The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1897-11-05
Local Affairs.
Sandy Hook 40 Years Ago.
WRITTEN FOR THE BEE. ]

Sandy Hook, where laurel wreaths, you
mountain brows adorn.
And early birds to sun their plumes, go there
to meet the morn.
And in your lap the loveliest wild flower
grow,
While limpid waters bathe your feet below.
And many q vine, both bitter and sweet, the
TIA lofty oak embrace.
And the pleasant spice wood, yelled and
draped. In clematis charming grace;
Where children decked their giddy heads
and oft lett tn spice-wood bare;
Till older folks forbade them touch, what
moonlight fairies wear.
On Pisgah's lofty mountain top, the giant
hemlock's grow.
An ample screen from summer suns, and
winters driving snow.
Whose graceful tops nod with the breeze, as
we'd bow to those we know;
And tell the traveller in the glen, how upper
currents blow.
One spot upon thy ancient head is bald. but
not from care.
For the gayest colors deck thy brows, and
the sweetest songs come down from
there.
And fox and coon, their revels keep, and
gambo1 round your head.
And owls and bats carousing there, 60 late at
night to bed.
Perhaps, in friendships generous cause, kind
nature IS fixed the bed;
Where the red shouldered hawk beholds his
brood. while circling over head.
And gliding swiftly DER the lake, close to thy
solid base;
The sturdy Alcyon's commanding tone,
warns intruders from the place,
Ger your slopes and dark ravines, the useful
healing herbs grow.
And he who would his health restore and
tried their power forgot his woe;
What more consoling place than this, where
blessings scattered DER the ground,
And song lot birds in magic bowers, where
pains forgot and peace is found.
Nor are these all the attractions found in this
romantic place,
For a bimetalist the Mountain stands, clasped
IN her fond embrace,
And respected much like humankind, for the
riches they possessed,
For the worldly-wise came from afar, seeking
the God they worshiped bust.
They pounded. thumped and pierced her
breast, and again surveyed the field,
ford but grudging yield,
Gain hunting man ne'er yet content, thought
fortune was unkind,
So said they'd try in distant lands and per-
haps 8 ed change her mind.
Then zephyr whispered all around of treas
ures in the west,
To they took the word and journeyed on, and
gave the mountain est,
TN31
in summer time;
When winter caps her crags and peaks, ma
jestic and sublime.
But go there alone when midnight's August
moon lights the landscape DER,
All silent then save night birds call and in
sect bands that every nook EXPLORE.
See the galleried mountain rising high and
and dark frs spectral shadows throw,
Behold the moon in azure sky, and the sleep
ing village down below.
The influence OF that slumbering calm sub
dues the feelings in the breast,
And FASHIONS rage, and errors unrepenting
sink to rest.
For all injustice OF the past resentment still
may live,
But while gazing on that peaceful scene, we
stand ready to forgive,
Few were the passions, small the crime, to
curse the village fair,
Though weakness finds q home on earth, 1t
rarely rested there.
One church then blessed the hamlet there, and
sanctifed both one and all,
Peace, love and temperance poured the pray
or. and guard us lest we tall.
Now each returning Sabbath there recall those
forty years to me
And those who worshiped meath its dome,
and in blessing bent the knee,
And their plain and pious heartfelt songs, |
as they fioated down the dell,
And listen for the pleasant tone OF the love- |
ly Methodist bell,
And yet have often heard it speak, with sad |
ness in its voice,
When the eye spoke more than the tongue |
could say, though angels might rejoice, |
When the young and the old were laid away
on the hillside facing the dell, |
And often wonder if they hear in their sleep |
their own sweet Methodist bell.
-[Stanton Mullee.