ELEGY AT THE GRAVE OF MY FATHER. 187 Father, oh, when life's last drops are wasting, Those dear drops which God's own earth are given, When my soul the pangs of death is tasting, To my dying bed come down from heaven! Let thy cooling palm wave freshly o'er me, Then with thine my soul shall soar through heaven For a home one star to us be given, Then bloom on, gay tufts of scented roses, Life and Death. FROM THE SWEDISH. Ar morning I stood on the mountain's brow, As the birds in the bowers their lay began, So wakened for song in the breast of man My spirit then felt the longing to soar To roam, like the sun, still from shore to shore, At even I stood on the mountain's brow, And I cried, "Oh Death, how fair!" THE LESSON OF A PARENT'S DEATH. And when that the soft evening wind so meek, It seemed as though Nature then kissed my cheek I saw the vast Heaven encompassing all, Ah! how unheeded all charms which invest 189 The Lesson of a Parent's Death. WILLIAM JAY. THE death of a parent has been useful. His expiring change has never been forgotten. The thought of separation forever from one so loved and valued, has awakened in the son a salutary fear. Returning from a father's grave, he has met with God, saying, "Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me? My Father! thou art the guide of my youth!" And the death of the parent has proved the life of the child. Farewell to my Friends. CAROLINE BOWLES. OH! wear no mourning weeds for me, Only, my friends! do this for me; And strew them on my shroud, before And lay the heart's-ease on my breast And by the buried bones of those Then leave me to my rest. FAREWELL TO MY FRIENDS. And when the church-bell tolls for me, As the deep murmur dies away And stay, methinks there's something yet I'd fain request of ye; Or love, for love of me. My nurse! oh, she will only wait Till I am fast asleep, Then close beside me, stealthily, To her own pillow creep. My dog! poor fellow! Let him not Know hunger, hardship, wrong; But he is old and feeble too, He will not miss me long. My dwelling! that will pass away To its foundation stone. 191 |