Come, while the vernal zephyrs blow,
And wake to life the flowers;
Come, while the feathered warblers sing
Through all our woodland bowers.
What though our leaves will fade and fall.
And chilling north winds blow,
And all New England's hills and vales,
Lie buried deep in snow!
Snug dwellings and warm clothing still
Have power to keep us warm,—
We sit around the fireside then,
And smile to hear the storm.
Come, with thy partner, to that home
Which once he called his own,
Which his long absence oft has made
Most desolate and lone.
Welcome, twice welcome thou shalt be,
Yes, welcome as his bride;
Welcome, I trust, for virtues too,
Which in thy heart abide.
Come, see the grateful tears of joy
Stand trembling in the eye
Of those, who never can forget
The lost one, till they die.
Come, feel the deep impassioned grasp
Of each extended hand,
Which welcomes that lost wanderer back
To his dear native land.
FOOTNOTES:
The lady addressed is a native of the south.
COME HOME TO NEW ENGLAND.
TO E.E.W. OF TEXAS.
Come home to New England, the land of thy birth,
All nations still call her the queen of the earth.
Oh! come with thy partner and sweet rosy child,
Where friends in life's morning, around you have smiled.
Come, gather wild flowers, from the brookside and dell,
And fruit from the orchard you once loved so well,
And feast on the sugar, fresh made from the grove,
Where you and your brothers delighted to rove.
Come, sit in the shade of the clustering vine,
Whose tendrils around the old elm tree entwine.
Come, range o'er the intervale, island and plain,
And live o'er the days of thy boyhood again.
Thy Father in heaven seems acting his part,
He keeps those alive, once so dear to thy heart.
Thy brothers and sisters, and nieces a score,
And nephews, are waiting to greet thee once more.
Our Susan, the baby that clung to thy knee,
And prattled around thee in infantine glee,
Has grown up, she's married and two blooming boys
Have stirred in her bosom a fountain of joys.
You start and exclaim, can the story be true!
I fear that you'll stay till she's grandmother, too.
You've staid for our infants to grow up and wed,
Our young men are old, our old ones are dead.
Yes, white hairs are clustering round many a crown,
Which wore, when you left them, rich tresses of brown.
One dear faithful sister has faded-and died,
Don't stay till the others both lie by her side.
At night I behold thee, I laugh and I weep,
Alas! I awake, 'tis the vision of sleep;
Disheartened with pleading, and pleading in vain,
Perhaps I may never entreat you again.
A SISTER'S DEPARTURE.
I saw the tear trembling in sister's blue eye,
In bright smiles she vailed it, full well I knew why.
That moment stern duty had called us to part,
Emotion was struggling for vent in her heart.
She asked, "will some angel in mercy descend,
And from all afflictions each loved one defend?
Or must pain and sickness make sweet home forlorn?
Will death send an arrow, ere I shall return?"
Dear sister, my thoughts did in unison flow,
My heart will be with you wherever you go;
By day, in my fancy, thy image I see,
And sleep brings refreshment when dreaming of thee.
A SISTER'S COUNSEL.
"Be cheerful," thou saidst; that sweet sentence I heard,
Though filled with emotion, I spake not a word;
'Twas music, more soothing than steals through the trees
With green tresses waving in twilight's cool breeze.
"Be cheerful," thou saidst, when about to depart.
In tones that said plainly, we come from the heart.
We think of thee sister, when absent or here,
And wish not thine eye to be dimmed by a tear.
"Be cheerful," thou saidst, but, O how can I be,
When thou, my dear sister, art absent from me?
Sweet home looks so vacant, so lonely and drear,
I cannot be cheerful as when thou art here.
"Be cheerful," thou saidst, when about to depart,
And conscious that grief was oppressing my heart.
I thank thee, my sister, thy counsel was good,
I fain would obey thee, I wish that I could.
LINES
TO A FRIEND ON PARTING.
Julia, let fond remembrance cling
Around the parting hour;
Unfading let that garland be,
Late plucked from friendship's bower.
