Princeton University - Nassau Herald Yearbook (Princeton, NJ)

Page 18 text:

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

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-

Page 19 text:

THE NASSAU HERALD. 11 Glass Elratiim. BY DUNCAN EDWARDS, N. Y. DEAR CLASSMATES : Amid the emotions of this time and place he who is your Class Orator cannot but feel his duty to be doubly sacred and ditlicult. Amidst the excitement of the day, amidst these joyous ceremonies of Commence- ment, he is to voice for you the rising pangs of sorrow at parting with the beloved scenes and associations of Princeton. Like the ivy upon its walls, our affections have been cling- ing very closely to Nassau Hall, and only now We begin to realize how tightly they have wrapped their tendrils about the time-stained buildings. The campus with its tall trees, as we have seen them in autumn dropping their withered leaves in heaps upon the familiar paths, as we have seen them in winter with their long, thin arms wrapped in white mufrs of snow, as we have seen t-hem in such summer morn- ings as the present, full-leaved, moist with dew, and bathed in sunshine, the campus, with its grand lines of buildings, grand no less in the beauty of the present than in historical perspective, the campus, which has witnessed our enthusi- asm, blazed with our tires, and resounded with our cheers, has become endeared to us as a personal friend. And as we have lately sat together' through the long June evenings on the steps of Old North, with our eyes upon the fair, green, familiar face of that campus, and our voices swell- ing together in the songs of Old Nassau, we have felt our hearts drawn closer to each other, the spirit of our class relationship, the fellowship of common feelings, common experience, common aspirations, has become almost tangible, 2 .