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237
A SONG FOR THE MERRY-MAKING ON WATER DAY.
Printed in the procession, by the Franklin Typographical Society, on the occasion of the introduction of Cochituate water into Boston, Oct. 25, 1848.
Away, away with care to-day!
There 's naught but joy before us;
A gladsome shout from all goes out,
And we will join the chorus.
There 's naught but joy before us;
A gladsome shout from all goes out,
And we will join the chorus.
All hearts are glad; each face is clad
In smiles, delighted beaming;
There 's music rare on the autumn air,
And banners gay are streaming.
In smiles, delighted beaming;
There 's music rare on the autumn air,
And banners gay are streaming.
The axe is still, the loom, the mill,
The miser quits his treasure;
And every trade, 't would seem, had made
A business out of pleasure.
The miser quits his treasure;
And every trade, 't would seem, had made
A business out of pleasure.
And beauty bright sheds forth its light
To glad the blest occasion,
And hearts to-day surrender may
To coveted invasion.
To glad the blest occasion,
And hearts to-day surrender may
To coveted invasion.
238
This is no meed for gallant deed
Achieved 'mid fields of slaughter;
Voice, bell and flame, with joy proclaim
The Advent Day of Water!
Achieved 'mid fields of slaughter;
Voice, bell and flame, with joy proclaim
The Advent Day of Water!
Cochituate, inspired of late
By generous ambition,
Left its still home to hither roam
Upon a blessed mission:
By generous ambition,
Left its still home to hither roam
Upon a blessed mission:
It passed along with gladsome song;
The meadows smiled to greet it;
And as each day it moved this way,
Our spirits sprang to meet it.
The meadows smiled to greet it;
And as each day it moved this way,
Our spirits sprang to meet it.
Its journey passed, 't is here at last,
And hailed with acclamation;
And every tongue shall swell the song;
Whate'er its rank or station.
And hailed with acclamation;
And every tongue shall swell the song;
Whate'er its rank or station.
The thirsty mart feels through its heart
The mighty current quiver,
Through streets and lanes, in iron veins,
A subterranean river.
The mighty current quiver,
Through streets and lanes, in iron veins,
A subterranean river.
Unseen it comes to all our homes,
To cheer the high and lowly;
Like gifts from heaven, unknown when gives,
But through their influence holy.
To cheer the high and lowly;
Like gifts from heaven, unknown when gives,
But through their influence holy.
239
Exuberant force impels its course,
It rushes wildly onward;
Its fountain spray darts high away
In jets fantastic sunward.
It rushes wildly onward;
Its fountain spray darts high away
In jets fantastic sunward.
Hail, hopeful stream! from thy bright gleam
Our hearts reflect the omen
That water's want no more will haunt
The thirsty man or woman.
Our hearts reflect the omen
That water's want no more will haunt
The thirsty man or woman.
Then let us join in nine times nine,
To greet the scene before us,
Till to the skies our shouts arise,
An universal chorus.
To greet the scene before us,
Till to the skies our shouts arise,
An universal chorus.
And ever may we bless the day
When Boston's sons and daughters
Came up elate to celebrate
The Advent of the Waters.
When Boston's sons and daughters
Came up elate to celebrate
The Advent of the Waters.
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