The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-04-17
Original. Born.
ANNIVERSARY POEM.

NN htting IN the glOamln8
ofR sunny summer eve,
And my brain with fancies busy
Did rosy future weave.
Just at that delightful moment
When the day the night entwines.
And when twillghrs dusky curtain
with lis starry pinning shines;
When the length'ning woodland shadows
Come SO slowly creeping out,
And the sky with ilghtand darkness
Seems to blush and then to pout.
There was nAught to break the stiffness
That enshrouded vale and hill.
Save the melancholy murmur
ofthe plaintive whip-poor-wiu,
And the frogs unbroken eroakIng
In the swamp where serpents creep.
All the world was bathed In beauty,
Bathed in beauty halfasleep.
Just above the far horizon
Hung a cloudy belt OF blue,
Where the sun had left his footsteps
ofa shining golden hue
while above me In mld-heaven
Bits Of cirrus foated high.
Seeming like the wings Of angels
Speeding Ger the evening sky.
As I've said, my soul was calling
over Fancy's sparkling sea;
Sweet desires filed my canvas,
Hopes bright beacon beckon'd me.
And sailed absorbed in silence;
All forgotten was mankind;
For my pleasant, dear companions
Were the offspring Of the mind
Thoughts whose deep, mysterious sweetness
Mortal never yet has heard;
Thoughts so sacred that they'd vanish
From the foul touch Of word.
Suddenly heard the whisper
ofa motion in the air;
Twas a son inelodous rustling
Asifwinga were moving there.
Then the atmosphere grew fragrant
with ambrosial odor filed;
And an awe OF holy presence
All my anxious being thrilled
looked and loi within the doorway
Where the moonbeams softly fell,
Stood form Of Heavenly beauty,
Beauty which can not tell.
Her free hair so long and golden
Spread cloud her feet around.
And her snow-white. pearly pinions
Seemed to touch the very ground.
On her head crown ofjswels
spArkled with unearthly light,
And her faces wondrous beauty
Was in mercy yelled from sight
Then she spoke, and oh the music
How my hear upon It dweIlsi
Il was like a softened echo
ofthe sound OF silver bells;
Like the voice in which the fairy
All his ardent love unfolds;
Like the tones which angels whisper
Unto dying Christians souls
Let no thought Of fear or worship,
Mortal, cross thy mind tonight;
For I've brought thee words OF wisdom
From my home OF pure delight
"'Tls not meet that thou shouldst worship
Those who naught above thee get
For there's that within ag being
Which may be an angel yet
so each day in life's unfolding
Thou art walking, talking still,
With kind friends who through Gods mercy
Nay be angels II they wn
Listen then and what tell thee
Do not hesitate TO write.
I'm the Genius Of the Irving
Set to keep its watch-fre bright
"Not in vain has God implanted
In the human soul desire,
That will struggle, struggle. struggle,
To reach higher, higher, higher.
This unceasing, restless longing
Love Divine blessing gave:
'Tis yearning for the culture
Soul, and mind, and body crave.
ayes this mean dissatisfaction
Isl boon to mortals lent
For the strAighiest path TO Heaven
lisa noble discomfort
"'Tis the souls indignant protest
Against passing through life's glow,
Thoughtless. needless as the beast that
Crops the wayside thistle low.
This II is that makes men social,
Bridges rivers. tunnels mounts,
Crosses oeea ms, levels forests,
All the starry beauties counts.
And whatever aids the struggle
Is blessing to mankind.
For the soul will be expanded
BY an educated mind.
Then as life's wave surges higher
II must leave It's landmarks too
The thoughts and actions Of the many
Must be written by the few.
where would be your fame enduring
Where would be your taste so pure.
Where the knowledge of your progress
Ifyou had no iiierature'
"E'en your sister fair. the Browning,
In her motto tells you this:
Life Is not true life but "Mors est
Via sine lRieris"
$50 God looks with special favor
On societies Of this kind.
Since they're organized to furnish
Proper culture for the mind.
Thou wilt hear me, then. with patience
When say they have such worth
That a star In heaven was lighted
For the Irving at Its birth.
mine has been the pleasing duty
Alive lis little fame to keep;
And my eyes 80 jealous watching
Never once have dared to sleep.
'ohi how tenderiy nursed 1t
Through It's days of dim delayl
How sheltered. how famed ii
Hoping for brighter ray.
How my heart with grief was riven
Az l saw II fare about;
Fearing for the glimmering beacon
Adverse winds would blow Il ont
with what anxious, earnest interest
Bent my sister spirits DER,
As they saw II sinking, swelling,
Like wave along the shore.
"But at length its fame grew stronger
Than it e'er had been before
And my heart ieapcd up with pleasure
For my douttfsi watch was DER.
"Yea, the Irving was established
On a basis broad and sound
And twas rising, slowly rising,
Course on course above the ground.
Like some grand and stately minister
Which successive ages rear
Generations die around II
Ere its end approaches near
Each takes up the work It's fathers
Len when they went hence to live:
Each to add TO it, proportions
Does It's time and labor give.
"But the sreen moss settles thickly
On the gray old basement walls
Ere the sunllghtin its beauty
On the giided steeple falls.
And the ivy climbs and ciambcr
Over all its moss-srown sides