Music — Poetry — Fiction 



Chisel thy altars. Here hast thou ever poured 1872 



Earth's grand libation to Eternity, 

 Thy misty incense rising unto God — 

 The God that was and is and is to be. 



Thoughts on visiting Niagara. (In Holley, G. W., Niagara; its 1872 

 history and geology, incidents and poetry. N. Y., Buffalo, 



Toronto. 1872. Pp. 157-158.) 



I wonder how long you've been a roarin' 



At this infernal rate; 

 I wonder if all you've been a pourin' 



Could be ciphered on a slate. 



I wonder how such a thund'rin' sounded 



When all New York was woods; 

 I suppose some Indians have been drownded 



When rains have raised your floods. 



I wonder if wild stags and buffaloes 



Hav'nt stood where now I stand ; 

 Well, 'spose — bein' scared at first — they stub'd their toes, 



I wonder where they'd land! 



I wonder if the rainbow's been a shinin' 



Since sunrise at creation; 

 And this water-fall been underminin' 



With constant spateration! 



That Moses never mentioned ye, I've wondered, 



While other things describin'. 

 My conscience! how loud you must have thunder'd 



While the deluge was subsidin' ! 



• 



My thoughts are strange, magnificent and deep, 



While I look down on thee. 

 Oh! what a splendid place for washing sheep 



Niagara would be ! 



775 



