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,(173 
 
 BIGSANDVPOEMS 
 
 BY— 
 
 PETER CLAY. 
 
 T^ V /^ 
 
Inez^ Ky. 
 
 B.S. 
 
 PROPRIETOR. 
 
 This Hotel is a large building situated on Main st 
 in the center of the town, well arranged, well kept, ace 
 modations first class, charges reasonable. Has in conn 
 tion a first class Feed and Livery Stable. Care of liui 
 a specialty. Horses to let at all times. 
 
BIG n I D Y POEMS, 
 
 -BY- 
 
 PETER C L A Y 
 
 V' 
 
 i: 
 
 EDEN, Kf:NTU(^KY. 
 
 1890, 
 

 Entered according to Act of Congress, iii the year ]8f)0, hy 
 
 pe:ter clay, 
 
 in the Office of tie Ijibrarian of Congress at Wasliii gtoD. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 ^ ^_, 
 
 IN PPvErARIKG this little volume for thepublie, it has 
 not been my object to excel or evade criticism, but mere- 
 ly to give my friends, and those who may wish, the casual 
 productions of my early days. Neither have I attempted, 
 in the poduction of these Poems, to excite universal admi- 
 ration. In fact, when they were written, they were not in- 
 tended for the public; being composed for mere amuse- 
 ment during my leisure hours; and wliatever merit they 
 contain, I attribute not to any acquired effort of my own, 
 but to a poetic instinct implanted in my being by the di- 
 vine author of all poetry — God. True poetry is a ciiild of 
 heaven and a twin sister of that other sweet serajjh, Mu- 
 sic; whose voices, methinks, make glad the courts of heav- 
 en. And no one can be truly a Poet ,unless his foot-steps 
 are attended and his heart attuned to higher and sweeter 
 sentiments by this guardian angel. AVhen but a little 
 child, in the bright spring-time of life, my youn-g heart 
 caught the sweet minstrelsy, which was developed more 
 fully in after years, finding vent in the productions of my 
 leisure hours. Some of these found their way into the 
 hands of the anxious public, who showered many com- 
 pliments upon my young head. During my school days, 
 demands were made, by some of my friends, for a volume 
 of my own production; but, feeling the inability of my 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 youth, I dared not launch my ship upon the great sea of 
 Literature. It is now with a light heart, that I come 
 down to the golden sand, fearlessly, to launch this little 
 bark; and as I watch its snowy sails move out among the 
 mighty vessels, I can but invoke the blessings of heaven 
 to attend it, and pray that it may receive a kind Avelcome 
 in every harbor. If it should go down beneath the surg- 
 ing waves, I will not be found, standing on the shore, cry- 
 ing with a sad heart, '*0h! when will my lost ship return 
 home to me;" but will be found constructing a larger and 
 stronger vessel, to be again launched upon the billowy 
 sea. May God's own hand guide it safely o'er the waves; 
 may it find a safe harbor in every breast, and bring some 
 gem of precious thought to every heart, 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 MiNME. A. Cassady 7 
 
 Teacher And Sick Scholar 
 
 October 11 
 
 The Guardian Angel 13 
 
 Happines And love 16 
 
 The Broken vow IS 
 
 ODE TO EDEN 20 
 
 MINNIE'S GRAVE 22 
 
 THE HONEYSUCKLE 23 
 
 A LOST LOVE 2(3 
 
 MOONLIGHT 29 
 
 THE HOP- VINES O'ER THE DOOR 31 
 
 DARK EYES 33 
 
 THE POND AND STREAMLET 35 
 
 VICE VERSA 38 
 
 JUNE 39 
 
 THE BOUQUET 41 
 
 ODE TO LITTLE MABLE B— 43 
 
 THE AUTUMN WIND 45 
 
 ELLA 47 
 
 ODITO THE SUN '^7 
 
 THE STORY OF MAN CO 
 
 NOTES 70 
 
—BY- 
 
 P E T E 1 CLAY 
 
 M I M I E 2^. <5 A S S il D Y 
 
 'HE was beautiful and fair, 
 No heart was kinder, truer, 
 Her sweet eyes and golden hair 
 
 Added smiles to all who knew her. 
 Like the sunshine of the morning 
 
 Adds a charm to flowers and dew. 
 Her sweet spirit gave us warning. 
 To be loved, v/e must bo true. 
 
 Like a modest blushing flower 
 
 Spreads its fragrance on the air, 
 She possessed a magic poAver 
 
 That spread joy every-where: 
 And ihe music of her voice, 
 
 x\s she sung God's power to save, 
 Made all our hearts rejoice, 
 
 As we looked beyond the grave. 
 
BiCr SANDY POEMS 
 
 But like sweet flowers of May, 
 
 That only blush to die, 
 She smiled on us and passed away, 
 
 Far up beyond the sky. 
 Yes an angel of the seven 
 
 Summoned her one day, 
 And to a brighter home in heaven, 
 
 Her sweet soul took its way. 
 
 And when her spirit took its flight, 
 
 Earth lost a jewel rare; 
 But heaven gained a brighter light, 
 
 To shine forever there. 
 And though to lose her was our fate. 
 
 Her God was pleased to greet her; 
 And as she reached the Pearly gate, 
 
 Bright angels came to meet her. 
 
 And now upon the golden shore 
 
 Of life's celestial river, 
 With angel faces to adore. 
 
 Sweet Minnie lives forever. 
 A golden harp is in her hand, 
 
 A crown of life she wears. 
 Her voice in the angel band 
 
 Makes sweeter heaven's airs. 
 
 Yes, sweet minnie 's gone forever, 
 From this vale of tears below, 
 
 And we shall see her never, 
 Until we nro cnllod to go: 
 
TEACTIET^ AND SICK SCHOLAU 
 
 Tlion on ^lio briglit ani^elic shore, 
 
 Far np beyond the skies, 
 We'll meet with her, to part no more, 
 
 Wliere love-light never dies. 
 
