The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-07-01

rThe following IL pronounced by the Westminster
Rsrjs,p to be unquestionaply Tue hnes' nne''>"
poem ever written j
within the sober realm Of leafess trees
The r,,sset wear inhaled the dreamy air:
like some tanned reaper, in the hour OF ease,
when All the fields lying brown and bare.
The gray barns looking from their hazy hills,
Der the dun waters widening the Vsies;
Sent down the air greeting to the NILS
ON the dull thunder of alternate nalis.
All sights were mellowed and all sounds subdned'
The hill seemed farther and the streams sung iow'
A in a dream the distant woodman bowed
His winter lot with many mumed oiow'
Tho eubattled forests, erewhile armed with gold,
The banner bright with every martial hue,
Now stood like some sad-oeaten most ot oiu
withdrawn afsr in Times remotest blue.
IN sombre wings the vulture tried his fight;
The dove scarce heard his signing maids COM
And IKE star slow drowning in the light
THE village church vane seemed to pale ana iain'.
The sentinel cock upon the hillside crew
Irew thrice-snd all was stiller than oeiore
Silent till some relying warden piew
His alien horn, aud then was heard no MORE
WHARF, erst the lay within the elm's tall crest.
Made garrulous trouble round her unnedged
And where t the oriole swung her swaying nest.
Nv every light wind like censor swung
Whore sapc the noisy martins of the caves
The busy swallows circing ever near
roreboding. as the rustic mind believes
An early harvest and plenteous year;
where every bird that walked the vernal feast
Shook the sweet slumber from its wings at morn'
To warn the reaper of the rosy east
And now WAS sunless, empty and foriorn'
Alan. from ont the stubblc, piped the quail,
And croaked the crow through al the dresry
Alone The pleasant drumming in the vale.
Made echo in the distance to the cottage loom.
There was no bud, no bloom upon the bowers
The spiders weaved their thin shro"ds night ny
The thistle down, the only ghost of flowers.
Sailed slowly by-passed noiseless out of-sight'
Amid all this, in this most dreary air.
And where the woodbine sheds upon the porch
It's crimson leaves. a. II the year s."ou snefe'
Firing the floor with its inverted TORCH;
Amid all this the centre of the scene.
The white haired matron, with HOMOGENEOUS treso'
Piled the swift wheel, and with her joyous lnicn
Eat like fate, and watched the flying thread.
Che had known sorrow He had walked with her,
OFT supped and broke with her the sshen crust
And In the dead leaves still sne nes." ' smu "'''
or his thick mantle trailing IN the DUST
while vet her cheek was bright with summer bloom
Her Country summoned and she gave her all;
And twice war bowed to her his sable plume
Re.gsve the sword to rest upon the WALL
Re.esve the sword but not the hand that drew
And struck for liberty the dying biow.
Nor him. who, to his sire and country true,
Fell mid the ranks OF the invading roe.
Long but loud, the droning wheel went on,
Like the low murmur of hive at noon
Long Int not loud the memory of the gone
Breathed through her lips sad and tremuions
tune.
At last the thread was snapped, her heart was
life dropped the distaff through her hand serene
And loving neighbors soothed her careful shroad
While death and winter closed 'he au'u'nA '''A'