Town and Country, page 239 by John S. Adams
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sten and you'll hear From some deep pit a warning voice to thee; For thousands low have fallen, who once had Hopes, prospects, fair as thine; they listened, fell! And from the depths of their deep misery call On thee to think. O, follow not, but reach A helping hand to raise them from their woe! Clouds hide the moon; how now doth wrong prevail! Wrong holdeth carnival, and death is near. O, what a sight were it for man to see, Should there on this dark, shrouded hour Burst in an instant forth a noonday light! How many who are deem‚d righteous men, And bear a fair exterior by day, Would now be seen in fellowship with sin! Laughing, and sending forth their jibes and jeers, And doing deeds which Infamy might own. But not alone to wrong and base intrigue Do minister these shades of night; for Love Holds high her beacon Charity to guide To deeds that angels might be proud to own. Beneath the shadows that these clouds do cast, Hath many a willing hand bestowed a gift Its modest worth in secret would confer. No human eye beheld the welcome purse Dropped at the poor man's humble cottage door; But angels saw the act, and they have made A lasting record of it on the scroll That bears the register of human life. Many a patient sufferer watches now The passing hours, and counts them as they flee. Many a watcher with a sleepless eye Keeps record of the sick man's every breath. Many a mother bends above her child In deep solicitude, in deathless love. Night wears away, and up the eastern sky The dawn approaches. So shall life depart,-- This life of ours on earth,--and a new birth Approach to greet us with immortal joys, So gently on our inner life shall come The light of heaven. Time moveth on, and I must join again The busy toil of life; and I must go. And yet I would not. I would rather stay And talk with these green woods,--for woods can talk. Didst ever hear their voice? In spring they speak Of early love and youth, and ardent hope; In summer, of the noon of wedded life, All buds and blossoms and sweet-smelling flower