 | Lines in Pleasant Places |  |
197
SNOWED IN.
On Pokono, with storm and darkness blent,
The winds in chorus howling round the summit,
We labored 'gainst the snow up the ascent,
With futile offering to overcome it.
The winds in chorus howling round the summit,
We labored 'gainst the snow up the ascent,
With futile offering to overcome it.
The hurtling drift dashed madly 'gainst the pane,
As if to overwhelm us its endeavor,
While surged the car beneath the fearful strain,
As though it yielded to some mighty lever.
As if to overwhelm us its endeavor,
While surged the car beneath the fearful strain,
As though it yielded to some mighty lever.
Dimly the lights shone through the brooding gloom,
And eyes looked into eyes with anxious glances,
As, like the knell of an impending doom,
The hoarse storm led the measure of our fancies.
And eyes looked into eyes with anxious glances,
As, like the knell of an impending doom,
The hoarse storm led the measure of our fancies.
Like sheeted ghosts the snow-clouds sped along
Before the icy wind's remorseless urging,
And shrieked discordant, like a madman's song,
Threating our instantaneous submerging.
Before the icy wind's remorseless urging,
And shrieked discordant, like a madman's song,
Threating our instantaneous submerging.
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How dreary passed the hours!—no note of cheer
Gave hope the spur, and every lagging minute
Was fraught with pending misery and fear,
And every breath bore desperation in it.
Gave hope the spur, and every lagging minute
Was fraught with pending misery and fear,
And every breath bore desperation in it.
Philosophy was vain; we could not bear
The vexed delay that in such durance held us,
Yet could not help ourselves, whate'er our care,
And bore, unbearing, as stern Fate compelled us.
The vexed delay that in such durance held us,
Yet could not help ourselves, whate'er our care,
And bore, unbearing, as stern Fate compelled us.
At last, amid the gloom that reigned around,
Hope reared anew its dear, inspiring banner,
And music rested in the voice's sound
That spoke of sweet release and Tobyhanna.
Hope reared anew its dear, inspiring banner,
And music rested in the voice's sound
That spoke of sweet release and Tobyhanna.
Terra incognita!—a land unknown—
But, O, how sweet the cadence to our hearing!
We felt our burden suddenly o'erthrown,
With Joy and Plenty for our rescue nearing.
But, O, how sweet the cadence to our hearing!
We felt our burden suddenly o'erthrown,
With Joy and Plenty for our rescue nearing.
Blest land of hope! how bright to us it seemed!—
Even its name uncouth made prepossessing;
No more the piling snow we misery deemed
With Tobyhanna its pretensions pressing.
Even its name uncouth made prepossessing;
No more the piling snow we misery deemed
With Tobyhanna its pretensions pressing.
And then, as if responsive to our prayer,
There fell a sudden calm, the tempest quelling;
And the round moon, upon the tranquil air,
Shone forth, all shapes of fear and gloom dispelling.
There fell a sudden calm, the tempest quelling;
And the round moon, upon the tranquil air,
Shone forth, all shapes of fear and gloom dispelling.
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Once more the wheels, obedient to the steam,
Moved o'er the rail in their accustomed manner,
Bearing us towards the object of our dream,
The coveted and bounteous Tobyhanna.
Moved o'er the rail in their accustomed manner,
Bearing us towards the object of our dream,
The coveted and bounteous Tobyhanna.
And soon, surrounded by a generous band,
With plenty laden, we forgot our panic
In luxury, the product of the land,
Possessed of appetite the most titanic.
With plenty laden, we forgot our panic
In luxury, the product of the land,
Possessed of appetite the most titanic.
The feasts ambrosial of the heathen gods
Were great affairs, as told by classic scribblers,
But Tobyhanna gave Olympus odds,
And, matched with us, the gods were merely nibblers.
Were great affairs, as told by classic scribblers,
But Tobyhanna gave Olympus odds,
And, matched with us, the gods were merely nibblers.
As when the Jews passed through the wilderness,
And, famishing, were fed by heavenly manna,
So on our palates, with all power to bless,
Fell the rich benefit of Tobyhanna.
And, famishing, were fed by heavenly manna,
So on our palates, with all power to bless,
Fell the rich benefit of Tobyhanna.
And memory'll grow blind, and deaf, and dumb,
And lost to every sense of grateful feeling,
If ever, in the time that is to come,
It should forget that incident congealing,—
And lost to every sense of grateful feeling,
If ever, in the time that is to come,
It should forget that incident congealing,—
When, merging from the snows of Pokono,
With joyous lips in jubilant hosanna,
We felt the fires of reassurance glow
Within the sheltering arms of Tobyhanna.
With joyous lips in jubilant hosanna,
We felt the fires of reassurance glow
Within the sheltering arms of Tobyhanna.
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