Lurid and dark our path would be,
Uncheered by friendship's rays;
Incense divine, thy hallowed flame
Lights up our darkest days.
Absence and time can ne'er destroy
Pure friendship's chrystal streams;
Near us the loved one lingers round,
And greets us in our dreams.
No brighter chain this earth can boast,
Than twines 'round kindred hearts;
Brilliant and fair the links remain,
Though fate rends them apart.
Alas! that we so soon must part.
Ere budding friendship's bloom;
Remain, sweet germ, within each heart,
And thrive beyond the tomb.
Receive, dear friend, these parting lines,
Though humble they appear;
Earth, with its joys, are fading fast,
With all that love us here.
Then may we be prepared to soar
Where ransomed spirits blend;
There may our souls in love unite,
Where friendship fears no end.
FAREWELL TO A BROTHER.
Farewell, farewell, my dearest brother,
Thou must be absent for awhile,
May no dark clouds around thee gather,
May health and fortune on thee smile.
In fancy's dreams, I'll oft be with thee,
On thy fond heart my image bear,
And while I hope again to meet thee,
The pleasing thought my heart shall cheer.
TO W.H.D.
AN ADOPTED BROTHER.
The home of thy childhood thou didst not forget,
The friends which dwelt with thee are dear to thee yet,
Thy warm friendly greeting betokens it now,
The smile of pure friendship still beams from thy brow.
I knew that thy heart was so faithful and true,
Thou wouldst not forget, though thou bad'st us adieu;
For thou didst rejoice with us when we were blest,
And sympathize with us, however distressed.
Say, wilt thou remember us, while thou dost live,
And cherish our virtues, our frailties forgive?
O think of us always, where'er thou dost roam,
For thy living image dwells ever at home.
But there is a home which is better than this,
The inmates all drink at the fountain of bliss;
A friend, than a father or mother more dear,
More close than a brother, this friend will adhere.
Wouldst find that blest home? go, and follow the road,
Which Christ and the prophets have marked out, to God;
The Spirit will teach you, and guide, lest you stray,
While legions of angels shall throng round your way.
LINES
TO A FRIEND IN AFFLICTION.
AN ACROSTIC.
D ark frowning clouds obscure thy sky,
E ach future prospect fades;
B ut there's a kind protector nigh,
O n him rely for aid.
R ich treasures are locked up in store,
A ffliction turns the key;
H ow oft when dreadful thunders roar,
M ay showers bid famine flee.
O sister, never yield to fears
W hen tempests roar aloud,
E 'en then, the bow of hope appears,
R ich hues bedeck yon cloud.
LINES TO A SISTER.
Susan, I long again to greet thee,
Fain would I clasp thee in my arms,
While that bland smile o'erspread thy features,
Which to thy brow adds nameless charms.
Dear sister, I can still remember
When first I clasped thee to my breast;
I viewed thee as a priceless treasure,
Bestowed to make life's pathway blest.
Although a little tiny creature,
Devoid of friendship, love, or care,
Yet, I highly prized the casket,
I knew a sister's heart throbbed there.
And when I heard, in lisping accents,
Affection flowing from thy tongue,
With strange delight, I listened to it,
As though some little cherub sung.
When in the garden thou wast straying,
To play among thy fragrant flowers,
I thought that Flora's fairest blossoms
Would vainly strive to vie with ours.
Dear sister, canst not thou remember,
When I'd been absent for awhile,
With what a boyant step thou'dst meet me,
And greet me with thy sunny smile?
And, when fatigued, I sought retirement,
Or left thee for a few short hours,
Oft them wouldst steal into my chamber
And strew my couch with fragrant flowers.
I trust that flame is not extinguished,
Although our duty bade us part;
I trust it still is burning brightly
Upon the altar of thy heart.
O come, and join the fireside circle
Around the old paternal hearth;
Come, let thy smiles and songs delight us,
They are like sunlight to the earth.
The little birds are singing sweetly;