Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-09-30

The following poem was written for the Pari'
Centennial celebration by Mrs. Hannah Max
inn Allen of Michigan.
Ye grand old hills that round my childhood,
home
Keep watch and ward in solemn majesty.
To-day, my spirit spurns the bounds of space
And stands once more upon your sunny slopes
And grects you, hail. all hail love you still
With love as steadfast AS your own calm
strength.
Today, gaze on your familiar forms,
And drink the airs that fan your lcfty brows,
And trace. with kindling eye. the frst faint sign
Of autumn with his slow, transnguring touch,
The charm and pathos Of his mellow days,
ON your broad uplands, and Your fair, sweet
wales,
Where Androscoggin winds, a silver chain
With iewcllcd links of murmuring waterfalls.
Anon my eyes grow dim, for while gaze,
The memories OF long bygonc years sweep in.
\ fun noodtidc upon my soul, and To-
The gray-haircd woman is a child again.
I see my father, with the thoughtful brow
That hid lifelong hunger Of The soul,
My gentle mother with her patient eyes,
Trcadiu, her household ways wiki tiyclcss feet,
\ cheerful burdcn.bcarvr through the years,
The brother. in whose whitening locks today.
The frosts ~ more than fifty winters lie,
sits In the winter flrcsides genial glow,
4 youthful student dclying patiently
For The rich ores of knowledge, by his side
Thc fair bluy-cyed child-sistcr. bending low
With her rapt face above The thrilling page.
I see che humble cot that shelf. TCi us,
The hrl-slopc. smooth and fair, whcrcon II
stood.
The moss grown ledge, and thc old applctrccs.
Where ~an4; the hobolink~, the long June days
Again ! sit by the west window small,
Where was wont. "a dreamer born. 90 watch
The sunsets crimson banners streaming wide
Above Mount Wa~hiugtou's Ky piercing peak
or muse away 'hc balny summer eve.
wlthcrowdiug thoughts GOO deep for utterauoc,
strange. haunting visions OF those radiant
heights.
where PANE dung wide her gildeJ temple
doors
And hcokoued from atar. Al. idle dreams
Tla, yuinIy mockcd the eager heart OF youth.
And lef behind a long unrest and pain.
FoJsy. smile "a tranquil smile above
Their buried ashes. saying. 1t Is well.
Another fncc beloved comes back go me
Oh, sarah, friend OF youth iuspirer thou
VI a.. NiEu tNhNAAt, ana -tilIlt t4hl lllt0s
Martyr 90 that pure zeal to bless thy kind
That burned "a Thin thy soul "a ye,tal flame:
ToJsy seek Thy grave 20 lay thereon
The late thank Offering ot grateful love.
Long live Thy maine, rich Inheritance,
A. some rarc melody THAI though IL cease
Upon The outward car. The soul stiu keeps,
a haunting sweetness that can never die.
S;ll other forms and faces. loved OF OLD.
see again IN mcmory's magic glass,
some whose warm hand, might clasp my own
today.
And some 20 whom the sunset gate, have oped,
Whose eyes, mo- longer holden, penetrate
The mystery our souls stand dumb before
once more, al hail. my own loved native hills
The inspiration ot your majesty.
The charm of every chaugcfgl tint and tone
Tie shifting seasons shed from year 20 year,
Stul glow " thin my soul. a sacred fire.
And if the humble flower OF pocsy
Ibring today some transient sweetness breathe.
our wandering child would neer forget l.
sprang
Within the shadow OF your granite walls,
And biossomed In your fostering suns and dewS-