"meditations at the foot of the beacon." d1 



That once a house of prayer and praise stood there, , 



The offering of a grateful heart to God. — 



And little children wondering may stand, 



Striving to comprehend the mighty, change, 



And with their hungry ear devour the strain, 



And fix it in their hearts, to be again 



Kehearsed; — until at last it shall become 



As some old legend, fraught with lessons rich, 



Which shall be cited as a stimulant, 



To those who in that day possess the power 



To do such kindly deed. — Thus shall it live. 



And still a blessing prove,-and as the sea 



Of Time rolls onward shall be borne along, 



Until the weary waves shall sob it out, 



Or fling it as a snow-flake from their crest 



Upon the shores of inconceivable 



Eternity. 



Those sheltering hills spread roimd, 

 Which as the day light fades appear to lie 

 Like some huge beast to guard the favour'd vale; — 

 With breast exposed to bear the brunt of strife 

 When elements contend,-Avhose frowning front 

 Speaks safety: -or in the early moining. 

 When the sun chases the clouds of mist 

 That slowly roll, they smile upon their charge; — 

 Oft from their side have I enraptured gazed, 

 And watched the silent to%vn awake to life. — 

 Those mighty hives of industry and skill 

 Which like huge window'd cliffs, on every hand 

 Rear their hard outline void of grace, yet rich 

 In fund for contemplation ; as the hum 

 Of whirling wheels fell on the list'ning ear, 

 By distance softened, -it has seemed as though 

 It was the cadence of some mighty song 

 Of industry and joy, of wealth and peace. 

 Where once on every overlooking hiU, 

 Engines of death and warlike hosts have stood: — 

 Reigns perfect peace,-and wild flowers deck the sward. 

 Which once ensanguined reek'd with human blood. 



Whence spring those lines of quaintly gabled roofs 

 Whose pinnacles and towers attract the eye, 

 And tarry back the mind to days of old. 

 And cherished tales of hospitality, 

 When at the mansion porch the poor were fed? 

 Are they a remnant of that bye-gone time 

 That has survived, to silently convey 

 The lessons of their love and charity ? 



