The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-11-16
sIornlng Star and Catholic Messenger.
sew o8LEANe, SUNDAY. NOvEMBTB 10. ID
THE CLOSING SCENE.


The following poem, 10 pronounced by the
Wstmtnster Revie,c to be unquestonably the
Raest American poem ever written 49,:
Washin the sober realms of leafess tress,
Tao russell year inhaled the balmy airs
lac some tanned reaper, In his hour OF eaae,
when all tho fields arc lying brown and bare
Ese gray barns looking fsou-sheir hazy hills
Ger tho dim waters widening la the wales.
Snt down the air . greeting 70 the mils
On the dull thunder Of alternate has.
> Isphts were mellow ed and all sounds subdued,
ei9hs hs seemed further and the streams sang low.
i-AA IN . dream the distant woodman bewsc
A. His winter log with many . mufbed blow
The emba.tled forests. erewhile armed with gold.
s.. 4hsr banners bright with many martial hue.
New stood like sad beaten host Of old.
Withdrawn afar in times remotest hue.
+ sca slumb'rous wines tho vulture tried his flight
The dove scarce heard his sRhinG mates complaint
And, like o slow drowning In tho light,
Tho village church v8no seomed to pale ana iainS
The sentinel cock upon the hillside crow
Crow thrice-and all stilier than beforei
client, till some replying warden blew
His alien horn and then was hoard no moro
when, era, tho jay within tho clm's tall crest.
Mad. esrruIous trouble round her unhedged youngi
And whore the oriole hung her svayiDg nest.
By every light wind like censor swung
Wlere sang tho noisy martins Of the Caves
Tho busy swallow. circling over noar-
yorsbod,ng % the rustic mind believes,
An early harvest and plenteous year.
who're every bird that walked tho vernal Toast.
Shook the sweet slumber from his wings at morn,
To warn the reaper Of the rosy cant
An sougless, empty and forlorn
,aIone from out the stubbls piped tho quail,
Ad eroaked the crow through ali tho dreary gloom
. sHAione. the pheasant drumming in the vale.
Sdade echo in the distance to the cottage loom.
- srbete was no bud, NO bloom upon tho bowcrs-
Ths spiders wove thin shrouds night by light
Tho thistle-down. the only ghost OF Ao~ers.
Sailed slowly by-passed noislessly ont OF sighs
.Aea,d all this-sn this most dreary air.
: ., And where the woodbine she'd upon the porch
Ne crimson leaves. ~ the years stood there
= :" Firing the floor with inverted torch;
!, a Ard all this, the centre of the scene.
The whitehaiIe cd matron, with monotonous tread
eNed the swift wheel, and with her joyess men
r! pasas Ike fate. and watched the flying thread
he Md known sorrow. he had walked with her,
on supped and broke with her the ashen crust,
And In the dead leaves still she heard the stir
= .of his black mantle trailing in the duet.
Shsle vet her check bright with GUNNER bloom,
49, Her country summoned and she gave her all
+. And twice war bowed to her HE sable plume
m jRegAve the sword to rust npon tho wela.
1esaave the sword. but not the hand that drew
.aiuAad struck for liberty the dying blow;
12pr HIM who. to HE sire and country true,
FAN 'uid the ranks Of the invading foo
K1as, but not loud. the dronng wheel went on
.,t Like the low murnur Of = have ct noOni
Lorz, but not loud, the memory Of the gone
Breathed through hsr lips q and and tremulous to-
~, A. last the thread was mapped head bowed
- Lie dropped the distaG thrpnRh her hands serene
Ths loving neighbOr OnoOthed her careful Ohroud,