Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-02
ma. HAawoop's ALUMNI POEM.
An Excellent Piece Of Original Verse Read
Mt the Recent Annual Banquet.


At the recent annual banquet OF the
Alumni Association of Richmond College
Mr.. James G. Harwood. now assistant
principal OF the Richmond High School,
read the following original poem. which no
had been requested 10 prepare Tor the oc-
casion:
Now once again we stand within thy walls,
O Alma Mater, and II scarcely seems
year hiss fed: ~ monty now recalls -,
bach happy scene, we seem 10 Wako from
dreams
OF business aud Of worldly care 10 ind
That We ere sim but schOOlbnys. who have slept
And mad n vision, Well let's leave behind
The busy world, iorget that years have crept
With sisalthy tread upon MS, ana to-niRnt
Pledge each the other and renew the ties
That bound us In those days when me was Orignt
Win all Youths golden fancios. Ah time mes
SO swiftly that scarce Inolts QUO winters snow
Bef0fo another falls upon our brow,
And no n wiseSt who has learned 10 Know
We 1.-Two not IN the morrow" but me now
AMI IL tonight the singers lay shall give
soue pleasure he will deem his time well
spent;
Bat n he fail 10 please Let him receive
IT least tho honor OF a good intent,
TIE PoEN-HAKoLD.
The King was merry and the castle walls
Were died with sound OF revelry aud mirth;
And through the gatns and in the spacious halls,
With all the trAppipgs that oetoken brth,
Thronycd lord ana lady, knight and squire ana
OF An inc land the brsvest, fairest, best.
The tho1gntless stripping and the thoughttai
sage
For Harold was 10 wed with Witchen-she
Wns only daughter TO tho King aud fair;
He, lord OF many castles, known 10 DO
| Inc ricnest peer in oil the roalm. HoweF
| Some whispered that, had Wiltred been the
shohsI been better pleased for since the day
Wncu he-hcr mothers page, her playHAte--ren
And swan the castle moat 70 bring ana lay
| Before her feet some childish toy she priced,
No party WAS complete were he not there;
No plan was perfect that he'd not advised
Tho Iatterly their meetings had been rare,
| For now, as harper TO the Ming, he spent
Porforce much OF his time before his lege.
VINO heard, as one far more than well content,
OF many hard-Uon neld or wesry siege
| And once so wildly the tale was told
| lie rrasped hls sword as II 20 Join tbs tray,
| And then, amused at bis own ardor, laughed
And stopped the minstrel In bis song to say,
| Wei, Wilfred, an thou ngEt one-haH go wen
As thou parratsst. thou wilt serve me best
| Where thou canst leave for other bards TO ten
Deeds OF thine own" And 30 the Kings re-
That Wiiired's harp be brought gave no sur
Tho many watched the maid 10 note II she
| Should give some token 20 their curious eyes
That lie WAS more to her than he should boz
Rut save. perhaps. some palinR Of a brow,
Already white, no sign confessed 10 aught
Savs merest friendly interest And now
ThOy place the harp IN Wilireds hand lie
sought
Tosmile, butt a smile 80 fraught with pain
That one might weep for seeing IL. The hand
That was SO wont to strike the chords smain
Now trembled on the wires nor could command
IN accustomed lay. And low the harpers head
Bent On his bosom; thsn. my lord, the King,
| mind how once an orphan in his need
Cried out 70 thee | mind how thou didst prlng
HIM TO thy palace where, as bard ana page,
lie served thee faithfully save in one thing
| Therein he wrOnged thee, most noble hogs
The humble minstrel, who had naueht 10 bring
Dared look with love on Nitchsn-Oh my siTo'
Iooz not ~ gr.syed-rspr0ach me not, pray,
| But smite me. curse me, could stand tbino ire
| But 10 have grisyed thee, who hast been 70 me
Botn friend aud parent-that cannot bear !"
| silence fell on all, that deeper grew
| As Harold rose, and strained was every ear
| Tocat,n Nhath would say. 90 King, knew
| When nrst1 sought thy daughters hand that
| Was not % her wha; I would fain have been;
| YET mad Hope that, as the years passed by,
| The love bore would its requtial win
| In love iIOm her, deeming her tree, pIt no"
| know twas idle drSaming-nOihiugm more.
| For have seen, while Wilir0d spAke, her brow
Flush crimson ana q look she nsyer wore
Al word Of mine rest on hOr face agOw
With that sweet light more eloquent man
speech.
And since, . sire. hsr heart e bis, trow
'Twcre well her hand should follow. bsseech
Thee therefore, oh my nege. II thou wouldst give
The only boon ] ser may ask OF thee,
! Give them thy blessing; aye, ana let them Two
10 bless IN love cAll Staels Au0bi hhu me
| For me wand'rer, shall bear no name,
But pass from land 70 land aud lend my lance
| To aid the weak. redress tho wrong, and claim
| such love hs / may win and II perchHnce
/ / hear that thou art happy, WItchen,
| shall know a. mlcn OF Joy ss can feel.
| Think Of me sometimes Witchen; now good.
bye"
| A moment more you heard his mailed heel
| Ring in the marble hall, az he passed through
| Into the darkness and the night. Then rose
| The King, and al IA assembled guests with
| drew,
Mucn wondring. Fer little time they chose
| No topic saving llar0ds noble deed.
! Then, as the months rolled by, be was forgot
By al but two, who later gu were wed.
| And Oft they wondered were he dead or not;
| And wneH bOn WAS born 10 thom they nam0d
| Him Harold. And whom on . winters night
| A WAGERING minstrel, who had stopped aud
| claimed
| From willing hands q lodging, sang the might
| And prowess OF an unknown knight whose aid
| The weak aud injured might at all times claim,
| And who had died victorious, undismayed-
| They knew twas Harold and they wept for
| him.