Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-05-02
Seleft 9oetrp.
Rock Nc to Sleep, Mother I

IA friend, sending us the following most exquisit,
poem, whose touching language has thrilled us IL
music, so often, asks Its new publication, and en-
qures respecting Its authorship.
number OF persons have at various times unde
different circumstances, laid claim to the merit o
writing IT, but Its first publication that can be traced
In the Philadelphia Saturday Erenfng isst ln III,
spring Of 1880 It having been sent to that paper ovei
the signature Of Florence Percy" by Mrs. Elizabeth
A. G. Akers, from Rome, where she and her husband
Paul Akers the well.kuown sculptor, were then re
siding Mrs. A. certainly claims the poem her own
On the other hand, however, MIR. A. NJ. Ball, of Eliza
beth, N. j., member of the LEGISLATURE of his Safe
claims to have written poem under the same title
OF which six stanzas are identical with those OF Mrs
Akers rs early 1856 and he brings the ties tmony
of his friends that tsey had 1t read TO them by Mr. b.
about that time. One Of those friends has just pub
lished a somewhat bulky pamphlet 10 establish thi,
statemeSt
Just ut this pslnt is about far MS can 20 with
confidence. The claim resi- between Mrs. Akcrs and
MIR. Ball. The former Is wel-known as poet and
the latter is not. As cotemporary reviewing tht
case, says Everything but truth points at Mrs
Akeis us the author, but the stubborn facts seem to
be with Mr.. Ball." We must admit, however, that
our sympaihles are with the lady who first published
the posm.-EnB CoaMERcIAI.l
Backward, tuIn backward, o, Time in your ight,
Make mt child again, just for tonight!
Mother come back from the echoless shore,
Take me again to your heart us of yOre;
Kiss from my forehead the fnrrows OF care,
Smooth the few silver threads out Of my hair,
Over my sumbers, your loving watch keep,
Rock me to sleep. mother, rock me to sleep.
Backward, flow backward, o, tide of years
am weary OF tolls and Of tears,
Toll without recompense, tears all in vain,
Take them and give me my childhood again
have grown weary of dust aud decay,
Weary of flinsing my soul wealth away
Weary Of sowing for Others to reapl
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep!
Tired Of the hollow, the base, the untrue,
Mother, o mother, my heart calls for you!
Many a summer the grass has grown green,
Blossomed aHd faded, our faces between,
Yet with strong yearnng aud passionate pain
Long tonight for your presence again;
Come from the silence so long and so deep;
Rock me to Sleep mother, rock me to sleep!
Over my heart in days that are flown,
No love like mother love ever was shown;
No other worship abides and endures,
Faithful, unselilsh and patient, like yours
None like mother can charm away pain,
From the sick sOul and world weary brain;
slumbcrs soft calm DER my heavy lids creep
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep.
Come let your brown hair. just lighted with gold
Fall on your shoulders again as Of old
Let ii fall over my forehead tonight,
Shading my faint eyes away from the light;
For with ils sunny-edged shadows once more
HAPPY will throng the sweet visions Of yore;
Lovingly, softly, its bright Lows sweep
Rock me 10 sleep, mother rock me to sleep!
Mother, dear neither the years have been long
Since last hushed to your lullaby song;
Since then, and unto my soul it shall seem,
Womanhood's years have been but IL dream.
clasped to your arms in loving embrace,
With your light lashes lust sweeping my face,
Never her nf er To wake or to weep.
Rock me to sleep, motter rock me to sleep.