52 



The kind and wise old man fell on that saddest night, 



Sweet stream beneath ! whose pitying bosom took him in, 



As down, down, down, with headlong crash and horrid din 



Of hurtling stones around he fell, and none was nigh 



To hear, for help his last, heart-thrilling, gasping cry. 



Uproot the frail, weak. Laurel tree to which he clung ; 



False herb ! a precious life in truth upon thee hung 



That night, as oft it has on thy poetic meed — 



Alas ! thou^rt ever but the broken, piercing reed ! 



What, though it mocked his dying grasp, the treacherous laurel bough, 



Fame's self he'd won, and needed not the emblem now. 



A crown of glory shall be his beyond the grave 



O'er which his well-earned earthly laurels fadeless wave. 



Sleep, good and kindly man, in this thy tomb sublime : 



Such was thy wish, here to await the end of time. 



Honored wherever Science lifts her searching eye, 



Loved in thy classic home thy memory cannot die ! 



And Otey, who o'er thy pale, cherished form, doth say 

 The last fond words that loving, honoring lips e'er may ; 

 Weil may he feel the spell of place upon him now ; 

 For he is mountain-born. Lo ! on his glorious brow 

 High thoughts inspired fleet on, as storm and sunshine chase 

 Each other o'er the calm, uplifted, mountain's face. 

 Thou'rt like to Saul amidst his brothers ; he like each, 

 And like thy far-off heights, his lofty soarings reach,' 

 Far, far beyond the aching sight and easy ken, 

 Of most who walk this earth and bear the names of men. 



On dark, blue, Otter's rounded peak, oft hath he said, 

 " Make thou, my well beloved, my last and lonely bed :" 

 But oh ! may God, the Merciful, forbid that thou 

 Shouldst find a martyr's grave, as he we mourn o'er now. 

 Yet what more noble, worthy, death may be desired ? 

 The great, the good, he long pursued — achieved — expired. 



True nobleman of nature thou — gentle, yet firm, 

 Honored to terror's verge by scholars through the term ; 

 But like a brother loved, when college rule was done ; 

 The master so august, and genial friend in one. 

 Oh, noble Mitchell ! thy revered and cherished name 

 Old Chapel Hill deems sweetest heritage of fame. 



