Chapter 2
And when our life on earth is o'er And we from all our toil shall rest, The beams of Love will light that shore Where Love has ransomed all the Blest!
A BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY.
"Tis sweet, when year by year we lose Friends out of sight, in faith to muse How grows in Paradise our store!"--KEBLE.
His Birthday! but to-night there is no gladness, As in the bright old days forever flown; And in my heart one aching thought of sadness Seems ever whispering, Alone! Alone!
The darkness gathers round, and, wan and olden, The worn day paler grows, and dies away, And all life's light and brightness now seem folden Beneath the twilight's dusky mantle gray.
The old church tower, amid the shadows looming, Stands grim and sombre in the dying light; The trees with leafless branches shiver, moaning, As the sad winds sigh softly through the night.
Weird looks the ruined church, where ivy creeping Decks the old walls fast mouldering in decay; And peace rests o'er the graves in whose calm keeping, In quiet safety, sleeps the treasured clay.
Here in this corner, where his grave is lying, The fir trees throw deep shade, and soft and low, When summer eve or winter day is dying, The winds seem ever sighing songs of woe!
Oh! cherished spot! beloved beyond all measure, Your holy peace that brings a balm so blest! When turning from the world, in grief or pleasure, I seek your calm, and hunger for your rest!
How feeble, then, seem all the ties that bound me To this world's ways, that held such charms for me And heaven-born dreams and holy thoughts surround me Until from earth's vain things my soul is free!
Then do I feel this wound of Mercy's giving Draws all my hopes from earth to holier love. An e'en while here, sin-stained and lonely living, My heart is with my treasure fixed above!
Still, looking upward to the Heavenly Mansion, Where he abides--where we shall meet him there-- Where soul with soul shall blend in the expansion Of that world's higher life, immortal, fair!
That land of beauty, where the Lamb in glory Gathers His own to perfect bliss and peace, Where all the ransomed sing Redemption's story In joys celestial that can never cease.
Thrice happy lot was thine, oh, blessed spirit! So early called from this dark vale of woe-- From chequered scenes of warfare--to inherit That perfect love that God's own favoured know.
Then could we wish thee back to dwell with mortals And bear those storms that toss Time's troubled sea? No! from that home beyond the pearly portals Thou canst not come, but we will go to thee!
IN MEMORIAM
OF
R. A. WILSON, ESQ.,
EDITOR OF THE BELFAST MORNING NEWS.
Fair vales of Ulster! in the noontide smiling, Blue Northern mountains, frowning to the sky; Rivers that flow along, with song beguiling The summer day _your_ beauties, too, must die!
Know ye no _requiem_? Ah! streamlets borrow Your tones from tearful voices! Mountains blue, O'er your high heads let heavy clouds of sorrow Tell that ye mourn the death of Patriot true.
Erin! green Erin! let your great heart feel it! Bid all your sons and daughters, fair and brave, By dropping tears and mourning faces tell it, As they place laurels on a new-made grave!
Lowly he lies to day? Death's deep, calm slumber Has claimed another of our cherished ones; As he, the talented, ranks with the number Of Erin's lost, best-loved--her gifted sons!
"Barney Maglone" is dead! Let the winds sighing On their fleet wings, bear far the wail of woe To every land. Let them in wild, sad crying Tell out to all the sorrow that we know.
_Our_ Poet, and not all Westminster's glory Could ever give him half so loved a grave As this green mound, with simple cross, whose story Shall live 'mong annals of our gifted brave!
Methinks that far among old Ireland's mountains I hear the breezes sing a sad dirge, low, Wild, and yet soft, with tears from many fountains And murmuring riven wailing in their flow.
The grand old woods, with leafy branches waving, Mingle their many harps in one refrain, Blent with the waves, whose foam our coast is laving, Rolling afar, weeping aloud the strain--
Waters and wondrous deep, Mountains and valleys; Woodlands and heathery steep, Lone greenwood alleys,
Sound the long wail of woe, Tell the news, sad and low, Let all the wide world know Of the loved, lost one!
Waves of deep, boundless sea, Boiling for ever free, Tell through the time to be Of the bright, lost one!
Erin, whose bosom green, His own, his loved shrine has been, Feel the woe thou hast seen For the true, lost one!
