Princeton University - Nassau Herald Yearbook (Princeton, NJ)

Page 17 text:

, THE NASSAU HERALD. Here while we stay by the clear dashing water, All shall her towers and beauty declare. As faint the silver echoes died away, Over his cheeks the joyous halos play, As now the song unbidden mid the trees Brings back his youthful sports and merry glees. He listens still 'to catch another strain, But that was all--he heard it not again. Tho', as for contrast, fain to turn the thought From careless joy to lessons sorrow-taught, A lonely hermit thrush, with rich and liquid voice, Kept warbling-such a tune as oft against the choice Brings a wave of sadness and unbidden tears. Old Alfred knew the touch of sorrow in past years, That touch so heavy, yet with surety given, To mould a truer manhood, more like that of heaven A tear-drop glistened in his kindly eye, And turned his glance toward the western sky. There, cast against its softly glowing light, The old physician saw a wondrous sight: High up the mountains part in twain, And in the rift a smooth and placid main Of far-stretching clouds, nay dotted here and there With fleecy sail, and well does it compare ' With bright and glancing waters of the sea, That far away are bound byistern decree. Another mood sweeps o'er that manly face Which full reflects the inward musing's trace, 'Tis that of longing and of deep desire- Nor do I now the secret cause inquire, For oft the villagers have told to me How well he loved his boy-now on the sea, How often, when he lightly falls asleep, The father talks of Herbert on the deep, Yet in his eye a sort of jubilee, As quietly he murmurs, No more sea. Fainter the blushing glows of evening wane, And over four score varied years again Had Alfred journeyed in his memory free. His daughter Mary, tall and matronly, With gentle hand supplies his feeble need, And both within the hall-way now recede. A Dim could I see-the flickering shades increase-

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THE NASSAU HERALD. White are the dwellings, built apart a space, Encircled round with lawns of verdant grace. A school, the central theme of village thought, With gray tradition, youthful pranks inwrought, Looms up with massive walls and silent towers. No sound is heard under the foliage bowers, The school-boys all now far away do roam, To seek the pleasures of a loving home. If from the public way of Silver Brook You turn your step, you soon espy a nook Nestling beneath the ledge, that dark. and tall Rises away above like ancient castle wallg There you a homestead plain and neat may see, 'Tis midway cast, twixt ease and poverty. He on the porch, to whom my thought relates, The aged doctor, sits and meditates. An old man, stout of heart but feeble now, For eighty snows had deeply marked his brow, And three-score years of stern physician-life Had passed since he, with young and girlish wife, First came to live at Silver Brook, And gleeful called their homestead Shady Nook? I watch the shadows Hit across his face, His hoary locks-how like a crown of grace! Anon his eye lit up with pride and joy, As scenes arose that showed himself a boy. With shades of sadness now the joy would cease, But still his face was calm and full of peace. A youthful chorus wafts from yonder peak, The distance makes it soft and low and sweetg Old Alfred forward bends his ready ear As thus the camper's song comes free and clear. List to the dwellers on nature's dark mountains, On Greylock's kind bosom we lay ourselves down - Drink we the joy of his deep-rushing fountains, Sleeping in peace on the spruce-needles brown. Cool are the breezes that fan thy tall hemlocks, Soft trills the thrush on the banks of the rill, Light float the clouds o'er the billowy hill-tops, Richly our vessel of pleasure to ill. Praise we the grace of our loved Alma Mater, Sweet are the memories clustering thereg 7

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THE NASSAU HERALD. But still his facewas calm and full of peace. Not far diverse from other lives was his C111 varied schools the course of training isj, Here pages blotted, blistered by our tears, There records of regrets and doubts andufears 5 What chronicles of triumph and defeat, Of struggle and temptation and retreat I Whether in light or darkness, where the soul 'Which boasts not some ambition and a goal ? Altho' men speak not, yet their actions tell What are the hopes' that in the bosom swell. Forsooth, tho' divers paths their sandals press, 'Tis long a chosen road to happiness. Not alway for the fount of childhood's health, Nor yet the stone that yields imagined wealth, Do mortals labor, but to find in life Some inward satisfaction-free from strife. I have oonversed with more than one of Alfred Since he died-I scarce can say he's dead- Who knew him well, aye, and loved him, too. Should I affirm to what his peace was due, I'd take the words that rural folks express, Who told me of his great unselfishnessf' With youthful spirits eager for the race, We boldly enter in and take our place 5 But not without a forethought of the way We go, but cannot see-much less portray. But still there comes in every life a time of rest, When patience and not valor is the testg When thought is uppermost, and hands are weak 5 When lips their wonted accents cease td speak. Not all of us shall bide at even-time, ' Grirt round by everlasting hills sublime, , Or musing in the twilight hours of life, Shall calm review each chapter in the strife, But when from toil the word shall come to cease May we have found that grace which bringeth lasting peace 7