Middletown transcript., 1869-01-02
Original poetru.
AMMO DONIINI.
Written for The Mdd,aown 7ranscrii,


Long centuries have passed since in his cell
\ pious hermit sat: perchince the plains
Of tilr-iamed Marathon were spread around
Ills humble home, but to his peaceful life
No echoes came OF the fierce striie which ragged
Through all the then known world; Or il the name
Of Hun or Attila had reached his ear
lie but glanced around him us II drowsy child
When some quick sound disturbs his quiet sleep,
And smiling he finds that all is still,
Turns to his dreams again. So must have lived
The old monk Dionyslus. Quietly sped
The long bright days that in their onward flight
drought nought OF sorrow to the holy man
Who IN his l,onderous scroll took great delight.
Unknown, unIoticed by the would-be great
Whose deeds have pcrshcd with them; he alone
| \ mighty deed accomplished: looking back
| Through five dark centuries OF strife and blood,
| Whose warriors and whose heroes are enrolled
| Among Garth greatest SONS, he pondered well
| If one stood eminent above the rest,
| That from his birth might bc named.
Augustus, meath whose sway the gates OF peace
| " ere closed in ancient Rome; and Trajan, loved
BY all hls subjects Constantine, the Great,
| All passed in thought before him; yet 10 none
| OF THESE great men might such claim be given
BY all their mighty deeds, for love to men
Moyed not their hands, and dwelt not in their
| hearts,
And Judging rightly of the wondrous love
| That brought Tic Lord TO earth, he singled out
| The adven, Vt Il man who lived and died
| in earth most paltry kingdom, and from it
| Reckoned the years Ui nations and with Faith
In God own word that every tongue should own
Ills Son 10 DC the Lord he offered this,
| Ills humble tribute, 10 his Savior love.
| God made the tribute lasting ages passed,
And still the 'Christian Era marked the years.
| Twelve centuries were gOne and TO II land
Unknown TO Dionysius, Christians brought
That christian Era On the barren rock
They knelt, and sought God $ blessings on the
land
That he had brought them to; n wilderness,
But from that seed Of Gods own planting grew
y garden, till it blossomcd the
Now, III these later days. has risen the doubt
If we are christians, warranted lis true
BY our unchristian acts; but oh do we,
" ho as II nation owe 50 much ~ God,
DO We ignore linn? No; thank God that sin
Is spared us yet we hamper not It's true
kcllsiUn by our own laws; we reckon not
The holder Of our creed above the man
ho holds another nor do we enuOw
With our State funds, church above the rest,
But as nation we respect the laws
VI the great King Of kings; his holy day
we guard with jealous care may more, in all
The procluIuativns that our rulers make
They own jehovah, for the date is given
- \ ear our Lord" Whose Lord? DO we submit
Our freedom 10 IA mortal Is there one
In the whole earth 10 whom we reverence pay
As to sovereign? Answer, oh ye fools,
/, We own no sovereign but our God. We name
Our years from that bright one in which he became
A babe OF days TO earth that he might prove
lis mercy and justice unto men.
Friends, with morning that is drawing near,
A new " ar dawns. What memories crowd aroun'
OF this past year? what friendships made or lost
What good deeds done? what evil unpcrtormcd
And oil if sorrow with its whitening touch
Has visited our homes; what visions rise
Of those so loved SO lost. Upon the breeze,
This New Years eve, their voices seem to ioat,
And fancy places them once they were
|, Within our walls. All never more shall the
Keep New Year with us they are gone to God.
What bright resolves we made when first we me
j., This old year in our path T.? what blessings we
u Would bring to all mankind before it He'd?
And where they? Alas /! the whistling wind
,, Could better tell than we. The Year is gone
" " Gone with our loved TO God, with all its plans
" - To testify against us, that we lived
a So little unto him who made lis ALL
i. i, Shall we not in this new year Of our Lord
j" Work for his glory? Let us start anew
Towards our chiefend, and in our Maker strengt
So live that when our last great change shi
p come,
We cheertully may sleep, and so await
The great day OF our Lord.
rs FAITH.
j. Port Penn, DEL