LINES

TO THE MEMORY OF PATRICK KELLEY, WHO BY HIS MANY GOOD QUALITIES DURING SOME YEARS' RESIDENCE IN MY FAMILY, GREATLY ENDEARED HIMSELF TO ME AND MINE.

From Erin's fair Isle to this country he came, And found brothers and sisters to welcome him here; Though then but a youth, yet robust seemed his frame, And life promised fair for many a long year.

A place was soon found where around the same board, He with two of his sisters did constantly meet; And when his day's work had all been performed, At the _same_ fireside he found a third seat.

His faithfulness such, so true-hearted was he, That love in return could not be denied; _As one of the family_--he soon ceased to be The stranger, who lately for work had applied.

Youth pa.s.sed into manhood, and with it there came New duties to fill, new plans to pursue; But a fatal disease now seizes his frame, And with health is his strength fast leaving him too.

From his home in the country to the city he went, Where kind brothers procured him good medical aid; But all was in vain--Death commissioned was sent, And soon his remains in the cold grave were laid.

The broad waves of Atlantic lie rolling between His brothers and sisters and parents on earth; And never by parents may those children be seen, Or the latter revisit the land of their birth.

But sooner or later they all must be borne To that region of darkness from whence none return; Oh! then may they meet on Canaan's bright sh.o.r.e, An _unbroken household_ to part nevermore.

Weston, Jan. 1852.

MY S.S. CLa.s.s.

I now will endeavor, while fresh in my mind, My Sabbath School Cla.s.s to portray; The theme's furnished for me, I've only to find Colors to blend, their forms to display.

And first on the canva.s.s we'll Adeline place, With her full and expressive dark eye; Decision of purpose is stamped on that face, And good scholarship too we descry.

Next in order comes Alice, with bright sunny smile, That does one's heart good to behold; May the sorrows of life ne'er that young spirit blight, Nor that heart be less cheerful when old.

But who's this that we see, with that mild pensive air, And a look so expressively kind?

It is Ann, gentle Ann, before whom we pa.s.s by, We will add--'t would be useless in any to try Disposition more lovely to find.

The next is a bright n.o.ble face we espy, 'Tis a boy of ten years we shall find; There's a spice of the rogue in that merry young eye, With good sense and good nature combined.

It's young master Alpheus--we never have found One more punctual at school hour than he; He's now but a lad, yet who knows when a _man_, But a _Judge in our land_ he may be.

Next comes little Moggy, our dear little Moggy, But before she is brought out to view, We'll new colors select, add fresh tints to the whole, And spread all on our pallet anew.

And now she appears in her own proper size, Her cheeks colored by nature's warm glow; With her full l.u.s.trous and speaking black eyes, And rich ringlets that grace her young brow.

Walter's the last on the painting we see, Little Walter, the youngest of all; Look! he's repeating his lesson just now, Mark the expression on that infant brow, He's a _wonder_, for scholar so small.

But there's one in this grouping we look for in vain, Whose image we often recall; How mournfully sweet is the sound of thy name, Dear Elbridge, the loved one of all.

Thou wert called in the freshness of morning away, By him who all things doeth well; The rest for brief periods are suffered to stay, How long, we may none of us tell.

May the Holy Book studied in this Sabbath School, Be more precious than silver or gold; Be its doctrines received, and its precepts obeyed, And _rich treasures_ it still will unfold.

And when one by one we shall all pa.s.s away, To me, oh! my Father, be given The joy that no heart upon earth can conceive, To meet all in the kingdom of Heaven.

Weston, Feb. 17, 1852.

FOR MY GRANDSONS, EDDY AND ALLY.

I here engage Upon this page A picture to portray, Of two of an age Yet neither a sage, But right honest hearts have they.

Each loves to play And have his own way, Yet I'm happy to say They quarrel, if ever, but seldom.

Though competent quite To maintain their own right, And even to fight, Yet peace to their bosom is welcome.

Both go to school, And learn by rule That in neither a dunce we may find; Both read and spell And like it well; Thus with pleasure is profit combined.

One's eyes are black, The other's blue; They both have honest hearts and true, And love each other dearly: One's father, is brother To the other one's mother, So cousins german are they most clearly; Each has a father, And each has a mother, And both do dearly love him; But neither a sister, And neither a brother, To _play_ with, or to _plague_ him.

And here I propose, Ere I come to a close, A little advice to give; To which if they heed, They'll be better indeed, And happier as long as they live.

Be sure to mind Your parents kind, And do nothing to vex or tease them; But through each day Heed what they say, And strive to obey and please them.

Take not in vain G.o.d's holy name, Do not work, Do not play On G.o.d's holy day, Nor from church stay away; Always bear it in mind To be gentle and kind, And friends you will find, And hearts to you bind, I am sure I may venture to say.

And when you're men, Who sees you then I hope in you models will see, Of _good_ and _great_, In _Church_ and _State_, Whose lips with your lives agree.

Weston, Feb. 1852.

FOR MY GRAND-DAUGHTERS, M. AND L.--AN ACROSTIC.

Mary and Lily--how sweet are those names, Allied as they are to my heart and my home; Recalling with freshness the days that are past, Yielding buds of sweet promise for days yet to come.

Links are these names to the chain that hath bound In fetters my heart, to which still they lay claim; Loved ones and lovely, still close by me found, Years past, and time present, whose names are the same.

Enshrined in this bosom, is living one now, Still youthful and truthful, and talented too, Though years have elapsed since she pa.s.sed from our view; E'en in Summer midst roses in beauty and bloom, She faded away, and was borne to the tomb.

Weston, March 5, 1852.

FOR MY FRIEND MRS. R.

When writing to you, friend, a subject I'd find In which there's both pleasure and profit combined, And though what I've chosen may pain in review, Yet still there's strange mingling of pleasure there too.

Then let us go back many years that are past, And glance at those days _much too happy to last_.

I have seen thee, my friend, when around thy bright hearth Not a seat was found vacant, but gladness and mirth Kept high holiday there, and many a time Were mingled in pastime my children with thine.

I've looked in again, the destroyer had come, And changed the whole aspect of that happy home.

He entered that dwelling, and rudely he tore From the arms of his mother, her most cherished flower.

Thy heart seemed then broken, oh! how couldst thou bear To live in this world, and thy idol not here?