The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-29
lFur pc Dispatch3
lines 20 " ". Corcoran,
DEcrseEr 81, 1871

:
!. Is, bmur-oshsI The day the fairest
eIr ia and skyhre touched with light super
81 "a ri Eone md Menory claim the human breast.
=. .. :. !. :, arnfur.vIch, when pature's choirs =
Ike 70 ecstasy Ind ell ber ways "a ~ li;Es.
press into al. iress IL AueoFa's coming. i.tss
win hymns OF sahtatior, songs OF praise!
when daw. srops vftten On, The meadow-grasses,
Catching the sansIipe Is it passes atoag-
w hen ali The air Il sweet with carly fragrauce:
When ssyward wings the iafk-a !. sish''ess
soDg"?
when tinklne cos}bciis wake the sleeping clover,
AM nocdfnR daSirs lift their lazy heads,
when sunshine sta1lcs all the croTsy roses,
And matceus, DRAINING in theic snowy Deds
Is # the noon,i,Iethou OF swoonine anquor,
when zephyrs sziut, and blossoms droop and
When I nanting casle seek the cooling waters:
And 6rowzing acks the grateful, cooling shade
All, no ! not these is The erentng honr;;
When low the fHu has get behind the hill;
And vet the spajhfne, like parting lover,
with SOW. reIctant footsteps, fingers still.
On little hills tist glow in the efrnlgence-
On distant nso,naslns rising Eadianliy
From out The cdldy mtsts which SOFT cntoid theih'
Like golden tsltuds In purple sea.
On valleys, wbese the twilight shadows trembe-
ON queI Iakea DER running brook ana ri
On troubled waiers, touching them 10 sladness
On human hearts, bidding them ''be still"
The farmer lotfers on his homeward turning,
The toiling tiigrim pauseS on his way.
The seaman v ,fches Ger the tumbiinS pillows,
That blessed promise or Inc coming aaS. .....
o hour of peace! No more the cow-bells tinkle,
The are fodsd 10 speT ng rsst
Ills wings are folded DER the loWly nest.
o hour of hope! the vesper-beis are ringing.
And far and near, on wooded plain and height,
On sea aud sky on human hearts sspreading
The tender shining Of that aftcr-Hght!
O cIe.r sunset,pg! OF the day departed,
y clear sunseIting! OF tie DAY 10 oe De-
The sign and seal Of present full completeness
And of the future faithful! prophecy.
o hour of hours! What tho thy lustre fadeth'
And darkness settle DER the earth again,
Thu work Is done. thy holy message gwen,
" lair tomorrow" TO the sons OF men!
And so in human life. the fairest hour
Is never that which ushers in the light,
Nor glowing noon: 1t Is The ereHlng hour
Which comes between the sunset anu the hRht.
The burning passion OF The noon has passed:
The evening comes with all It's full completeness
It's softcst sunshine lingering to The last.
The tolls Of life are o'er-the journey ended:
The vines hang heavy with their purple lreignl-
The faithful hands aud heart need oniy Dht'
And oh. that wailincI like the after-sunlight,
IL is the promise OF the day to be
The sign and seal OF human work completed,
And OF the future life, the prophecy!
When faith In God, and charity upfailing
For fellow me n. have marked the earlier day,
when evening comes Gods blessing like tue sum
shine 49,,
Falls In The heart, and over all the way.
And men look out lpon that days declining;
nc mo ~.
II bids hem cork while and noon are passing,
II bid. them trust when evening shadows fall.
- Is.
*HIs eighty first birthday.