 ^KS.(LllER AND BI^K Si^EOIxSR- 
 
 EAR teacher, stay with me to-nigh, t" 
 She said, as I kissed her to go; 
 And her face, upturned to the light, 
 
 Showed traces of linering woe. 
 As I started she clung to my hand 
 
 And pleadingly looked in my face; 
 But the look I did not understand, 
 
 As I smoothed back the snow of her lace. 
 
 "But Florie, my dear friends at home 
 
 Won't know where I am if I stay, 
 Won't it do if tomorrow I come. 
 
 As soon as the first streak of day ? 
 ''But tomorrow, dear teacher," she said, 
 
 "I'll not be found at this place, 
 Tomorrow I'll be with the dead. 
 
 My spirit gone out into space. 
 
 Won't you stay if some one will go 
 
 And tell them you're with me to-night ? 
 
 She said, and her voice sunk low, 
 Her eyes shone wondrously bright. 
 
 "I'll stay, dear Florie," I said, 
 
 "And comfort yoi] all in my power: 
 
10 TUCt SANDY POEMS • 
 
 And close by tlie side of her ]>ed, 
 
 I watched o'er the sweet fading ilower. 
 
 *'Dear Florio, why act in this way ?" 
 
 (Foi^ I knew the sweet tiling would reply,) 
 * 'You're better, the doctors all say, 
 
 And why do you think vdu will die ?" 
 ^'Dcar teacher, I know they all think 
 
 I am better, and soon will be gay; 
 But I know I am now on the brink, 
 
 And my spirit will soon pass away." 
 
 *'Are you afraid to die, m.y dear fio ?" 
 
 I asked in the gentlest tone. 
 *'Not of dying, dear teacher, no, 
 
 But of going a.Wciy all alone." 
 "But niy child, its to heaven you '11 go, 
 
 Where sorrowing ones cease to weep, 
 Where the angels will bless little Flo—" 
 
 She had gently fallen asleep. 
 
 For hours I watched her v/itli care; 
 
 She awoke, and a change I could see, 
 Iknewtlie dciith-angel was near; 
 
 Bat her dear little heart was not free. 
 ^'Please pray again, teacher," she said, 
 
 "Tliat Florie may not go alone." 
 And I knelt by the side of her bed, 
 
 And prayed for the tlie angels to come. 
 
ccTor>:<:R 11 
 
 Once more she closed her bright eyes, 
 
 Once more her lips moved in prayer; 
 But soon, in joyous surprise, 
 
 She exclaime ''I'm free from all care, 
 what do I see! — a bright throne! 
 
 And angels decsending from high — 
 They're coming to go with me home! 
 
 I'm not afraid, teacher, good-bye. 
 
 And then little Floric so fair 
 
 Flew av7ay with the angels of love, 
 And we wept, but not in despair. 
 
 For we knew she was happy above. 
 No more shall mortals behold 
 
 TLia beautiful liower on earth, 
 Buo in heaven its- petals unfold, 
 
 AVhere an<:?:eis admire its worth. 
 
 TTII e'ofiest troad Oclobcr came, 
 Like one that 's broken hearted, 
 AVitli saddest smile and swoetesL face, 
 
 I'o weep o'(r tiie departed. 
 Her purple robe, bedecked with gold, 
 
 Flashed in the sun-set splendor. 
 While on the balmy air, her sighs 
 Were born in accents tender. 
 
12 
 
 BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 She stooped to kiss the dying flowers, 
 
 Her face with pity glowing, 
 And laid them gently in their graves, 
 
 Bright colors o'er them strewing; 
 A deep sigh heaved her tender breast, 
 
 Because the flowers were gone; 
 And a jeweled tear of pity fell 
 
 On the curtains, o'er them drawn. 
 
 AVith sweetest face bedewed with tears, 
 
 She knelt upon the sod, 
 And a gentle prayer was wafted 
 
 On spirit wings to God, 
 Then a whisper, like an angel's, 
 
 Was reflected from the skies, 
 Saying "Weep no more, fair sister, 
 
 Sleeping beauty shall arise." 
 
 Then tliis angel of October, 
 
 Like a fairy queen, arose 
 And spread lier shining pinions 
 
 O'er friends and o'er foe.-; 
 Her face liad lost its sadriess, 
 
 And her eyo.j wore shining clear, 
 For the gentle voice from heaven 
 
 Ila'.l vanquis'ned every tear. 
 
 Her sighs v/ere c]ianged to music 
 Of the purest, sweetest strains. 
 
 And were wafted by the zephyrs 
 O'er lulls and o'er plains, 
 
THE GUARDIAN ANGEL 13 
 
 Saying ''beauty is etornal, 
 Arid death is but a sleep; 
 
 We sjiall wake and live forever, 
 And eternal glories reap." 
 
 'THE ^^RRiymK ilK<5EL 
 
 NE sweet summer eve, when the nightingales sung, 
 And the sun kissed the hill-tops good-night, 
 I strolled down beside the lake of Too-Lung, 
 And met, there, a most charming sprite. 
 
 The soft balmy air kissed the dew-laden flowers, 
 Fair Luna unveiled her sweet face, 
 
 And poured down her rays in silvery showers. 
 While the stars twinkled in on a race. 
 
 As I strolled along on the glistening shore 
 
 This wonderful angel I spied; 
 I never had seen the sweet vision before. 
 
 And straightway it flew to My side. 
 
 Abashed was I then, so sublime was the scene, 
 
 But I felt secure from all harm; 
 I knew the sweet vision I saw was no dream, 
 
 Ari its hand rcntiv fell on mv arm. 
 
14 BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 I felt a soft thrill at the magical touch, 
 
 And about me flashed a new light, 
 While the flowery heath I admired so much, 
 
 Was fading away from my sight. 
 
