Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-11-05
When Evening Cometh On.
RY ROBERT BURNS WILSON.


When evening cometh on,
slower and statelier in the mellowing sky
The faue-like purple-shadowed clouds arise:
Cooler and oalmier doth the soft wind sigh;
Loyelier. lonelier. to our wonderingleyes
The softening landscape seems. The swallows
fly
Swift through the radiant vault the feld-lark
cries
His thrlling.sweet farewell ;and twilight bands
OF misty silence cross the far-off lands
When evening cometh on.
When evening cometh on,
Deeper and DREAMER grows the slumbering
Darker and drearier spreads the bristling void,
Buer and heavier roll the hills that swell
In moyeless waves against the shimmering gold.
Ont from their haunts the insect hordes that
Unseen by day, come thronging forth to hold
Their heetiDg hour of reyel, by the pool
Soft pipings rise up from the grasses cool,
When evening cometh on.
When evening cometh on,
Along their well-known paths with heavier
The sad-eyed, lettering kline unurged return;
The peaceful sheep. by unseen shepherds led,
Wend bleating to the hills, so well they learn
hath spread,
And through the purpling mist the moon doth
yearn
Soft with the falling dew falls thy faint beam,
When evening cometh on.
When evening cometh on,
Loosed from the days long toll, the elanking
teams
With hating steps pass on their jostling ways,
Their gearBgs glinted by the waning beams
Close by their heels the heedful collie strays;
All slowly fading in a land of dreams,
Transfgured spectres of the shrouding haze.
Thus from life's field the hearts fond hope
doth fade.
Tins doth the weary spirit seek the shade,
When evening cometh on.
When evening cometh on,
Across the dotted fields of gathered grain
The soul of summer breathes deep repose,
Mysterious murmurings mingle on the plain,
And from the blurred and blended brake there
flows
The undulating echoes OF some stain
once heard In paradise. perchance-who knowsf
But now the whispering memory sadly strays
Along the dim rows of the rustling maize
When evening cometh on.
When evening cometh on,
Anon there spreads upon the lingering air
The musk OF weedy slopes and grasses dank,
The odors from far fields, unseen but fair,
With scent Of flowers from many shadowy bank
o lost Elysium, art thou hiding there?
Flows yet that crystal steam whereof drank
Ahwild-eyed Memory fly from nights despair
of care
When evening cometh on.
When evening cometh on,
NO sounding phrase can set the heart at rest.
The settling gloom that creeps by wood and
stream.
The bars that lie among the smouldering west,
The tall and lonely silent trees that seem
To mock the groaning earth, and turn to jest
This wavering flame, this agonizing dream.
All, all bring sorrow as the clouds bring rain,
And eYermore life's struggle seemeth vain
When evening cometh on.
When evening cometh on,
Anear doth Life stand by the great unknown
In darkness reaching ont her sentient hands;
PHILOSOPHERS and creeds alike are thrown
Beneath her feet, and questioning she stands
Close on the brink, unfearng and alone,
And lists the dull wave breaking on the sands,
Albeit her thoughtful eyes are filed with tears,
So lonely and so sad the sounds she hears
When evening cometh on.
When evening comeih on
Vain Sc Ems the world, and vaner wise men s
thought.
All colors vanish when the sun goeth down.
Fame's purple mantle some proud soul hath
caught
No better seems than doth the esrth-stained
Worn by Content All names shall be forgot
Death plucks the stars TO deck his sable crown.
The fair enchantment Of the golden day
Far through the vale Of shadows melts away
When evening cometh on.
When evening cometh on,
Love. only love, can stay the sinking soul,
And smooth thoughts racking fever from the
brow;
The wounded heart Love only can console.
Whatever brings balm for sorrow now,
So must il be while this vexed earth shall roll
Take then the portions which the gods allow.
Dear heart. may at last on thy warm breast
Sink 10 forgetfulness and silent rest
When evening cometh on.