 | Sermons and songs of the Christian life |  |
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GIRLHOOD AND WOMANHOOD.
I.
What strange magic brings before me that old school-house on the green,
While the dusk of time is gathering over all that lies between?
While the dusk of time is gathering over all that lies between?
Seats adorned with rustic carvings, shaky clapboards old and gray,
Smoky walls and broken windows and the pig-weeds by the way,
Smoky walls and broken windows and the pig-weeds by the way,
Little griefs of little children felt beneath the tyrant's rule,
Or the big boys', who were hazers of the ancient country school.
Or the big boys', who were hazers of the ancient country school.
All the squalor and the sorrow of that earliest fairy-land,
Change within the magic sunshine; all the dirt is golden sand.
Change within the magic sunshine; all the dirt is golden sand.
What were pedagogues and hazers! faces bright were always there,
And the morning came new risen from the face of Ellen Clare;
And the morning came new risen from the face of Ellen Clare;
She the tall and beaming maiden, whom we always ran to meet,
Just escaping from our cradles on our little twinkling feet.
Just escaping from our cradles on our little twinkling feet.
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They may sing of gentle ladies holding court at castle hall,
But our country-girl was peerless, and more gentle than they all:
But our country-girl was peerless, and more gentle than they all:
For she brought the bloom of orchards in the glow upon her cheek,
And we thought of golden robins every time we heard her speak;
And we thought of golden robins every time we heard her speak;
As she smoothed the tear-wrought channels where our sorrow had its flow,
And brought sunshine o'er the faces which the imps had scoured with snow.
And brought sunshine o'er the faces which the imps had scoured with snow.
Dancing-schools, and dancing-masters!—pastures with the lambs at play,
Or the breezy heights and ridges, where we climbed the summer's day.
Or the breezy heights and ridges, where we climbed the summer's day.
Singing-schools!—among the orchards, with the birds at matin-time,
Or the morning stars together singing to their march sublime.
Or the morning stars together singing to their march sublime.
So she danced with breezy motion, breezy as the light gazelle's,
And her singing soared the sweetest over all the village belles.
And her singing soared the sweetest over all the village belles.
O, the memories of our childhood coming thick and manifold,
Drifting westward down the valleys fleecy clouds that turn to gold!
Drifting westward down the valleys fleecy clouds that turn to gold!
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II.
They wandered east, they wandered west,
On prairie, shore, and sea;
One sleeps beneath the ocean's breast,
And some have found the last long rest
Beneath the willow-tree.
On prairie, shore, and sea;
One sleeps beneath the ocean's breast,
And some have found the last long rest
Beneath the willow-tree.
Beside yon hill that cuts the air
With its blue curving line,
There lives a maid; she once was fair,—
She 's fairer now; her silver hair
Has caught the heavenly shine.
With its blue curving line,
There lives a maid; she once was fair,—
She 's fairer now; her silver hair
Has caught the heavenly shine.
Her song of cheer still rises clear,
In hymns of softer strain;
Where sorrow sheds the bitter tear,
Or where the spoiler's step draws near
The couch of mortal pain.
In hymns of softer strain;
Where sorrow sheds the bitter tear,
Or where the spoiler's step draws near
The couch of mortal pain.
Where anguish needs the cooling palm,
Or worn and fevered care;
Where sin pines sore for mercy's balm
There will you find, through storm and calm,
The paths of Ellen Clare;
Or worn and fevered care;
Where sin pines sore for mercy's balm
There will you find, through storm and calm,
The paths of Ellen Clare;
With heart to weep with him that weeps,
And love with him that loves:—
Why one deep chord its silence keeps
Ask not of me; ask him who sleeps
In ocean's coral groves.
And love with him that loves:—
Why one deep chord its silence keeps
Ask not of me; ask him who sleeps
In ocean's coral groves.
O'er Ellen's cot, on yonder height
The evening star stands still,
And flames in larger lustre bright,
Before it looks a last good-night
And drops behind the hill.
The evening star stands still,
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Before it looks a last good-night
And drops behind the hill.
Even so thy life, O lady blest,
Pours its last beauteous ray;
Its evening glories are its best,
As sinking to thy heavenly rest.
They melt from earth away.
Pours its last beauteous ray;
Its evening glories are its best,
As sinking to thy heavenly rest.
They melt from earth away.
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