 I stood there entranced, for of speech I had none, 
 
 As I gazed on the vision before me; 
 But I felt in my heart a new life had begun. 
 
 So strange was the spell that came o'er me. 
 
 My soul was enwrapped in a sense of delight, 
 
 A sweet, unexperienced condition; 
 And growing quite bold, I addressed the fair sprite, 
 
 Determined to learn its strange mission. 
 
 ''Fair angel, pray tell me, what is thy name? 
 
 And why hast thou wandered this way? 
 Where is thy abode ? pra}^ tell me the same, 
 
 And why hast thou blessed me to-day? 
 
 The vision then spoke, in a voice as sweet 
 As the soft, thrilling notes of a lyre; 
 
 And a glittering tear fell low at my feet. 
 
 As the presence, sweet soraph, drew nighcr. 
 
 ''My home is in heaven, the fountain of light, 
 
 Where shineth a clime ever vernal. 
 Where angels rejoice in songs of delight, 
 
 And glories and bliss are eternal. 
 
THE GUARDIAN ANGEL 15 
 
 Anl now, fair mortal, my mission is this, 
 To woo thee, and win thee, for heaven, 
 
 To wrap thy soul in a mantle of bliss, 
 The angels of glory hath given. 
 
 ril crown thee with blessings far richer than those 
 
 That th© powers of earth can unroll, 
 And vfhen thou art wrapped in peaceful repose, 
 
 I'll whisper sweet dreams to thy soul. 
 
 Thy guardian angel, I'll ever attend thee, 
 Continually guiding thy foot-steps aright, 
 
 Though perils beset I'll ever defend thee, 
 Aad anchor thy soul in the haven of light. 
 
 Where'er I roam, Avhe'er I wander, 
 
 This vision of glory is still by my side, 
 
 I know we shall pass to the clime over yonder, 
 'Mid elysian fields of bliss to reside. 
 
 And now fair reader, when perils confound you, 
 May blessings descend from heaven above, 
 
 May this sweet presence in glory surround you, 
 The wonderful presence, the presence of love. 
 
 I: 
 
1(> - BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 HilPPIKKSS Mljy liOVE 
 
 HAPPINESS, brigh angel from heave 
 And Love, the proud Hero of old. 
 Met on the bank of life's river, 
 Where flowers of beauty unfold. 
 
 Life's sun was shining in splendor, 
 Sweet odors pervaded the air, 
 
 Kature unveiled her fair face, 
 And smiled on the angelic pair. 
 
 "Sweet angel" said Love in a whisper 
 As soft and as sweet as a dream, 
 
 "I have sought you, but never could tnid 
 By the side of this wonderful s ream ; 
 
 But now I've found you, come with me 
 Adown by the bright golden s-hore. 
 
 Where transports of pleasure await us, 
 And sorrow and pain are no more.' ' 
 
 Happiness with face like the morning. 
 And smiles all passive and sweet, 
 
 Turned her fair face to the Hero, 
 
 And dropped a bright tear at his fe^ i 
 
 "0 yes, sweet Love, I'll go Avith you, 
 I never can part from your side, 
 
 Amid bright fields of sweet floweis, 
 Together through life, we will glide." 
 
HAPPINESS AND LOVE 
 
 Ari I gazed on this angelic couple, 
 
 I said, can this be a dream? 
 And while I was gazing in wonder, 
 
 They strolled from my sight down the stre^u. 
 
 As I thought of their lives full of sun-shine,, 
 
 I envied them more and more; 
 But little I thought of the drama, 
 
 So soon to be played on the shore. 
 
 As I wandered adown the bright river, 
 I forgot the vision, ('twas no dream,) 
 
 Till I saw a quaint bow and a cjuiver, 
 
 Which the Hero had dropped by the stream. 
 
 Then I thought of the^ couple that wandered 
 
 In bliss so entrancing and sweet, 
 Till I wondered and more than pondered 
 
 If again the bright forms I should meet. 
 
 V/hile musing alone on the heather — 
 Oh heaven, dispel the sad sight I — 
 
 For close at my feet on the daisies, 
 Lay Happiness ghastly and white. 
 
 An arrow had pierced her fair bosome, 
 Thus cleaving the purest heart; 
 
 The murder w^as WTOught by the Hero, 
 For ''love" was inscribed on the dart. 
 
18 BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 IShE ^20KEK jCo\1 
 
 ONE lovely night, when the stars shone brigh 
 I gave my heart to Nora, j 
 
 The fairest one that e'er begun 
 To tread the fields of glory. 
 
 We sat alone, where the feint light shone 
 
 In rays of softest hue; 
 She vowed to me, on land or S3a, 
 
 To be forever true. 
 
 And when she spoke, my soul awoke 
 
 To bliss unfelt before; 
 And there we vowed, through sun and cloud 
 
 To separate no more. 
 
 My gushing tears fell thick with hers, 
 
 Our quivering lips united; 
 And thus the vow, that solemn vow, 
 
 Was sealed the night we plighted. 
 
 And thus we sat, our souls en rapt 
 
 In sweetest bliss, for hours, 
 While 'round us fell, the mystic spell 
 
 Of love, in charming showers. 
 
 n 
 
THE BROKEN VOW 19 
 
 When we arose, Oh! heaven knows 
 
 How loth I was to go; 
 And as we siood in thoughtful mood, 
 
 She whispered soft and low, 
 
 ''Remember now this solemn vow, 
 
 I will forever keep; 
 Though now we part, this loving heart, 
 
 Alone for you, will beat." 
 
 Til en to my breast, her form I pressed, 
 While tears of true love started; 
 
 One thrilling kiss of sweetest bliss, 
 Two sighs, and then — we parted. 
 
 And years have flown, and I have grown 
 
 Far wiser if not better; 
 But tears will rise, Avhen I see the prize 
 
 That binds me like a fetter. 
 
