The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-01-10
POETRY.
THE MOUNT OF THE HOLY CROSS.
BY JAMES o. cLARE.

By JAMES q. CLARK.
fThe esaount Of the holy cross,H the principal
mountain Of the saguache Range, Colorado. Is +
near the top facing the east, and consists Of two
crevices filled with snow Summer and Winter.
The creviees are about fifty feet wide, and the
depth. The perpendicular arm of the Cross is
some 500 feet long. and the horizontal arm 700
feet The Cross can be seen at distance Of Thirty
The ocean divided, the land struggled through,
And newly born continent burst into view
Like burrows upturned blythe ploughshare OF God,
The noun tain chains rose where the hillows had
And their lowering SUBMITS in mighty array,
Turned their terrible brows to the glare of the
day, ts
Like sentnels guarding the gateway of Time.
Lest the contact of mortals should stain it with
The ocean was vanquished, the new world was
Its headlands flung back the bold challenge OF
morn ft.
The sun from the trembling sea ma rshaled the
mist # s.
It'll the hills by the soul of the oc, an were kissed
Aud the winter-king reached FROM his cloud
To hang on each brow its g rst garland of white;
For the crystals came forth at the touch of his
wand, Ff ssr ~
And the soul Ofthe sea ruled again on the land
Then arose the loud moan of the desolate tide,
As 1t called back its own from the far mountain
20 soul Oh my soul, by the sun led astray,
Return to the heart that would hold thee Away
The sun and the silver moon WOO me in vain,
Of loved Of my bosom, 81 child Of the Free,
Come back to the lips that are waiting for thee p
But asound like all melodies mingled in one.
Came down through the spaces that Graded the
Like music from far distant planets it fell,
Till earth, air and ocean were hushed in spell
"Be silent. We wlters and cease your alarm,
All motion is Only the pulse OF my arm;
In my breath the vast systems unerringly swing,
And mine Is the chorus the morning stars sing.
Twas mine to create III I'm, Ills mine to nd
The land TO the ocean. the sea to the land.
All, all are my creatures and they who would give
True worship to nae. must for each other live.
10 leave on the mountain a sign that shall be
A type o. the union of land and of sea-
An emblem of anguish that comes before bliss,
For they who would conquer must conquer by
this"
The roar of the earthquake in answer was heard,
The land from its solid foundation was stirred
The breast of the mountain was rent by the shock.
And cross was revealed the heart Of the rock !;
One hand pointing south-where the tropic gales
And one to the kingdom of Winter and snow
While its face turned TO welcome the dawn from
Ere Jordan had rolled under Bethlehem s star.
] The harp of the elements over IL swung,
In the lid chimes of Nature its advent rung.
! Around Il the hair of the Winter-king eurled,
Against 1t in fury his lances were hurled
| Aud the pulse of the hurricane beat IN its face
/ TIL the snews were locked deep In its mighty
| embrace,
And its arms were out-stretched on the mountains
cold breast
As spotess and white as the robes of the best.
Then the spirit of Summer came up from the
south,
With the smile the Junes on her beautiful mouth
And breathed on the valleys, the plains, and the
bills,
While the snow rippled home in the arms of the
rills; .fz.--.t= r-
The Winter was gone. but the symbol was there,
Towering mutely and grand, like the angel of
prayer
where..the morning shall stream on the place of
8 hi tn,
Till the last is borne by the toilers Of earth
It cannot grow old while the sea breath is drawn,
From the lips of the billows at evening and dawn,
! While heavens pure finger transfgures the dews,
And with garIands of frost-work its beauty renews
II was there when the blocks of the pyramid pile
We're drifting in sands DER the plains of the Nile
And IL still shall point homeward, token OF trust,
| When pyramids crumbie in dimness and dust.
It shall lean DER the world like banner o peace
Till discord and war between brothers shall cease,
Till the red Of Time shall he cleansed of its 50
| AUD the years like white pebbles be washed to the
shore;
As long as the incense from ocean shall rise,
To its bright wool on the warp Of the skies,
As long the clouds into crystals shall part
That cross shall CLEAN high on the continents
heart.