His land, in weal or woe, In dark gloom or sunny glow, Do all Ireland's great ones know Such zeal as this lost one?
Bright dreams! ah, how fleeting Was his life's fair story! Swift, swift was the meeting Of Death, with earth's glory!
Unrivalled in splendour His sky was at morning, Still brightening, its grandeur His noonday adorning.
But a dark cloud rose glooming, Ah, me! 'twas Death's shadow! It chilled the heat blooming Of hillside or meadow!
Oh, waters and wondrous deep, Mountains and valleys, Woodlands and heathery steep, Lone greenwood alleys--
Sound the weird wail of woe, Tell the news sad and low, Let all the wide world knew Of Erin's best lost one!
WELCOME TO SPRING.
Oh, Spring! sweet Spring! with your golden hours, Thrice welcome back to our vales and bowers! I have sighed for you through the Winter's gloom, And counted the months, till again you come. Then, welcome, sweetest! I hail you here, Fairest child of the smiling year!
I have watched for your advent with longing eyes, As you lingered 'neath sunnier southern skies; I have wafted songs o'er the winds to thee The sighs of a lover's fond constancy. Then, welcome, darling! to glen and grove, Child of gladness, and nope, and love!
I see your footprints along the woods, And your magic touch on the opening buds, Bursting to birth on hedge and tree, In promise of vernal life to be. Then, welcome, Spring! to our land again, Bringing beauty and me in your happy train!
I have marked where you paused by the streamlet's side, There smiled the primrose, in early pride, All golden fair 'mid her leaves of green. Dropped from your garland, oh, beauteous queen! Then, welcome! to brighten our long-left bower Fair child of sunshine, and joy, and flowers!
I have paused entranced in the early morn, When the birds awoke as the day was born, Pealing welcomes wild in their native glee. And my heart went out in their songs to thee, On the fresh winds borne o'er the hills along, Child of music, and mirth, and song!
Oh, Spring! sweet Spring! 'neath your gentle reign. Life, light, and beauty are born again; And sad hearts, hopeless in Winter days, Break forth to singing glad songs of praise-- For that promise renewed in your yearly birth Of a fadeless Spring and a ransomed Earth!
ONLY "A LITTLE WHILE."
I saw the sun arise in light at morning; My being drank the beauty, like some dream That comes when all is dark, the gloom adorning With gilding mystic--bright--a soul-world gleam
I saw the noontide flush on grove and meadow, I heard the coo of birds that seem'd at rest; And the fair radiance, all undimm'd by shadow, Was like a foretaste of the bright and blest.
I saw, when evening's mellow sunlight glinted, Far and anear, gleaming on wood and gold; Mountain and valley shone all carmine-tinted, Old Ocean's burnished breast seem'd heaving gold.
Only "a little while" since morn rose brightly, Followed by noontide calm: a little while Since sunset glory lit all Nature, lightly Blessing the earth with one sweet parting smile.
Only "a little while" a meet type, showing How brief is earth's short day--how soon 'tis o'er; Morn, noon, and night, still onward, onward going, So soon to land us on the eternal shore.
Only "a little while," poor child of sadness! The shadows must come first, the clouds and gloom; Then, the full glow of Heaven, the new born gladness, When Christ, thy risen Lord, prepares thee room.
In that fair Home, where He has passed before us, And in "a little while," shall call us in; Here, with His love's own glory shining o'er us, Strong in His strength, we run that goal to win!
Only "a little while," gay child of pleasure! The night is spent so far--the morn is near; Then think! oh, think! where hast thou hid thy treasure? In these frail, dying toys that charm thee here.
Oh! in "a little while," their borrowed radiance Shall fade, as starlight fades when dawn is nigh; And all earth's glittering show, her smiles and fragrance, In the fierce fire of wrath shall melt and die!
Only "a little while!" would we but ponder These three brief words, their length and breadth and height A solemn sign to each, a ray of wonder From the Unseen, to light the spirit's night.
"A little while"--past, present, future blending Shall be a tale soon told, and pass'd for aye; Then the eternal life, that cannot die--unending, Undying woe, or Heaven's own dazzling day.
LIFE'S PATHWAY.