 Upon my hand, a gilded band 
 
 Remains, a sacred token; 
 Bir^ the golden chain, that held us twain. 
 
 By cruel fate, was broken. 
 
 And Nora fair, v/ith golden hair — 
 May heaven's smiles go with her — 
 
 Is a charming bride by another's side. 
 And I — well I forgive her. 
 
'20 . BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 ODE ^O EDEK 
 
 OEden, sweet Eden, 
 The town of my birtb. 
 YoR are dearer to me 
 
 Than cities of worth; 
 I love YOU more ardent 
 
 Than places of old, 
 Though shining w^itli rubies 
 Or sparkling with gold. • 
 
 The hills that surround you 
 
 Are dearer to me, 
 Than lawns of sweet grasses 
 
 That border the sea; 
 And the songs of the birds, 
 
 As they fall on my ear, 
 Are sweeter to me, 
 
 Because they are here. 
 
 The flowers that bloom 
 
 In your gardens abound 
 With grandeur and beauty, 
 
 But here to be found. 
 While among them a face 
 
 Like a fairy is seen. 
 But sweeter than Flora's, 
 
 The sweet flower Cjueen. 
 
ODE TO EDEN 21 
 
 Tlie sun that shines down 
 From heaven so bold, 
 Did not shine so brightly 
 
 On Eden of old; 
 And the smiles of fair Luna, 
 
 Unveiling her face. 
 Pours a flood of enchantment 
 
 All over the place. 
 
 Your steeples and towers 
 
 That gleam in the light 
 Of the sun during day 
 
 Or the moon-beams at night. 
 Are enshrined to my heart 
 
 more v.'ondrously fair, 
 Than bright gilded castles 
 
 -That flash in the air. 
 
 All your surroundings 
 
 Are pregnant with love, 
 Ab if an angel 
 
 Had come from above 
 Vritli the I)lcs5ing3 of heaven 
 
 To scatter on earth, 
 And dropped them on Eden, 
 
 Sweet town of my birth. 
 
 And why do I love you? 
 
 Sweet town, some may ask; 
 To answer them all 
 
 will be no hard task; 
 
21 BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 I love 3"ou, because 
 
 You're the place of my birth' 
 The one cheerished spot 
 
 Of all others on earth. 
 
 0! I love you, because 
 
 The pride of my life, 
 One sweeter than Eden, 
 
 (And yet not a wife) 
 Claims you as her home, 
 
 And loves you as I, 
 And so I must love you. 
 
 Sweet town, till I die. 
 
 MIXKIES <5RSVE 
 
 VWO-DAY I stood by Minnie's grave, 
 {j^ Where sv/eeiest violets grow, 
 I saw the green grass o'er it wave, 
 In undulations slow; 
 And friendship's tear suffused my eyes, 
 To thmk how cold and ^till she lies. 
 
 The sun was sinking m the west. 
 
 Kissing the hill-tops o'er, 
 As Minnie fair, sweet child at rest. 
 Had watched it oft before; 
 And as it sunk its soft rays fell 
 On the verdant hills she loved so well. 
 
Minnie's grave. 1.3 
 
 And then I thought how very sad. 
 
 It is to part from those 
 Who once had made our hearts so ghu] 
 And soothed our many woes; 
 Wlio, like sweet angels hovering near, 
 H ive given sighs for many a tear. 
 
 I knelt beside the sacred mound 
 
 In simple adoration, 
 And then a gentle whispeied scvuid 
 Broke my meditaion; 
 It seemed to float upon the air 
 A:il whisper ^'Minnie is not there." 
 
 Within those silent walls of earth. 
 
 Beneath those flowers fair, 
 No treasure lies of real worth, 
 A broken shell is there; 
 The jewel that within it lay 
 By angel hands was caught away. 
 
 And then I said ''It can not be, 
 
 I saw them put her there, 
 I saw her face serene and free 
 From trouble, pain, or care; 
 A floral wreathe was on her breast. 
 Inscribed in silver words, ''At Rest.' 
 
24 BIG SANDY rOEMS 
 
 But still the whisper said ''Be just, 
 
 And heed my truthful story, 
 The thing you saw was only dust, 
 Her spirit rests in glory; 
 Her form was laid beneath that sod, 
 Her spirit floated up to God. 
 
 And then I 'rose and stood beside 
 
 The marble at hei head. 
 And on its polislied face, I spied 
 Immortal words, and read 
 ''Weep not, father and mother, for m: 
 For I am waiting in glory for thee." 
 
 0! can it be that those we love, 
 Sweet flowers that are given, 
 Are taken to the wreathe above, 
 To beckon us to heaven? 
 It must be so, they pass away 
 To draw us on to perfect day. 
 
 0! let us then no longer weep 
 For loved ones gone before, 
 They softly lie and sweetly sleep 
 On Bula's ehining shore; 
 And when we cross the mystic river, 
 We'll meet them there, to live forever. 
 
THE HONEYSUCKLE. 25 
 
 miE II0IIEYSU(5KI;E. 
 
 y-rf here's a sweet little flower that grows on the hill-side, 
 •^ JJ; Where the soft zephyrs of the evening winds blow; 
 It spreads its perfume, from the morn till the neon-tide, 
 In fragrance as sweet as the roses we know. 
 
 It ])lows 'mid the rays of the sun in the morn in o-, 
 Is kissed by his rays when ho sinks in the west; 
 
 And in the dark hour of mid-night, adorning. 
 Its petals are spread o'er mother earth's breast. 
 
 That sweet little flower to me is the dearest 
 Of all the wild flovfcrs that bloom in the wood, 
 
 It clings to my heart the fondest and nearest — 
 I'll cherish it ever' with things that are good. 
 
 It stands by the grave of the one I adored. 
 
 To bring me sweet thoughts of the past until yet, 
 
 .Vnd if all the bliss of the past was restored. 
 That sweet little flower I will never forget. 
 
