The American common-place book of poetry with occasional notes |
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Scene at the Death-Bed of Rev. Dr. Payson.—Mrs. Sigourney.
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 | The American common-place book of poetry |  |
Scene at the Death-Bed of Rev. Dr. Payson.—Mrs. Sigourney.
“His eye spoke after his tongue became motionless. Looking on Mrs. Payson, and glancing over the others who surrounded his bed, it rested on Edward, his eldest son, with an expression which was interpreted by all present to say, as plainly as if it had uttered the words of the beloved disciple, ‘Behold thy Mother!’”—
Memoir of Payson, p. 425.What SAID THE EYE?—The marble lip spake not,
Save in that quivering sob with which stern Death
Doth crush life's harp-strings.—Lo, again it pours
A tide of more than uttered eloquence!—
“Son!—look upon thy mother!”—and retires
Beneath the curtain of the drooping lids,
To hide itself forever. 'Tis the last,
Last glance!—and mark how tenderly it fell
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That wept around.—Full well the dying knew
The value of those holy charities
Which purge the dross of selfishness away;
And deep he felt that woman's trusting heart,
Rent from the cherished prop, which, next to Christ,
Had been her stay in all adversities,
Would take the balm-cup best from that dear hand
Which woke the sources of maternal love,—
That smile, whose winning paid for sleepless nights
Of cradle-care,—that voice, whose murmured tone
Her own had moulded to the words of prayer.
How soothing to a widowed mother's breast
Her first-born's sympathy!
Be strong, young man!—
Lift the protector's arm,—the healer's prayer,—
Be tender in thy every word and deed.
A Spirit watcheth thee!—Yes, he who passed
From shaded earth up to the full-orbed day,
Will be thy witness, in the court of heaven,
How thou dost bear his mantle.
So farewell,
Leader in Israel!—Thou whose radiant path
Was like the angel's standing in the sun,
Undazzled and unswerving,—it was meet
That thou should'st rise to light without a cloud.
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