We walk among labyrinths of wonder, but tread the mazes with a club; We sail in chartless seas, but behold! the Pole-star is above us--TUPPER.
Life is a pathway, stretched from morn till eve, O'er which, through shade and sunshine, we must go And, whether bright or dark this life we live, Its end must bring us unto joy or woe; Joy, that no mortal's holiest dreams can know, Or dread, unending; fearful depths of woe!
This path is fair at morning, wondrous fair; With verdant windings, hiding from the view The far-off journey, and what may be there, Hid by the Future hilltops, high and blue; And morn's glad sunlight smiles from dazzling skies, Gilding the path we tread with heaven-lent dyes.
Oh! youth is sweet! for tender hands are near, And eyes aglow with Love's own magic ray, Heart meeting heart, each to the other dear-- Through hours that, ere we count them, glide away; For none can turn to seek a cherished place-- One only life, whose path we can't retrace!
And soon they pass, these meteor joys of earth, That flash and gleam along the troubled way; Till wondering wanderers question if their birth Dawns from a Land that knows no sad decay; Some sinless region, from whose portals bright These fleeting rays descent in heavenly light.
Such glorious hues, in golden glory glowing, When sunrise splendour glads the morning sky; That bloom awhile, and as they bloom bestowing Beauty and light, so soon to melt and die, Leaving a yearning in the darkened heart To know more closely what we see in part.
The noonday calm, the sunny Summer hours, The wild-birds' warbled songs, the balmy air; Life's early pathway strewn with earth's sweet flowers-- Can these be dying things--so bright, so fair? Or lights to lead us o'er a chequered road, And cheer the shadows to a blest abode?
Oh! spell-bound Fancy fain would wander far, If we might only break this mortal thrall; And roam, unshackled, o'er Time's broken bar, Trace these gleams whose glory lights on all! Then would we see in all below, above, The Great Creator's perfect power and love.
Yet in this path that stretched before us lies We may, as oft with weary feet we tread Through chequered ways of change, see through the mysteries The living promise from their gleamings shed, That far from mortal things, and sin, and care, There is a glorious world, unchanging, fair.
Oh! may we trace in all that lives and grows The shadows of a perfect life, unseen; As when some star that in the twilight glows In mirrored dimly in the water's sheen, And we can see, in the calm lake's cool breast, The far-off glow that lingers in the West.
Thus, as we onward go, may thoughts be ours Whose holy pureness in our souls may raise An anthem of thanksgiving, till life's hours, Ending, shall find our hearts' attuned to praise That Love which cheered us on earth's chequered way, O'er the long path that led to Cloudless Day!
CLOUDS IN MAY.
"May is here, sweet 'Mois de Marie,' but my sky is overcast!"--ST. GERMAN.
The hush of twilight, fair and still Great cloud-ranks, bright with gorgeous dyes That linger in the Western skies, Ere Night's deep gloom steals o'er the hill. The wind sighs softly round the eaves, The May's fresh sweetness fills the air, And Peace seems hovering everywhere. Oh, restless heart, that aches and grieves!-- Grieves when the earth is bright and green, And Summer's balmy breeze and flowers Are brightening, charming all the hours That span the long, long "bridge between" Dear hopes and their fruition, laid In many a way, by human plan. But ah! these dream-world thoughts of man Soon, soon can droop, and blight and fade!
We know 'tis best. Then wherefore try To ask whence come the darksome clouds? We know 'tis God's own hand that shroud Our coming days in mysteries. "A little while," and there is room In that bright, blessed land above, To see, and feel, and taste the love That sends us now the clouds and gloom. Why come the clouds? God only knows Why human hearts need pain and woe; But Faith's glad gleams still come and go, Like sunbeams flashing on the snows Of earth's dark winter-time, and He Shall smile at last, and frosts shall melt, And heavenly sunshine shall be felt When Time fades in Eternity
A FRAGMENT.
"My spirit beats her mortal bars As down dark tides the glory glides, Then, star-like, mingles with the stars."--TENNYSON.
Oh, restful peace of night! The balmy air Laden with myriad sounds of things so fair, The waving branches, and the leaves' low whispering The wondrous songs the winding river sings, That through the meadow-lands and forest ways, By flowery nooks, and glades, and valleys strays.