 That sweet little flower to me is a token 
 Of love ever sweet, but love early lost; 
 
 It's a link in a chain that can ne'er be broken, 
 For love is divine and is far bevond cost. 
 
i!() ' BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 A liOS^ LOVE- 
 
 '^w^Y life was once as merry 
 ^A^\ As a bird's that knows no care. 
 As full of smiles and sun-shine 
 
 As the flowers that are fair; 
 My hopes were bright and shining 
 
 As the glowing sun-set sky, 
 And the tear of disapoiuUnent 
 Had never dimmed my eye. 
 
 0! how sweet it was to live then, 
 
 With a heart so full of love. 
 As tender as a floweret, 
 
 As spotless as a dove; 
 A heart that knew no sadness, 
 
 A love that knew no tears, 
 Until fate so cold and cruel 
 
 Cast a shadow o'er my years. 
 
 Bright pictures lay before me, 
 
 Of happiness in store; 
 But those sweet hopes have vanished 
 
 To return, ah! never-more; 
 For a shade as dark and gloomy 
 
 As the ebon god of night 
 Dispersed the brilliant sun-shine, 
 
 And the smile of sweet delight. 
 
A LOST LOVE. 27 
 
 jMv love was poured in rapture 
 
 upon a liansome manly form, 
 With eyes lite sparkling diamonds, 
 
 And face as sweet as morn; 
 But he was cold aud cruel. 
 
 And love he never knew. 
 Affections tear had never 
 
 Dimmed his eye; he was untrue. 
 
 My heart Went out to meet him, 
 
 When he looked at me and smiled, 
 And his words were sweet and tender 
 
 As the accents of a child. 
 With his soft dark eyes he won me, 
 
 As the sunshine wooes theflowers; 
 And he vowed to love me ever. 
 
 And that sweetest hliss was ours; 
 
 Then he clasped me to his bosome, 
 
 0! the moments were sublime, 
 Our souls were filled with blic?s, 
 
 And his lips were pressed to mine. 
 Our two hearts beat as one 
 
 In that sweetest hour of bliss. 
 And our spirits rushed together 
 
 In that love-enraptured kiss. 
 
 But days have since gone by. 
 
 And my sweetest hopes have fled. 
 
 Like the sunny days of childhood. 
 They are numbered with the dead. 
 
EIG SAXDY POEMS 
 
 For tlic soft dark eyes that wen vac, 
 And the lips of cherry hue, 
 
 AVill greet me nevermore, 
 jMy fair one proved untrue. 
 
 But I'll not grow despondent, 
 
 I will live my life anew, 
 And center my affections 
 
 On the good, the brave, the true; 
 And I will look, here-after. 
 
 At the better side of life, 
 / nd win, among the noble, 
 
 One worthy of a v;ife. 
 
 I'll rise up in my youtli-hoocl 
 
 Ar.d be true till the last. 
 And profit by the leepon 
 
 (f the cold and cruel yv.^^i: 
 I will never gTow dispairi:ig 
 
 As foolish lovers do, 
 For ether suns are shining l^i^lit, 
 
 And other hearts are true, 
 
 The past shall be a picture 
 To hang on memory's wall. 
 
 Anon, I'll turn to view it, 
 Sweet visions to recall; 
 
 Bat a mist will hang before it. 
 To hide it from my view. 
 
 For a tear will dim the picture. 
 When I think he was untrue. 
 
MOON-LIOHT. 2^ 
 
 Then rU.turn my back upon it — 
 
 0! let the past be past — 
 1 will face a glowing fature, 
 
 Bright with hope until the last. 
 Farewell, fair swain, forever, 
 
 I may never meet with you; 
 But I'll forget you never, 
 
 As the one that proved untrue. 
 
 MOON IxI6H^. 
 
 wilight was disappearing, 
 The birds had gone to rest, 
 The pale moon was ascendiniT , 
 
 From behind the mountain's crost 
 All nature was hushed in silence. 
 
 save the stiring of the breeze. 
 As it passed so gently by, 
 Among the forest trees. 
 
 Me thought a host of fairies 
 
 Were breathing on the air, 
 And dro2:)ping tears of gladness 
 
 On the flowers every where; 
 For I seemed to hear a whisper 
 
 On the balmy breath of niglit, 
 And see the tear-drops glisten 
 
 In the rays of Luna's light. 
 
30 BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 As the sun withdrew in glory 
 
 And hid his smiling face, 
 A seeming transformation 
 
 Came o'er the hallowed place; 
 The moon-beams fell around me 
 
 In rays of softest light; 
 Earth seemed as if enchanted 
 
 In the glorious moon-light. 
 
 My Love, she was beside me — 
 
 0! happy hour of bliss! 
 I stooped within the moon-light. 
 
 And stole a raptured kiss; 
 And Cupid spread his mmtle 
 
 O'er us that lovely night, 
 And our vows were sealed with kissos, 
 
 'Mid the rays of, Luna's light. 
 
 Bright day, in all his glory, 
 Can,t be compared to night, 
 
 When Cupid makes his debut 
 'Mid the rays of Luna's light. 
 
 iM4|»: 
 
 > 
 
TIIK HOP- VINES O. EK THE DOOR. 31 
 
 miE HOP VINES O'ER miK DOOR. 
 
 VaVHILE passing tlirough the country, 
 X\ A cottage I did spy, 
 And a lovelier little cottao-e 
 
 Did never greet my eye. 
 It -'tood beside the high. way 
 
 Some twenty steps or more — 
 V\'hat attracted my attention, 
 
 Was the Hop-vines o'er the door. 
 
 TliQ cottage, it was humble, 
 
 The inmates, they w^ere kind, 
 They reminded me of sweet friends 
 
 I had shortly left behind; 
 They treated me so gently, 
 
 As my mother did of yore — 
 But my thoughts w^ere still attracted 
 
 To the Hop-vines o'er the door. 
 
