The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-04-09
Hours Of Fancy, OF Vigil and Vision.

We have received from the author, Aldine
S. Kieffer, a cspy of Hours of Fancy, or
Vigil and Vision, collection of short poems.
The book contains one hundred and eighteen
pieces and is gem of poesy. 1t is hand
somely printed and bound, and is one of the
neatest little volumes that adorns our library.
Personal friendship would prompt US to speak
well of Mr.. Kieffer's production, but in CLAN
cling through its pages true merit commends
it to us. and we regard it as having more OF
genuine poetry in it taan any volume that has
come to our notice of recent publication.
Unlike other Southern publications, it has
but few pieces relating to the late war, and
even those cannot be Objectionable to the
Northern mind. Below we give few ex-
tracts to show the elevated thought, elegant
and poetic finish of the authors verses.
From "December"
December winds are whispering chill
To barren oaks that crown the hill,
And to the dead leaves there =
A strange, sad song, 50 full Of pain.
The sharp winds sing to hill and plain -
doleful dirge-for all the slain
That once bloomed sweeuy fair.
The pines and cedars wear their green,
But make more desolate the scene,
of darkness and decay;
sole mourners on the hillside there
They moan their tones of wild despair
That swell upon the wintry air,
Then sadly ebb away.
From ga Dream of Heaven
never dream ofheaven but that see
sweet fields, bright streams and ever blooming
wales,
And vine-clad hills andevery fruitful tree
Whose fragrant boughs no cherries blast assaiis
And crystal founts thai play perpetEdly
In gardens green; where over all prevails
The purple light Of an eternal day.
Whose breath is incense. fading not away.
From ''Hades''-
and death had talk. last night,
A long and lonely walk, last night
Through a dim and shadowy vale:
And be showed me a realm 50 SIN and calm
Where darkness was light and night was balm !;
Where wild winds might never wall.
No summer bloomed and no Autumn died.
on meadow land or on mountain side,
In this quiet shadowy land
For summer and Winter, and night aud day.
silence and darkness alone held sway
4 place OF rest for the heart and hand.
From "The Years Go By
The years come on, the year. 80 by
and bright above Us burns she SKY
As in the days OF -
The same sweet sky-f1veycr youns-
The same bright lamps above us hung
The same sweet song by Nature sung.
In glen and deli aiid wn.d
From "A Wasted Life -
The rcapers arc cut ia thc fields to-day.
Binding their sheaves OF b-ish; golden grain.
The meadows are sweet with lhe new mown hay
Rolling along en- the houeward vain
Bat where is the tribute my hand should bring
To the treasure house Of nay Lori, the King
From the ''Confederate Dead r.
Alone they sleep their land TOO poar o. weap
In chiseled grief for tt,ese her valleys keyps
Alone they nleslder, bgl their graves grcta sol
Is loved by us-who loved tham.-neXs O. God.
But not alone their Fccompsnsc raiss-
Far better harls shall sing in loit.sr praise
ofthose before whose glorious lee4is must pale
The ius,re Of ThCrmopyie's bright tale.
Tinscled with fame by thrice a Thousand years,
Nor es Il then, bet a. Il nov, aPqczrs -
or those beflrc whose dceds Old Marathon,
And Waterloo. when France was len undonc.
Must seem but mimic fIays ere soldiers fought
Clad in the gray that Southern malrous wrought.
''Vigil and Vision is pabljshed BY Rae
bush, Kieffer & Co, Dayton. Virginia.