The Kings And Queens Of England With Other Poems Part 5

As I recall the days of former years, Thy many acts of kindness bring to mind, Tears fill my eyes, in thee I've ever found A friend most faithful, uniformly kind.

Thou art the earliest friend of mine that's left-- The rest have long departed, every one; They've long years since the debt of nature paid, But thou remainest still, and thou alone.

The snow of four score winters thou has seen, And life's long pilgrimage may soon be o'er; Respected, loved, and happy hast thou been, With ample means to relieve the suffering poor, Thou ever hadst the will, as well as power.

Temperate in habit, and of temper even, Calm and unruffled as the peaceful lake, To thee the satisfaction has been given Much to enjoy, and others happy make.

And when thy days on earth shall all be past, And thou before the Saviour's bar appear, Mayst thou be found clothed in his righteousness And from his lips the joyful sentence hear--

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou Hast over few things faithful been, and now I'll make thee ruler over many things, And place a crown of glory on thy brow."

Such will be thy reward, my friend, and mine, If trusting in Christ's merits, _not our own_, We at the last great day in him be found; _He_ is the ark of safety--_He alone_.

Weston, April 24, 1852.

A PASTORAL.

Oh! tell me ye shepherds, tell me I pray, Have you seen the fair Jessie pa.s.s by this way?

You ne'er could forget her, if once you had seen, She's fair as the morning, she moves like a Queen.

My sheep are neglected, my crook's thrown aside, In pursuit of dear Jessie, sweet Jessie, my bride; I hear nothing of her, no tidings can glean, To _see_ is to _know_ her, she moves like a Queen.

Say, have you seen her? oh, pity my grief!

Speak _quick_, and impart me the needful relief; You cannot forget her, if once you have seen, She's lovely as Venus, she moves like a Queen.

Have you not seen her?--then listen I pray, Oh! listen to what a poor shepherd can say In the praise of one ne'er so lovely was seen; She's youthful as Hebe, she moves like a Queen.

She's fair as the Spring in the mild month of May, She's brilliant as June decked in flowerets so gay; You ne'er could forget her if once you had seen, She's charming as Flora, she moves like a Queen.

Oh! tell me not Damon, that yours can compare To Jessie, sweet Jessie, with beauty so rare; With a face of such sweetness, so modest a mien, She's like morn in its freshness, she moves like a Queen.

You tell me your Sylvia is beautiful quite; She may be, when Jessie is kept out of sight; She is not to be mentioned with Jessie, I ween, Her voice is sweet music, she moves like a Queen.

Then name not your Sylvia with Jessie I pray, 'Tis comparing dark night with the fair light of day; Sylvia's movements are clumsy, and awkwardly seen, But Jessie is graceful, she moves like a Queen.

Menalaus' fair wife, for beauty far famed, By the side of my Jessie is not to be named; Paris ne'er had woo'd Helen, if Jessie he'd seen, She's chaste as Diana, she moves like a Queen.

Oh! aid me, do aid me, ye shepherds, I pray!

The time is fast flying, no longer I'll stay; You cannot mistake her, there's none like her seen, She's lovely as Venus, she moves like a Queen.

Do help me to find her, I'm wild with affright, The day pa.s.ses swiftly, it soon will be night; There's none to compare with her, none like her seen, _More_ lovely than Venus, she moves like a Queen.

THE JESSAMINE.

EDDIE TO JESSIE.

There are many flowers famous for fragrance and hue, Sweet Roses and Lilies, Geraniums too; And though decked in gay colors they look very fine, They are not to my fancy like _sweet Jessie mine_.

FOR THE S.S. CONCERT,

IN THE WAYLAND ORTHODOX CHURCH.

Feed my lambs! the Saviour said, Near two thousand years ago; If we truly love the Lord, By obedience, love we'll show.

What was said to Peter then, In that distant age and clime, Sure is binding on us now, Here and to the end of time.

If our Shepherd then we love, His commandments we'll obey; Let us true disciples prove, Feed his lambs as best we may.

Twice twelve years have pa.s.sed this day,[2]

Since our Sabbath School commenced; Countless lessons have been learned, Much instruction been dispensed.

Let us up and doing be, Sow the seed all times and hours; Cast our bread on water even, Tax with vigor all our powers.

May the teachers now engaged, Courage take, and persevere; They'll not fail of their reward, Though they may not meet it here.

G.o.d is faithful, who hath said, (Let the thought allay your fears,) "They with joy shall surely reap, Who have sown in prayers and tears."

Then sow the seed with prayers and tears; Never doubt, but faithful be; Though thou reapest not for years, A rich harvest thou wilt see.

Happy faces now we miss, Who were wont these seats to fill; Loved and lovely pa.s.sed away, Yet they're fresh in memory still.

Soon their earthly race was run, In the morning called away; Others soon may follow them, May all hear the Saviour say,

"Well done, faithful servant; thou Hast o'er few things faithful been, I will make the ruler now Over many--enter in."

[2] June 13, 1852.

FEED MY LAMBS.

Just before the bright cloud the Saviour received, When about to return to his father in Heaven; His mission accomplished, his work on earth done, 'Twas then that this parting injunction was given:

"Feed my lambs!" this was said to one of the twelve, Whom he called to be with him while sojourning here; "Feed my lambs!" Oh, what love was evinced by those words, What tender compa.s.sion, what fatherly care.