 I gazed upon the Hop-vines 
 In tangled meshes broad, 
 That clambered o'er the door 
 Of the cottage by the road; 
 Yes, I gazed with admiration, 
 
 For the one w^hom I adore 
 Lives in the humble cottage, 
 With the hop vines o'er the door. 
 
32 BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 Her cheeks were like the roses, 
 
 Her teeth as white as pearls, 
 Her eyes like sparkling diamonds 
 
 Made her queen among the girls: 
 I never can forget her, 
 
 If I see her nevermore, 
 My memory will be kindled 
 
 By the Hop-vines o'er the door. 
 
 She was loviiig, kind, and gentle^. 
 Her heart was brave and true, 
 
 Made her charming as an angel, 
 My bewitching little Lou; 
 
 But cruel fate bore me away, 
 And I've seen her no more; 
 
 But I know she must be happy, 
 I With the Hop-vines o'er the door. 
 
 Where'er I roam on land or sea, 
 
 'Mid shades or sunny fountains, 
 I'll cherish in sweet memory 
 
 That cottage in the mountains; 
 And when I have a home myself, 
 
 If I have nothing more, 
 Give me a gentle hand to train 
 
 The Hop-vines o'er the door. 
 
BARK EYES. 
 
 DARK EYES. 
 
 Xoung ladies with hearts. 
 Look out for the darts 
 That fly from the dark eye of jet; 
 xVlthough you may try 
 To let them pass hy, 
 They'll capture you, I will bet. 
 
 I can tell you of on?, 
 
 Beneath the bright sun, 
 Yv'ho possesses a pair of those eyes. 
 
 Who can fire a dart 
 
 Through a kind, lovin.o- heart. 
 And smile on the victim who dies. 
 
 I met him one day 
 
 In the sweet month of May, 
 When Nature outrivals proud Art, 
 
 And from his dark eye, 
 
 He let a dart fly 
 That wounded mv tender vouns: heart. 
 
 Though smarting with pain, 
 
 I told him quite plain 
 I AYOuld quickly recover the blow: 
 
 But his magic dark eye 
 
 Did my efforts defy, 
 And the healing was painful and slow. 
 
34 BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 At first 'tis sweet, 
 
 Proud beauty to meet, 
 And drink of his bliss till you stagi2;er; 
 
 But behind his dark eyes 
 
 A cruel fiend lies 
 To pierce your young heart witli a i'higgei- 
 
 how it can be! 
 
 Is what I can't see^ 
 That Satan selected dark eyes 
 
 As a weapon to use, 
 
 Kind hearts to abuse, 
 Regardless of tears or of sighs. 
 
 But here is a truth , 
 
 Receive it in youth. 
 Old Satan 's exceedingly wise; 
 
 And his favorite place 
 
 Is a beautiful face, 
 Just behind a pair of dark eyes. 
 
 Sweet girls who are true. 
 
 This poem's for you. 
 Receive it if you would be wise; 
 
 For keen are the darts, 
 
 Prepared for young hearts, 
 That fly from magic dark eyes. 
 
THE POND AND STKEAMLKT. 
 
 ?I^HE POKD MID S^REAMLcE^ 
 
 IN Sandy's pleasant valley, 
 Among the willow trees, 
 Lay a pond with glassy waters 
 
 That rippled in the breeze, 
 Clos.e by a little streamlet 
 
 Went babbling on its way, 
 Rapeating gentle murmurs 
 From morn till close of day. 
 
 The pond said to the streamlet, 
 
 As it danced in sunny glee, 
 ''Why waste your shining waters? 
 
 Why give them up so free? 
 When the burning rays of Summer 
 
 Come down with thirsty glow, 
 You will need the sparkling water 
 
 You are sending off below. 
 
 I am savin o; all mv forces 
 
 For the battle and the strife, 
 When a million thirsty sun-beams 
 
 Shall seek to take my life; 
 So I'll have a force sufficient, 
 
 To resist the bold attack. 
 And when the darts are fired, 
 
 I need only wave them back. 
 
3(3 BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 But you my little friend, 
 
 So full of mirth to-day, 
 Will be murdered by a sun-beam, 
 
 And falter on your way; 
 Take a lesson and example 
 
 From the lake-let at your side, 
 But the happy little streamlet 
 
 Not even once replied. 
 
 80 the pond remained in silen?e. 
 
 Not another word it said. 
 But the streamlet still continued, 
 
 Babling o'er its pearly bed; 
 Its placid w^aters rippling 
 
 O'er pebles white as snow, 
 Dancing onward to the ocean 
 
 And the larger streams below. 
 
 The icy breath of winter 
 
 Made the little stream to quake, 
 And congealed the swe.lling bosom 
 
 Of the tanquil little lake; 
 But the chilly days of winter, 
 
 Like a spectre flew away. 
 And the two received the kisses 
 
 Of fairest, sweetest May. 
 
 By and bysw^eet May departed, 
 
 Leaving bees and birds and flowers 
 
 To cheer the lake and streamlet 
 
 Through summer's burning hours. 
 
THE POND AND STREAMLET. o/ 
 
 The selfish lake had horded 
 
 Every drop it had received, 
 But the brook with crystal waters 
 
 Many thirsty ones relieved. 
 
 The burnished rays came down, 
 
 Truly seeking to devour 
 Every pond or little streamlet 
 
 That lay within their power; 
 But the streamlet was protected 
 
 By pleasant leafy bowers, 
 Not a sun ray fell upon it 
 
 During Summer's sultry hours. 
 
 Children were delighted, 
 
 To play upon its brink, 
 To bathe their glowing limbs, 
 
 Or its placid waters diink. 
 It was greeted by the music 
 
 Of the sweetest singing birds, 
 And its banks weie a retreat 
 
 For gentle lowing herds. 
 
