 | The genius of oblivion ; and Other Original Poems |  |
141
A SONG,
Written for the Celebration of the Second Centennial Anniversary of the Settlement of New-Hampshire.
Two Hundred Years are numbered now,
Since, with the op'ning year,
The white man breathed his ardent vow,
And rais'd his altar here;
From Albion's haughty sea-girt land,
“Laconia's” Ancients come,
A patient, firm and dauntless band,
To seek a peaceful home.
Since, with the op'ning year,
The white man breathed his ardent vow,
And rais'd his altar here;
From Albion's haughty sea-girt land,
“Laconia's” Ancients come,
A patient, firm and dauntless band,
To seek a peaceful home.
And why should thus our Fathers spurn
Their native earth and sky?
With visions bold their fancies burn;
Their hopes and hearts beat high;
For 'mid these northern wilds they see
Perennial nature bloom,
And rivers roll in majesty,
To fertilize their home:
Their native earth and sky?
With visions bold their fancies burn;
Their hopes and hearts beat high;
For 'mid these northern wilds they see
Perennial nature bloom,
And rivers roll in majesty,
To fertilize their home:
142
And mighty Lakes are spreading there,
Where Eden Islands show;
And “Crystal Hills” are swelling fair,
Where mines of treasure glow.
Oh at those visions never smile,—
They gilded well the gloom;
They softened off the rugged toil
That raised our happy home.
Where Eden Islands show;
And “Crystal Hills” are swelling fair,
Where mines of treasure glow.
Oh at those visions never smile,—
They gilded well the gloom;
They softened off the rugged toil
That raised our happy home.
Nor think such dreams were fables vain;
The moral we may find:
Though Winter here in rigor reign,
No frosts can blight the Mind—
It glows as pure, it soars as light
As ocean's wintry foam;
It is the Freeman's Crystal bright—
The Gem that gilds his home.
The moral we may find:
Though Winter here in rigor reign,
No frosts can blight the Mind—
It glows as pure, it soars as light
As ocean's wintry foam;
It is the Freeman's Crystal bright—
The Gem that gilds his home.
143
Then polish high the living Mind!
'Twas Athens' proudest praise—
Be learning here with Labor join'd,
Our laurels with our lays;
And God, who saw with tender care
Our Pilgrim Fathers roam,
Will bless those sons and daughters fail,
That grace and guard their home.
'Twas Athens' proudest praise—
Be learning here with Labor join'd,
Our laurels with our lays;
And God, who saw with tender care
Our Pilgrim Fathers roam,
Will bless those sons and daughters fail,
That grace and guard their home.
| The genius of oblivion ; and Other Original Poems | |