Search -
The Complete Writings of John Greenleaf Whittier (v. 4)
The Complete Writings of John Greenleaf Whittier - v. 4 Author:Unknown Author Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: In thy pew, for many a year, Homilies from Oldbug hear,3 Who to wit like that of South, And the Syrian's golden mouth, Doth the homely pathos add Which the pilgr... more »im preachers had ; Breaking, like a child at play, Gilded idols of the day, Cant of knave and pomp of fool Tossing with his ridicule, Yet, in earnest or in jest, Ever keeping truth abreast. And, when thou art called, at last, To thy townsmen of the past, Not as stranger shalt thou come; Thou shalt find thyself at home With the little and the big, Woollen cap and periwig, Madam in her high-laced ruff, Goody in her home-made stuff, — Wise and simple, rich and poor, Thou hast known them all before! 1851. THE CROSS. Richard Dillingham, a young member of the Societv of Friends, died in the Nashville penitentiary, where he was confined for the act of aiding the escape of fugitive slaves. " The cross, if rightly borne, shall be No burden, but support to thee; " 4 So, moved of old time for our sake, The holy monk of Kempen spake. Thou brave and true one ! upon whom Was laid the cross of martyrdom, How didst tliou, in thy generous youth, Bear witness to this blessed truth! Thy cross of suffering and of shame A staff within thy hands became, In paths where faith alone could see The Master's steps supporting thee. Thine was the seed-time; God alone Beholds the end of what is sown; Beyond our vision, weak and dim, The harvest-time is hid with Him. Yet, unforgotten where it lies, That seed of generous sacrifice, Though seeming on the desert cast, Shall rise with bloom and fruit at last. 1862. THE HERO. The hero of the incident related in this poem was Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, the well-known philanthropist, who when a young man volunteered his aid in the Greek struggle for independence. " Oh for a kni...« less