Moral songs :: :: University of Virginia Library

Often in springtide the maidens gay,
Have gathered its flowers of red and white,
Often they danced on the first of May,
Under its shade in the morning light.

Often the mother laid there her child,
Wrapped from the dew in her mantle grey,
While in the harvest-field near she piled
Sheaf after sheaf all the Autumn day.

Then it was vigorous, tall, and young,
Stretching out boldly each laden bough,
With blossom, or leaf, or red fruit hung,
All withered, and bare, and leafless now.

Long years ago it had fallen down,
But that the ivy has girt it round,

Claspeth it close with its long arms brown,
Holdeth it up from the dewy ground;

Creeps round the old branches every one,
Garlands them gay, with its large green leaf;
So have I thought would a duteous son
Stand by his father, in age or grief:

When time shall have turned his bright eye dim,
And stolen away his cheek's red glow;
And withered the strength of his sturdy limb,
And silvered his hair, like mountain snow.

So would he cling to the old man still,
Tender in word, and duteous in deed;
Thoughtfully, kindly, wait on his will;
Watch o'er his weakness, work for his need.

Pass not unmoved by the old thorn tree,
Hung with its mantle of ivy fair,
One gentle lesson it readeth thee,
Of duty, and love, and pious care.