Oh! shadowy time of dreams, and mysteries, And longing hopes! Far in the dark blue skies The star-worlds glimmer brightly through the night; The flowers are sleeping that at close of day Wept dew-tears, as the sun's last fading light From glen and moor land slowly passed away, When amorous zephyrs wooed them softly sighing In odorous breaths, as eve's last glow was dying.
Oh! stars, that through the darkness smile and gleam, Like glory-rays that gild the dreary gloom, Or like some soul-world glance or mystic dream That from the mind's vast store of summer bloom We feel at times--your influence comes to raise Our hearts above earth's night of doubts and haze For all these holy thoughts of peace, that spring From hearts at rest from daytime cares and pains, Are messengers of love, sent from the King That in the blessed country lives and reigns. And from its gates, above the starry heaven, Come mystic rays that round our pathway stray-- His guiding lights that to our souls are given, Foretastes that cheer and brighten all our way!
SPRING THOUGHTS.
"Of the bright things in earth and air How little can the heart embrace- Soft shades and gleaming lights are there I know it well, but cannot trace!"--KEBLE
Spring comes again, and the freed flowers are springing From the cold, frost-bound earth; And on the budding trees the wild birds singing, Hail Nature's glad new birth!
And hope awakes from many a heart-grave using, Glad gloriously and new; And many souls, in faith and trust, are prizing That promise sweet and true;
Summer and Winter, ever coming, going, Springtime and Harvest days, And falling leaves and opening buds are showing God's ever faithful ways.
That point us to the resurrection morning, And to the gladsome day, When light eternal, the far East adorning, Shall chase these glooms away.
And she shall rise who left our home so early, And left our hearts in gloom, Clad like the flowers, in beauty's bloom all fairly Arising from the tomb.
In that fair Spring and in that Summer shadeless, With her we, too, shall live-- There, 'neath His smile whose glory, beaming fadeless, Eternal peace shall give.
And all these ties that Time's rough hand had driven Shall be united there, And every cross a Father's hand had given Be gemmed with jewels fair!
LINES.
On reading "Lays of Love and Fatherland," by X. Y. Z.
Oh! say not now that Erin's harp Is left untouched by minstrel hand; Oh! say not that no minstrel heart Sings now of "Love and Fatherland." Green Ulster's mountains and her vales Hear once again a patriot's lyre; Ierna's legendary tales Once more are told in patriot fire!
And hearts beat high, as when of old In chieftain's hall or peasant's cot The stories of our land were told In songs whose spell was half forgot Till, touched again, the chords resound That bid our slumbering zeal return, And souls, so long in coldness bound, With old-time fire and fervour burn!
And favoured ones, whom love shall bless In life's bright, sunny morning hours, Shall sing in joy and happiness These songs in Hope's enchanted bowers, For youth hath dreams, and tho' they go like sunset fading from the sky, The cherished songs of "long ago," While memory lives, can never die.
Song's potent powers, like holy things That hover round our path unseen, On airy wings, to fancy brings Old scenes, new-clad in fairy sheen. And like sweet music heard at eve In some cathedral, old and grey, Such songs can cheer the hearts that grieve, And chase all present gloom away.
IF "SOMEONE" LOVES US.
If life's path grows dull and dreary, With grim shadows on it cast; If the tired heart grows weary When all joy seem o'er and past; When e'en Hope hath ceased to cheer us With its warm and sunny ray, And the peace that once was near us From our pathway steals away There's one source where we can borrow Sweetest wealth to keep and claim, If we feel in joy or sorrow _Someone_ loves us all the same!
If fair-faced Pleasure brightly Beam upon our happy home, And our hearts with hope beat lightly Of brighter days to come; If fickle Fortune, smiling, Strew the pleasant path with flowers, And Mirth, with song beguiling, Lead the merry-footed hours-- There's a deeper, holier gladness That is ours to keep and claim, If we feel in joy or sadness _Someone_ loves us all the same!
