POEMS BY MISS ELIZA JANE STEPHENS.
7
RECOLLECTIONS.
'Twas Spring, though tiny drifts of snow
Along the fence were seen;
The trees had not put on their leaves—
The meadows were not green.
Along the fence were seen;
The trees had not put on their leaves—
The meadows were not green.
The sky had yet a Wintry look,
That cold and cheerless blue,
Save where the sunlight touched a cloud
With faintest rosy hue.
That cold and cheerless blue,
Save where the sunlight touched a cloud
With faintest rosy hue.
Just then, while standing in my door,
I heard as sweet a strain
As e'er had fallen on my ear,
Or ever will again.
I heard as sweet a strain
As e'er had fallen on my ear,
Or ever will again.
'Twas but a robin's simple song;
Yet 'twas so soft and clear,
It woke a thousand memories,
My heart still owned as dear.
Yet 'twas so soft and clear,
It woke a thousand memories,
My heart still owned as dear.
It seemed, indeed, the very note
I heard long years ago,
While wandering by the brook one day,
To mark its changeful flow.
I heard long years ago,
While wandering by the brook one day,
To mark its changeful flow.
It called to mind the face and form,
And e'en the voice's tone,
Of those who sported with me then,
Though many years have flown,
And e'en the voice's tone,
Of those who sported with me then,
Though many years have flown,
Since eagerly we climbed that hill,
And sought and found the nest,
Where objects of untiring love
Their downy pillow prest.
And sought and found the nest,
Where objects of untiring love
Their downy pillow prest.
I saw the looks of wonderment,
And every childish word
Was fresh again in memory,
As if but lately heard.
And every childish word
Was fresh again in memory,
As if but lately heard.
They seemed to me as children still,
Each brow all smooth and fair;
I could not think of them as changed
Since when I saw them there;
Each brow all smooth and fair;
I could not think of them as changed
Since when I saw them there;
It seemed as if the robin's song
Would find them just as gay;
Their step as light, their cheek as fresh,
As on that Summer's day.
Would find them just as gay;
Their step as light, their cheek as fresh,
As on that Summer's day.
As if no chilling blast of care
Had ever o'er them swept;
As if o'er no departed joys
They e'er had sighed or wept.
Had ever o'er them swept;
As if o'er no departed joys
They e'er had sighed or wept.
And yet I know it could not be,
For I have sadder grown;
It cannot be of all that band
That I am changed alone.
For I have sadder grown;
It cannot be of all that band
That I am changed alone.
COMPENSATION.
There's many a wreath for the conqueror bold
Who widens his country's domain,
Though every rood was bought dearly with blood,
And mothers are mourning the slain.
Who widens his country's domain,
Though every rood was bought dearly with blood,
And mothers are mourning the slain.
There's chapters and songs for the fortunate ones
Who win in the struggle for fame,
They give to our souls the sweet treasures of thought
And justly a tribute can claim,
Who win in the struggle for fame,
They give to our souls the sweet treasures of thought
And justly a tribute can claim,
We've praises for beauty, we marvel at wit,
Though both are so transient and vain,
The wealthy are flattered, and everywhere
The mirthful are welcome again.
Though both are so transient and vain,
The wealthy are flattered, and everywhere
The mirthful are welcome again.
But Where's the reward of that noblest of work,
The everyday work of life.
The humblest of duties must needs be fulfilled
And peace make entreaty of strife.
The everyday work of life.
The humblest of duties must needs be fulfilled
And peace make entreaty of strife.
Ah foolish are we that we dally with pride
When little attention is given,
To virtues that make the great comfort of life
And seek no reward but in Heaven.
When little attention is given,
To virtues that make the great comfort of life
And seek no reward but in Heaven.
THE LONELY WORSHIPPER.
It is related of Robert Thorn, a staunch old Quaker, that after his accustomed church had been almost depleted by death and removals, he continued to worship there, with no companion but his dog.
Where nature lavished many gifts,
Of wooded bills and valleys green,
Of bubbling-brooks and rivers grand,
Whose waters sparkled silver sheen;
A worthy band sought out their homes,
Apart from aught of worldly strife,
And gladly wrought in sweet content,
The noblest attributes of life.
Of wooded bills and valleys green,
Of bubbling-brooks and rivers grand,
Whose waters sparkled silver sheen;
A worthy band sought out their homes,
Apart from aught of worldly strife,
And gladly wrought in sweet content,
The noblest attributes of life.
They builded wisely, dwellings fair,
And furnished them for use, not show,
They planted trees, and ate their fruit,
And reaped whatever they did sow;
They taught their children how to live,
To shun the hateful ways of sin,
And more than all the tongues of earth,
To heed the monitor within.
And furnished them for use, not show,
They planted trees, and ate their fruit,
And reaped whatever they did sow;
They taught their children how to live,
To shun the hateful ways of sin,
And more than all the tongues of earth,
To heed the monitor within.
For they had styled themselves as Friends,
And steadfastly believing still,
That oft as sought, the Master gave
A revelation of His will—
And there in that sequestered spot,
They built a temple to the Lord,
And gathered there from year to year,
And pondered on the sacred word.
And steadfastly believing still,
That oft as sought, the Master gave
A revelation of His will—
And there in that sequestered spot,
They built a temple to the Lord,
And gathered there from year to year,
And pondered on the sacred word.
In after times the young went forth,
Where fortune's wilder freaks were played,
And one by one the fathers slept,
And in their honored graves were laid:
Until of all those worshippers
There was remaining only one,
But he still followed out the course
He had in early life begun;
Where fortune's wilder freaks were played,
And one by one the fathers slept,
And in their honored graves were laid:
Until of all those worshippers
There was remaining only one,
But he still followed out the course
He had in early life begun;
And often as the Sabbath dawned,
He sought his old accustomed place,
He waited for a blessing there,
And felt the glow of quickened grace,
His faithful dog lay at bis feet,
And slept and dreamed the hours away;
The quaint old man had holy thoughts
And visions of eternal day.
He sought his old accustomed place,
He waited for a blessing there,
And felt the glow of quickened grace,
His faithful dog lay at bis feet,
And slept and dreamed the hours away;
The quaint old man had holy thoughts
And visions of eternal day.
Oh. brave old man, what memories
Uncalled, would thrill his heart and brain,
And people all that silent room
With those who ne'er would come again.
Oh, brave old man, that dared to look
Along the busy, changeful past,
That calmly faced that present hour,
While time from him was gliding fast.
Uncalled, would thrill his heart and brain,
And people all that silent room
With those who ne'er would come again.
Oh, brave old man, that dared to look
Along the busy, changeful past,
That calmly faced that present hour,
While time from him was gliding fast.
His hopes were in the life beyond—
The ways and people here were strange,
His faith was steadfast in his God,
He waited only one more change.
The ways and people here were strange,
His faith was steadfast in his God,
He waited only one more change.
