the wales,
Sent down the mir greeting to the mills,
On the dull thundez &C alternate fails.
All sights were mcllowed and the sounds sub
lucd, "a,
The hills seemed further and the ,ftam
sang low, .....
As in dream the distant woodnan hcwed
His winter log with many muttlcd blow.
The emLattlcd forests, ccwhic armed with
Their banners bright with every martial
hue,
Now stool like some sad, beaten host Of old,
y. Withdrawn aiar in Times remotcst blue.i.-
On so,nbrc wings the vulturc tried his flight |;
The dove scarce heard his signing mates
complaint: 49,.
And like star slow drowning in the light,
The village church Yanc seemed to palo and
faint.
The sentinel cock upon the hillside crew
Crew thricc-and all was stillcr than before;
Silent; till some replying warden blew
His alien horn, and then was heard no
!. moro.
Where set the jay, within tho clm'S tall crest
Made carrulous trouble round her untlcdS-
Cd young;
And where the oriolc hung her swaying most,
By every light wind like censor swung
Where sauss. The noisy martins of, tho eYcs,.,.
The busy swallows circlng ever near.
Forebotling, rs the rustic mind believes,
An early harvest and plsnteous year.
Where every bird that walked tho vern"l feast,
Shook the sweet Slumber from its wings at
morn;
TO warn tho reaper Of the rosy lust;
AL now was sunless, empty and torlorn.
Alone, from out the stubblc, pipcd the quail,
And crooked the crow through all the
dreary gloom -
Alone, the pheasant drumming i'll tho vale,
Made echo in tho distant cottage loom.
Ihorc was no bud, no bloom upon tho
bowers; ''-.
The spiders moved their thin shrouds night
by night,
The thistle. down, the only ghost Of fowors
Sailed slowly by-passcd noisclcss out OF
sight. ....
Amid all this-iS this most drcary air,
And where the woodbine shed upon the
porch '.--
Its crimson leaves, as if tho year stood there,
Firing the floor with its inverted torch.
Amid all this, tho centre Of the sccnc,
The whitc-haired matron with monotonous
Piled the swift wheel, and with her joylsss
ncin
Sat like fate, and watched tho flying
thread. 3.-- ..
She had known sorrow: Ho had walked
with her,
Oft supped, and broke with her tho ashen
crust, -. .,
And in tho dead leaves still she heard the
.'.et;r h.., o.. ..
Ofhis thick mantle trailing in the dust.
While yet her cheek was bright with summer
bloom, ...,..
Her country summoned and she gave her
y. .all;"""! ~ 49,. ''..,
And twice war bowed to her bis sable plume,
Re7gave the sword 70 ' rust upon the :. wall al.
Re-save& the sword, but not the hand that
And struckfor liberty tho edying blow ;,,.. =
Nor him Who, to, his sire and country true,
FeT mid tha nkAaf. ths invading foe.
Long, but DOT 1old ihs drdoVhS wheel went
1koths yI, low nc maurnaf S;s Of hive It aoon J;
Long butuoe loud, ,;the memory of tho gone
~'BfeatiSd ynrod n l6ief rps SAD and tremu
5-iAbu44@3 TOl > 1oUoT
At last thc,thtua6.xn ,1naped-her head
n.<l .zxaa bowed, ,,uA' 'a,,-A s+e''. -.'' >c> a:
Life droppcd the distsf through hhcrhands
.ssecnST ,rN:psi1GGo
And loving noighb0s sr1ootheG her caseF1
~ .74shropisss S;ts"'2 s's - 4'rIh .'aof -
ena le.Sns .Si,a ., 80, ..its ,.:rf4S