Poems by George Pope Morris Part 22

The Hunter's Carol.

A merry life does the hunter lead!

He wakes with the dawn of day; He whistles his dog--he mounts his steed, And scuds to he woods away!

The lightsome tramp of the deer he'll mark, As they troop in herds along; And his rifle startles the cheerful lark As he carols his morning song!

The hunter's life is the life for me!-- That is the life for a man!

Let others sing of a home on the sea, But match me the woods if you can!

Then give me a gun--I've an eye to mark The deer as they bound along!-- My steed, dog, and gun, and the cheerful lark To carol my morning song!

Was.h.i.+ngton's Monument.

A monument to Was.h.i.+ngton?

A tablet graven with his name?-- Green be the mound it stands upon, And everlasting as his fame!

His glory fills the land--the plain, The moor, the mountain, and the mart!

More firm than column, urn, or fane, His monument--the human heart.

The Christian--patriot--hero--sage!

The chief from heaven in mercy sent; His deeds are written on the age-- His country is his monument.

"The sword of Gideon and the Lord"

Was mighty in his mighty hand-- The G.o.d who guided he adored, And with His blessing freed the land.

The first in war--the first in peace-- The first in hearts that freeman own; Unparalleled till time shall cease-- He lives immortal and alone.

Yet let the rock-hewn tower arise, High to the pathway of the sun, And speak to the approving skies Our grat.i.tude to Was.h.i.+ngton.

The Sister's Appeal.

A Fragment.

You remember--don't you, brother-- In our early years, The counsels of our poor, dear mother, And her hopes and fears?

She told us to love one another-- Brother, dry your tears!

We are only two, dear brother, In his babel wide!

In the churchyard sleeps poor mother, By our father's side!-- Then let us cherish one another Till in death we bide.

Song of the Reapers.

Joyous the carol that rings in the mountains, While the cleared vales are refreshed by the fountains-- After the harvest the cheerful notes fall, And all the glad reapers re-echo the call!

La ra la la, &c.

Oh, how the heart bounds at that simple refrain!

Dear haunts of my childhood, I'm with you again!

Green be your valleys, enriched by the rills, And long may that carol be sung on your hills!

La ra la la, &c.

Walter Gay.

To know a man well, it is said, Walter Gay, On s.h.i.+pboard with him you should be: If this maxim's true, then well I know you, For we sailed together the sea, Walter Gay, For we sailed together the sea.

I now watch the star from the strand, Walter Gay, As oft from the surge I did then: Like that all alone you sparkled and shone, The clear northern star among men, Walter Gay, The clear northern star among men!

May your future course, like the past, Walter Gay, From wreck and misfortune be free: your sorrows and care fade into the air, Or vanish like foam on the sea, Walter Gay, Or vanish like foam on the sea!

The friends.h.i.+p that's formed on the wave, Walter Gay, Is deeper than plummet may sound: That can not decay till we lose our way, Or death runs the vessel aground, Walter Gay, Or death runs the vessel aground!

When life's voyage ends, may your bark, Walter Gay Spread sail like the wings of a dove-- And, when lulls the wind, safe anchorage find Within the good harbor above, Walter Gay, Within the good harbor above!