 But how was it wih the pond? 
 
 It was heated by the sun, 
 Its waters bred miasm^a. 
 
 And malaria's work begun; 
 Unplea-!ant odors floated 
 
 On the breezes o'er its face. 
 It was spurned by animation. 
 
 Even frogs abhored the place. 
 
38 BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 When the waters of the streamlet 
 
 Past old ocean's shore, 
 God took it up in incense 
 
 And kissed it o'er and o'er; 
 To a shining cloud he changed it. 
 
 And hung it in the sky, 
 To be wafted by the zephyrs 
 
 To tlie streamlet by and by. 
 
 When at last it hovered o^er 
 
 Where the streamlet bubbled up, 
 
 The tips of angel fingers 
 Tilted o'er the golden cup; 
 
 Aud the crystal waters falling, 
 Did the little stream relieve, 
 
 Till in sweest song it chanted 
 
 "Better give than to receive." 
 
 VISA VERSA. 
 
 The flowers are the gentle stars 
 That deck this world of ours, 
 
 The j ems that deck the upper sky 
 Are only heaven's flowers: 
 
 And when we can not see the stars 
 Of earth, so dark is night, 
 
 Celestial flowers will unfold 
 Their golden petals blight. 
 
JUNE. 
 
 I have watched the months roll b}^ 
 Each bringing scenes of beauty, 
 Each, in its own peculiar way, 
 
 Inspiring us with duty; 
 Some with sunshine, some with storm, 
 
 Some with gentle showers; 
 But none are half so fair to me. 
 As June, sweet month of flowers. 
 
 December wears a robe of snow 
 
 About his icy form. 
 He loves to pinch the little boys, 
 
 And chase them off to warm. 
 September wears a golden robe. 
 
 And sighes away her hours; 
 But one comes greeting us with smiles, 
 
 Fair June, sweet month of flowers. 
 
 March, the little brawling elf, 
 
 Comes roaring like a lion, 
 The little rogue will have your hat, 
 
 If you don't keep your eye on. 
 April ushers opening buds, 
 
 Baptized in gentle showers; 
 But one appears, a fairy queen. 
 
 Bright June, sweet month of flowers. 
 
40 BIG SANDY POEMS ^ 
 
 August comes with sultry breath, 
 
 His garments soiled and dusty, 
 His nose is red, and folks agree 
 
 In saying he is crusty; 
 His loving wife, July is w^arm 
 
 And full of subtle powers; 
 But none so neat as our fair queen, 
 
 Our June, sweet month of flowers, 
 
 Young May appears with winning smiles. 
 
 Bedecked with blushing roses; 
 No artist's brush can paint the scenes 
 
 Of beauty she discloses; 
 The charming melody of birds 
 
 Flood all her golden hours; 
 But brighter, far, the scenes disclosed 
 
 By June, sweet month of flowers. 
 
 Cur lovely queen, we'll welcome thee 
 
 With grateful hearts each year. 
 When birdies sing and soft winds blow 
 
 And skies are bright and clear. 
 When golden sunshine floods the vales 
 
 And gilds the rising towers, 
 0! ]et oui lives be pure and free. 
 
 Like June, sweet month of flowers. 
 
o 
 
 THE BOUQUET. 41 
 
 NE little bunch of flowers, 
 
 One little sweet bouquet, 
 I received Avith fond acceptance 
 
 From my darling girl to-day. 
 She's far aAvay, this lovely morn, 
 
 Among some distant bowers; 
 But she sends her love and greeting 
 
 With this little bunch of flowers. 
 
 With a tender hand she plucked them 
 
 From the arbor where they grew, 
 And as she stooped to kiss them 
 
 Tears were mingled with their dew; 
 She breathed her spirit on them. 
 
 When she sent them on their way; 
 And I feel that she is near me, 
 
 When I kiss the flowers to-day. 
 
 This little bunch of flowers 
 
 Is sweeter far to me, 
 Than Flora's fairy garden 
 
 On the islands of the sea, 
 For a spirit whispers from it, 
 
 In accents soft and free, 
 That in Cupid's golden arbor, 
 
 A bright angel waits for me. 
 
42 BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 An angel face as radient 
 
 As the rose tints of sun-set 
 who^e eyes with love light shining 
 
 Roll soft in glossy jet; 
 Such is the girl with tresses 
 
 Of glossy raven hair, 
 Whose spirit whispers softly 
 
 From this bunch of flowers fair. 
 
 The celestial breath of angels, 
 That paints the flowers fair, 
 
 Is not sweeter than the sighs 
 
 That she breathes upon the air; 
 
 And the dew that falls from heaven 
 In the silent star-lit hours 
 
 Is not purer than the tears. 
 That she mingles with the flowers, 
 
 The flowers, they will wither. 
 
 When the bright sun 'gins to sliine 
 
 But I'll kiss away the tears 
 And moisten them with mine: 
 
 The petals they will crumble. 
 And the odors float away ; 
 
 And the glowing colors vanish, 
 When the lovely flowers decay. 
 
 But when the flowers fade away 
 And crumble at my feet, 
 
 The spirit still will whisper 
 In accents soft and sweet, 
 
ODE TO MABLE. 4;> 
 
 *'Thore is something in th3 flower 
 Too deep for words to tell, 
 
 When mingled with the tears 
 Of those we love so well." 
 
 ODE ^O L-IT^LcH MSBIiK B- 
 
 OMable, little Mable, 
 charming Mable B — 
 Your life is full of sunshine, 
 
 Your soul is full of glee, 
 Your face is like a rose-bud, 
 Kissed b}^ gentle showers, 
 Your smiles are sweet and tender 
 As the bluih of opening flowers. 
 
 Your eyes are bright and glowing 
 
 With child-hood's sunny gleam 
 Your young heart full of gladness 
 
 Makes life a golden dream: 
 In accents soft and tender 
 
 As the cooing of a dove, 
 Your gentle voice whispers 
 
 The golden dream of love. 
 
