GRAVES.
SAD is the grave where the lone infant sleeps,
Wrapt in soft grasses, or radiant with flowers,
Where tearful, the grief-stricken mother still keeps
The vigil unceasing through wearisome hours—
Sad, for the little mound tells of a hope,
That was blasted ere its full growth was attained,
Of a love, bleeding, wounded by dregs from the cup,
Which, pressed to the lips, must ever be drained.
But sadder 'twould be, for that mother to weep
O'er the infant matured, by sin denied,
And darker the grave, in the heart dug deep,
By the "serpent tooth" of the "thankless child."
Wrapt in soft grasses, or radiant with flowers,
Where tearful, the grief-stricken mother still keeps
The vigil unceasing through wearisome hours—
Sad, for the little mound tells of a hope,
That was blasted ere its full growth was attained,
Of a love, bleeding, wounded by dregs from the cup,
Which, pressed to the lips, must ever be drained.
But sadder 'twould be, for that mother to weep
O'er the infant matured, by sin denied,
And darker the grave, in the heart dug deep,
By the "serpent tooth" of the "thankless child."
White gleams the marble, marking the place,
Where the rich and honored of earth are at rest,
Close beside, sleep the poor of the self-same race,
Whom pitying nature receives to her breast—
The earth with graves is so thickly o'erspread,
So numberless mounds our vision meet,
That we almost fear to harm the dead
With the echoing tread of our restless feet.
But deeper and sadder the grave closing round
All hope of reform for the living dead,
And colder the heart which utters no sound,
Entombed in the darkness of trust betrayed.
Where the rich and honored of earth are at rest,
Close beside, sleep the poor of the self-same race,
Whom pitying nature receives to her breast—
The earth with graves is so thickly o'erspread,
So numberless mounds our vision meet,
That we almost fear to harm the dead
With the echoing tread of our restless feet.
But deeper and sadder the grave closing round
All hope of reform for the living dead,
And colder the heart which utters no sound,
Entombed in the darkness of trust betrayed.
Scattered all over our beautiful land,
The lifeless forms of her soldiery lie,
Brave hearts, who at pitiless duty's command,
Left homes desolate, for country to die.
By sickness, by prison, by bullet low laid—
Holds the broad earth a more sorrowful sight,
Than the scarcely-grassed mounds of this harvest of dead,
Who v/ere almost forbidden the funeral rite?
Vet bitterer still is the exile's fate,
Who, no country to die for, mourns out his days—
And more gloomy the death in life, which awaits
The infamous wretch, who his country betrays.
The lifeless forms of her soldiery lie,
Brave hearts, who at pitiless duty's command,
Left homes desolate, for country to die.
By sickness, by prison, by bullet low laid—
Holds the broad earth a more sorrowful sight,
Than the scarcely-grassed mounds of this harvest of dead,
Who v/ere almost forbidden the funeral rite?
Vet bitterer still is the exile's fate,
Who, no country to die for, mourns out his days—
And more gloomy the death in life, which awaits
The infamous wretch, who his country betrays.
Oh, many a grave for the breathing dead
Is colder and darker than sexton scoops,
And weightiest burial-stone is laid
On the hidden tomb of departed hopes.
God pity the grave in the human breast,
O'er which bitter tears are hopelessly shed;
And with balm from the land of heavenly rest,
Give penitent hope to the living dead.
Teach us, thy pupils, unapt as we are,
To bury our life- burden deep in Thy love,
And uttering low the Gethsemane prayer,
Wait humbly the sure-coming aid from above.
Is colder and darker than sexton scoops,
And weightiest burial-stone is laid
On the hidden tomb of departed hopes.
God pity the grave in the human breast,
O'er which bitter tears are hopelessly shed;
And with balm from the land of heavenly rest,
Give penitent hope to the living dead.
Teach us, thy pupils, unapt as we are,
To bury our life- burden deep in Thy love,
And uttering low the Gethsemane prayer,
Wait humbly the sure-coming aid from above.