Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1878-04-04
FROM SHORE TO SHORE.

II was dreamy and delicious day.,
Such as we blisstul know in later May,
When from the shore tiny vessel sped,
With hearts Joyous as the skies o erheao,
Borne with its fairy grace along the waves,
While ripplcd forth their talk both gay and grave.
The aged sire, with snowy locks Wds tnere'
The mother also, with her brow OF care;
Both dear and pr cious to the youthful band,
Who blend their bIOyant hearts with strength Oh nan
The children gazed afar from ont the Prov
And scarce could wait the while their keel shou
Its shining furrow through the yielding tide,
To reach the shore upon the other sde
Young love there to blend the nearts Oh t"o'
The maiden smiled; the whispered tale, SO ne"'
And vet so Old was still SO full OF bliss,
They saw no further shore, nor yet saw th's;-
ONLY each other all the voyage they saw,
Chewing thus the grand. e.erDal law.
With thoughtful eyes, and choosing oft to stand,
Fair Lena's husband views the distant Iana;
While prattling childhood, at the vessels SIDE,
Watches the motion of the azure tide
AT last the boatman breaks the silence long,
And begs OF yOath and maiden, each, song.
The maiden, COY, refuses with smile;
The youth declares he cannot thus Degulle
The hours that !oat too fast for him away,
Bringing the farewell with the close OF Gay;
Then asks the husband-prOud and glad Is he,-
Dear Lena, sing the song which pleaseth me.
Pleased with his pleasure sharing Loves reward,
She sings a stanza in Loves sweet accord;
And soft the music floats the waters DER. 80 .
Az thus she sings the song "FrOm Shore TO Shore
SIN chidhoods hour, with careless JOY.
Upon the stream we glide;
With youths bright hopes we gayly speed
TO reach the other side.
From shore to shore, from shore TO snore,
We're gliding on forever:
Keep watch and ward to guide and guard,
OThOu who slumberest never.
Thus sang the wife, and then this stanza DER,
All sang the chorus of this ashore to Shore"
From shore to shore. from shore to shore,
We're gliding on forever;
Keep watch and ward to guide and guard,
Thou who slumberest never!"
Then silence fell, like night on Arab plain,
When ceased the music of that sweet refrain;
And ere its sweet sOlemnity was Ger,
They talked together OF the far-Ot Shore
Not the fair land their mortal eyes deserted
But that 80 out of sight beyond the tide.
And heart to heart they spoke Faiths earnest word,
Trusting the love revealed by Christ the Lord:
And reverent questions met with answers then,
As silver locks replied to youthful ken;
While old and young rejoced to know one eye
OF Love, unwearied, watched them from the sky.
The noontide came, and on fairy isle
The party rested for pleasant while;
And mirth and gladness ruled the merry hour.
Beneath the shelter of the woodland bower.
And while they rested, at the sires request,
They sang the songs that tell US of the blest;
And as they gazed their watery pathway oer,,
Another stanza came "F.Om Shore to Shore"
Manhood looks forth with careful glance.
Time steady plies the oar;
While old age calmly waits to hear
The keel upon the shore.
And when our keel shall crate at last,
Beyond the rolling river,
Thy praise we'll sing, while loud shall ring
The fair, green shore forever"
And then the children there the chorus sang,
While all the woodland with the echoes rang:
'.From shore to shore, from shore to shore,
We're gliding on forever:
Keep watch aud ward to guide and guard,
y thou who slum bereSt neVer.
Noon passed; the blazing sun went down the west;
The May-bloom had the isle in beauty dressed;
And through its pleasant paths they sauntered long,
Minglng their cheerful talk with shout and song
The day was rare; all hearts at peace were found:
And Love made that sweet isle all halOwed ground.
The aged grandsire, with his silvery crown,
And his companion. with her pure renown,-
The village friend, the sOlace of the poor,
The unweared watcher by the solemn door,
They sat, and thought of joys for them in store,
When life should blossom on the other shore;
And with peace that faith alone could bring,
They heard their children of that Heaven sing,
And blessed the power which DER lifes heightened
way
Had guided them and guarded day by day.
When DER the waters rose the silvery moon,
Their day to lovers ended all too soon.
Once more the boatman called; then gathered they.
And homeward bound, once more they launched away
The grating keel slowly glided from the shore.
And they were on the sparkling wave once more.
Homeward they sped, with peace attendant there,
The angel OF the hour serene and fair.
Hope had her pinons folded; for the day
Her promise had fulfilled and now the way
Was DER the mOont tide to homes calm bliss.
The foretaste Of the new worlds rest in this
The lovers whispered vows were hushed that night,
As hand in hand they watched the shimmering light
And in the sparkling of their watery way
Beheld the diamonds of their wedding day.
The husband drew his Lena to his side
And whispered, "Dearer now than when BRIDE"
The old man looked on all with calm contents
The aged mother. who the day had spent
In large desires that others should be blest,
Now smiled in concert with his thought OF rest;
And cen the children. by the hour subdued,
Thought only of the beautiful and go0d;-
No mischief lighting up the bOyish face,
Nor on the grlish brow single trace
OF teasing mirth: but, while all chickering's cease,
They're gliding homcward DER the path of peace
Well might the boatman ask again the song,
Which, in his spirit, all day could prolong
The thought of Gods good will and loving care,
TO all his children given everywhere:
And 40 again the melody went DER
The waters as they sang "From Shore to Shore
Through storm or calm we glide along,
We pass from shore to shOre;3
With blended tears and smiles we 90,
To smile forevermOrc.