Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-03-22
The OLD CHURCH ON THs HILL.

Two omissions were maize IN a stanra quoted
from this poem last week. To at II rght INC en-
tire poem l. published. Il first APPEARED IN Tie
Portland Transcript Of Feb. .. lao
Winning the dawuins smiles Of the sun
And - lingering kiss when the day = done,
Prom al approaches, = beacon, seen,
Piercing the blue above the green,
Overlooking the scene, = hcntting crown
Ofthe landscape fair and the beautiful town,
The pride % our fathers toll and skill-
The Old white chapel that stands on the nh
Long azo It, corner stones were laid
And a. framework fashioned. massive ana staid f,
It, builders were men % the good Old type.
Who delayed not the rcAping when hArYe u were
ripc.
Poor In purse, but rich In that 1ea!
That turns the sposcs OF aliySncemcut's wheel.
sturdy OF pnrpo>e and iauntiess of vii
For the Oil white chapel that stands on the hill
We -ee them again A. In hvgonc DAYS,
To the hou~e - worship weniing their ways.
en- a sabbath morn In the summers calm.
PROM the cro-srOad home and the hillside taTr f,
The oil and the Young In their best atti-c,
With the al round merchant AMI village squire,
Tiu the high hacked pew thev -e-tately az
In the old white chapel thai stands on the hill
Then the old fashioned preacher with gesture and
voice
impressive. announces the text OF hts choice.
With precision his ~crfptural hne- are cast
Prom firstly up % siNteenthly AMI last,
With a shifting blow. that each dogma rounds,
The quaint OH pulpit on re-ounis,
A. he turns the crank % his doctrtnal MIL
In the old white chapel that stands on the HILL
Up their IN the circular gallery seats
Rss singers the gray haired choris,cr Sreets,
With his tuning fork be pitches the key
Of Coronation or obi Dundee,
And they al unite Ia sweet acclaim
"Ali hal the great lmmanuers name,
tn al hearts with the stirring melody thrill
In the old white chapel that stands on the hiiL
But their voices arr hushed. herr they come no
more,
No football sounds on the dus, lAien floor.
There are wreath- on the walls, but the hands
Them IN place are folded forever AZ rest.
And thew seem - Say, with n smile that i wan
'They were her.-they were here-they are gone
And the H.ht has grown dim. and the AIR l. chill
In the old white chapel thai stands on the hill
Thus deserted and silent the old house stands,
prey OF decay and % vandsl hands,
It's brave olt tower that 80 long has stood fast
In the wrack OF storm and the nghtning's blast
Looks down with rePrOach through the autumn
rains,
Making gho~tiy -hrOud- and wsihngs -hrin
In the Oh white chapel that stands on the Hill
Memories % childhood come back anew.
A. the scene from the Obi bell deck We view.
With it, cirCliug mountains OF youths renOwn,
And the vale with u river winding down,
Just the same how the hills their watches Keep
Oer the stu white plain where the fathers -lee p.
With IT. greenwood belt ami low voiced III
Near the OLD white chapel that stands On The nh.
But. 10! now a change In the obi house appears
For the sons whom Il sheltered In boyhOod
YEAR.
Their bounty extend T. restore and protect
Al the silent appeal % H. iOng neglect,
Its spire beans Afresh. and IL vane, long awry
Now flashes anew In the dome Of The sky
Gladly the donors their pledges fulfA
For the old white chapel thai stands on the hill
And the autumn has crowned a memorial year
FOR the ,t1rie,i past that l. clustered here.
For IL spirit that weaveth IL warp unseen
With gold for the wool OF our yule tide green.
And the spell " the weaving our children will
earn,
As of o. their native vale they return,
And the wears will De laden with reverence still
For the Old white chapel that stands on the hill.
ALFRED COLE