Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-06-14

The river lowing inward to the sea,
sing to itself and -ngs to all that hear,
pleasant song, alike al work Or PLAY,
1t, fOamy ling weep, with carees' sktn
re wheel revolving meath the busy mill.
Aud straight seems harp Of tuneful key,
Whose liz id me'ody brguiles the ear
That listens to IL on summers da,.
This is it, worn, and " en- it, work il done
1t hurrics forth to greet again the sun,
And geams and -par.ies on it, wnsOme way,
In all thu rapture Z unfrttcred play.
II fipnrs Ger the stones, and lI-e brook
rrItis a clear strain Of wHnton merriment;
II rests moment in some rddSing nook
tr"oning an Of undisturted content
With deep toned mir it leaps the threatening fall
Hearing below the rich melulious call
OF the full current, in the tranquil pride
With which il moves u meet the ocean tide.
But in this cha ging music Of its moods
W. caich the whispered accents of the woods
Bending TO parley with the siren stream
IN flashes by them like come transient dream;
We hrar the staging birds that dip their bills
In the cool current. 'mpnR the quiet hills
Ne hear IA woodma = axe in echo ring
Jifu' the still "ir and listen TO the spring
Who's. tiuy voice begins the haunting theme
That runs through alt tn" music OF the stream .-
A tremr f"at invites our feet to roam
Ia.s it the river To t. early home,
> nd 'gtH>t II, currrnt, in our thought, 20 GID"
lhro meadow, hamlet, wood, and mountain sd",
To tn. clear rill whose unforgotten note
Stems, like wrath Of Melody, TO float
Adown the current, sweeily 10 compel
The thoughts of men to yield to Aemory's sp II.
4 solemn cadrncp thrill. the pa lent shore
Beaten bv tides aud by the waves that break
Ip,n il wiiic "a ir low voiced echoes wake
p,.ifr io knou the secret ever more
llel nv the sra. yet uttered DER and Ger
secret which the way ard clouds partakc,
Drifting arros, the upper deeps tina make
No assscr To the Oceans ceaseless roar.
Itis'lesc rrt of I've vast unseen,
stretching .tu Av beyond our feeble ken,
AID ia tiic uJ-ic Of the waves we herr
hi If ST res, and shriues, and islands zen,
'. IL re Hop, he -nchantress dwells. and beck1ns
los a. the 't-he- of her unknown sphere.
e.: ~ b.i,1ed' Mistress Of our hearts
Proud "a tn. eaut. THAT thin" age imparts,
Proud in the that thy children pay
. thee in InemOr Of thy natal day.
Ben ling , look of iecogniion sweet
~ho gather ai thy gracious feet.
What -'a we of at thy festal shrine2
What but lie love that il already thine,
loyalty renewed that feeds its fires
= 4 the fond memories which this day inspire,
The vi hrs that our tongues but family frame.
FOR added lu.tre to thine honored name2
These he our offerings nor wilt thou refuse
10 take them ut our hands, while thoi dHst muse,
With eyes l0wndropt submissive to the spell.
In which the past and future seem to dwell,
The spell Of music falling thine ears.
y here thou dost ait and thy thronging years,
For through he chorus Of thy chidren's praise
steals THY fair river reminiscent song.
Leading thy thought- by sad and sunny wavs
Back TO remembered scenes now vanished long.
The present fades b. fore thy dreaming eyes,
4 nd the bright visions of the past arise.
The pioneers who titled thy virgin soil
Salute thee, psusing in their patient toll:
The captains frou their homeward seeding ship.
shout a ri ID erecting through their bearded lips
light hearted youths. In ever changing throngs.
Repeat thy ssme in AGA emic songs
\ i sta wsrt soldiers bid thee brave adieu
As they GO forth TO lin the bows in blue.
kindles hns eye with unaccustouicd CHIT
A. he -. ma b.fO q g Al oh
summoned by that soft spell the river thruws
About thee, as its constant current flows
Close by ihv side and chants a low refrain
That calls the vanished centuries back gain.
While thus thou sttest wrapped in grateful thou gt
Of DAYS departed, yet not forgot,
The ocean. with it, never res Ing tide
And rhythmic passion. presses to they side,
BREAKS IT thv feet, and thrills thy listening ear
Like the deep vote. of some prophetic seer.
And 10 thine lifted, and alight
with hopes that rice upon thy qnickened sight.
Gliding with Eight the untold yearst AZ wait
70 add iew h.auiirs o. thy gnernlv sfste.
For like the bate that rode to Meriin's feet
CA u wild wave. the rranis great king TO be-.
Floats 8 fair promise 10 ihy waved was Ied seat,
Borne on the diapa on Of the sea-
3 promise Vt the grace, yet uureyeH'sd
at coming wears -iia 10 NV lrrs-ncr yield
gif,s more preciou sr IN the -uult skies
Than those which charm thy osc ward turning ewes
~ wealth, love, learning. nd the ha, ~ pride
~ her who's sons in 10y I Filth ahid'.
So listening TO tine liver an the "a
Whose voices blend in sweetest harmony
uf hope snd memory thou d',-t seem 10 greet
Thine elder san- and future, as they meet
A nd Join with US. who thrOug abont thee
10 crown with living love thy rtditnt brow.