If our thoughts, at evening blending With the dim and shadowy light, Bring us dreams of bliss unending In the Haven, calm and bright-- Oh! how sweet the thought--"for ever 'Mong the sinless _we_ shall stand, There united, ne'er to sever, In the bright and better land:" And e'en then, refined and holy, Free from earthly stain and sin, Shall the pure heart, meek and lowly, Wear the crown true love shall win.
NEW YEAR'S SONG.
"Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky. The flying clouds, the frosty light; The year is dying in the night-- Ring out, wild bells, and let it die!
"Ring out the Old; ring in the New! Ring, happy bells, across the snow! The year is going; let it go-- Ring out the false! ring in the truer!"--TENNYSON.
Oh! welcome! welcome! glad New Year! We hail with joy your birth. Let peace and love reign far and near, And plenty fill the earth!
Old Year, good-bye! a last good-bye To sorrow, woe and sin! Let all of darkness with thee die And all of light begin!
When first we bade you welcome here We hailed you with delight; But ah! how many then were near, So far away to-night!
Ah! well! if thorns were 'mong thy flowers, Or clouds were in thy sky, We owe thee many blissful hours Whose memory ne'er can die!
Farewell, farewell, for aye, Old Year, And as you pass from view, For all those golden hours a tear That pass away with you!
"Le Roi est mort!" "Vive le Roi!" The Old Year, weeping, dies! Ere we can mourn, a joyous chime Peals through the midnight skies.
Oh! welcome! welcome! New-born Year! We join the strains of joy; To everyone our hearts hold dear Be peace without alloy!
May fadeless light their pathway bless; And, for a lasting stay, Oh! may they find that happiness That cannot pass away.
For years may come, and years may go, And earthly joys grow old; But heavenly love no change can know-- No time can make it cold.
Oh! welcome! welcome! New-born Year! And, as we hail your birth, May pure and holy thoughts come near And raise our hopes from earth!
OUR NATIVE LAND.
Our Native Land! Our Native Land! Long may old Erin's vales be green; May plenty smile on every hand, Be want and woe unseen! Oh! let us join with heart and hand To raise the song--Our Native Land!
Our Native Land! Our Native Land! May countless blessings on her smile May dove-eyed Peace her lily-wand Wave o'er pure Emerald Isle-- Her sons, united brethren, stand, To raise the song--Our Native Land!
Our Native Land! Our Native Land! Let patriot voices join the song, And swell the chorus high and grand, Till every breeze shall bear it on. O'er flowery mead and wave-kissed strand Loud let it ring--Our Native Land!
Our Native Land! Our Native Land! Let Erin's sense the notes prolong, Together joined-a mighty band United by one common song. 'Tis Honour's right-her just command Then let us love Our Native Land!
TO THE SEA.
Oh! rolling waves, while ye sing around me, My poises beat to your fitful tune, And higher thoughts in my breast awaken, But the spell must vanish too soon, too soon. Here while I lie let your echoes linger, And rest awhile on this lute of mine; And though I play with an erring finger, The sounds shall charm if they're caught from thine. And my song shall be rich in melody, Learned from thy singing, oh' tuneful Sea!
Sadly sigh while the clouds loom o'er thee, Dark and grey in yon stormy sky; Foaming billows, your angry wailing Fills my soul like a hopeless cry! Heaving breast with your great heart throbbing Ocean pulses that wildly thrill; Wandering waves in such cadence breaking, Rolling, rolling, and never still. Oh! that my soul, like thine, were free, Eager and restless, oh! beautiful Sea!
The clouds disperse, and like glory breaking In fancy's eyes o'er a poet's dream, Clad in the sunlight the waters glisten, And dazzling bright in the radiance gleam. Far and wide o'er the scene of grandeur My glad eyes wander, my heart beats high; Lost in a maze of light and wonder, I faint in a dream of ecstasy; And the spirit of beauty thou seem'st to me In that flood of glory, oh! changing Sea!
Yet best I love when the mystic gloaming Grows dim, and the crimson sunset dies; For I dream that your mighty tones are changing, And in psalms of praise through the shadows rise. Oh! Nature's organ! Methinks thy numbers Keep time with the songs of Cherubim, While through hidden caves come the echoes swelling Their chorus grand to the ocean hymn; And my soul, adorning, ascends with thee, In deep thanksgiving, oh! wondrous Sea!
A FAREWELL SONG.