Thoughts in Verse :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Sabbath, day of holy thought and rest,
Is ending; and the waters of the creek,
Calm and placid 'neath the setting sun,
Suggest the rest prepared for saints above.
The Day of God with duties manifold,
And searchings of His Holy Word for light,
Has been devoutly spent in work for Him—
Performing deeds well-pleasing in His sight.

The hymn of praise and meek devotion, has
Been sung in harmony by many a voice;
And raising up, in faith, of heart and soul,
Unto the God whose name is Love, has brought
Its own reward in rest and peace.

And o'er
The gray old town of Hampton, picturesque
And sombre, with its wealth of memories
Historic and heroic, there now reigns
A dreamy silence and an hour of peace.

The sunset-tinted bosom of the bay
With boats and other crafts bestuded is,
Which gently sway and rock in restful mood,
Upon the sighing, swelling current.

List!
Soft on the air of eve, are borne sweet strains
Of music: 'tis the evening melody,
Which, day by day, comes sweetly stealing o'er
The intervening water from the Home:—
Retreat most beautiful, where now in peace,
Secure from battle din and strife of war,
There rest a thousand war-worn veterans.

Upon the breath of evening now we hear
The tones of bells—calling to prayer and praise
And worship—students of the Normal School;
Most fitting close of every earthly Sabbath—
An emblem, too, of the eternal Day
Of rest. That congregation vast arise
To sing the opening hymn in harmony
Which only they who in the rugged school
Of unrequited toil have served their day,
And felt the sweet relief—the pride and joy
Which perfect freedom gives—can sing; a strain
That thrills with joy the soul!

With rapid strides
A student enters; a mysterious look
Upon his countenance, as if possessed
Of knowledge of importance all unknown

Unto his fellows; and hastily imparts
That knowledge to his chief; and instantly
A hand is lifted and a silence reigns—
Full of suspense—a silence filled with dread!
Sure, in a moment so intense as this,
The mind, in seeming, lives for many years.
Then come the words which startle every one:
“Let girls remain, and men to duty pass—
On fire is Academic Hall!”

Now fierce and thrilling on the Sabbath peace
Rings out in fear the wild alarnm bell!
The night is dark; and rushing figures, wierd
In the lurid glare, appear like spectres—
Goblins grim and ghostly, on mischief bent,
Holding high carnival, with shout and dance,
In very truth a panorama grand!
A passing scene—bewildering, dazzling dream!

The engine whistle, shrill and piercing;
The fireman's shout; the startling spiteful hiss,
As stream in quick succession follows stream;
The crash of falling beams of giant size,
Bechill and curdle blood within the veins,
And cause to throb with pain the beating heart.
Phantastic colors brightly blazing forth
From bursting chemicals add brilliancy
Unto a scene of dazzling awfulness.

The hungry flames in grim defiance of
The efforts made for their extinguishment

Leap high in pride and fury—laugh with scorn
At the exertions small and puny, which
Man with all his learning, art and wisdom,
Can now put forth, as grappling hand to hand
In battle stern with the dread Fire King,
He fights with all his might.

An hour is gone;
And in its train, the work of busy years.
A pensive sadness overhangs the scene;
For Academic Hall which yesternight,
The scene of joyous, active life had been,
Has vanished, and in place thereof, outlined
Against the southern sky, now towers
A skeleton, in hideous grimness.
That structure, grand and noble, is no more;
Yet, mem'ry of the work accomplished here
Within its walls, shall live for years to come,
In the unfolding power and manhood of
A struggling race!