44 BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 Mable, little Mable, 
 
 I would dearly love to be 
 Like 3^ou in life's young morn, 
 
 From care and sorrow free; 
 But such is not my lot, 
 
 For those sweet dreams are o'er, 
 Those sunny days of child-hood 
 
 Are gone for ever more. 
 
 liable, little Mable, 
 
 With sweet angelic face, 
 Were it not for smiles like yours, 
 
 Earth would be a cheerless place; 
 But as we float along the tide 
 
 Of life from day to day, 
 .Blushing roses greet us. 
 
 To cheer us on our way. 
 
 Mable, little Mable, 
 
 I imagine I can see, 
 Out in the mystic future, 
 
 AVhat your coming life will be; 
 A woman like an angel. 
 
 Shedding kindness where she goes. 
 Is filling home with gladness 
 
 Like the fragrance of the rose. 
 
 Mable, little, Mable, 
 With garlands in your hair, 
 
 Whose life is just as pure 
 As the roses that you wear, 
 
TEE AUTUMN WIND. 45 
 
 May laurels bright and golden 
 
 Ever circle 'round thy brow, 
 And loving angels keep thee 
 
 Ever pure as thou art now. 
 
 ^HE AUTUMN Yimjy 
 
 \\J HERE'S something in the Autumn wind 
 {J^ Too deep for words to tell, 
 A melancholy sweetness 
 
 That makes the heart to swell; 
 It lifts the soul up higher, 
 
 To a brighter sunny sphere, 
 Where the whisper of the angels 
 
 Fall softly on our ear. 
 
 It typifies the coming 
 
 Of that great eventful day, 
 When our spirits, like the zephyrs, 
 
 Will gently pass away. 
 It whispers to be ready 
 
 As it stirs the golden leaves, 
 When life's summertime is ended, 
 
 To be numbered with the sheaves. 
 
46 BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 Like vesper chimes fiom heaven. 
 
 It falls in softest strains, 
 And steals upon our senses 
 
 In gentle, sweet refrains; 
 It tells us we are dying, 
 
 In accents swees and low, 
 That our forms will soon be lying, 
 
 Where the flowers come and go. 
 
 1 love to hear its music 
 
 As it floats among the trees — 
 'Tis the angel band that's playiiig, 
 
 Unseen hands are on the keys; 
 Methink^ it is the voice 
 
 Of seraphs sweetly sighing, 
 As tbey kiss the gentle flowers 
 
 And the beauties that are dying. 
 
 It lifts our thoughts from earth 
 
 To a sweeter home above. 
 Where the soul can bathe forever 
 
 In the golden sea of love. 
 Where cherished ones await us. 
 
 Who have crossed tlie stream before 
 And are singing with the angels 
 
 On the bright celestial shore. 
 
ELLA. 
 
 EIxIxS. 
 
 ' Y I J IS a lovely morn in May, 
 {<i^ The sun shoots down his golden ray 
 The landscrtpo gleams in ruddy light, 
 And dew-drops s])arkle golden bright; 
 The birds send forth their merry notes 
 From pure, clear untariiished throats; 
 Soft zephyrs fan the flowers, fair, 
 That spread their fragrance in the air; 
 The sky is bright, blue, and serene, 
 Not a cloud is to be seen, 
 To screen away the rays of light 
 Which paints for me this lovely sight. 
 
 I'm sitting 'neath a shady tree. 
 And other thoughts float back to me 
 Tpon the sullen stream of time, 
 Thoughts so deep and so sublime. 
 Thoughts of one so good and true. 
 Whose eyes roll soft in glossy blue. 
 Whose face is fair as Egypt's queen. 
 And lips with pearl-white teeth atween, 
 W^hose hair in golden ringlets wave, 
 AVhose heart is true, and pure, and brave; 
 Tongue or pen can not portray 
 The charms that crown her everv dav, 
 
48 BIG SANDY rOEMS 
 
 I remember well, when first we met. 
 The grass, with evening dew, was wet, 
 The sun had sunk behind the hill, 
 'Twas by the side of a rippling rill 
 The birds had sought their place of rest. 
 The moon hung on the mountain's crest. 
 The stars peeped down upon the scene, 
 And moon-beams glittered in silver sheen; 
 The flowers, bins ing at our feet, 
 Filled the air with odors sweet; 
 The eve was putting on its shade, 
 AVhen first I met this charming maid. 
 
 The moon-beams down, in splendor, rolled, 
 And there to me her tale she told. 
 She said: 'T am Lord Aldin's child, 
 M}^ home is in fair Martin wild; 
 Where flowers bloom sweet in the early May 
 And birds sing sweet at the break of day; 
 Where zephyrs kiss the trailing flow^ers, 
 And sunshine floods the golden hours." 
 
 Says I: "Sweet girl, if this be so 
 You must be happy then I know, 
 To live in such a spot as this, 
 Where beauty lends a charm to bliss." 
 She said: "Kind sir, don't speak it so. 
 My home hath charms full w^ell I know; 
 But what are charms and scenes like this 
 To a heart that longs for sweeter bliss 
 Than angels e'er felt above, 
 
ELLA. 49 
 
 The untold bliss, the bliss of love, 
 The blisd that comes from God alone, 
 As pure as snow, from heaven blown, 
 The bliss that only true love knows, 
 That cheers the heart 'mid pain and woes, 
 The bliss that makes the heart to swell 
 With happiness too deep to tell; 
 O! give me love w^ithout alloy, 
 That fills the soul with sweetest joy. 
 
 As we stood beneath the star-lit sky 
 I saw a tear steal from her eye, 
 I felt the charm of the mystic spell 
 Of love which now around us fell. 
 I took her snow-white hand in mine 
 And led her to a trailing vine, 
 Supported by an antique frame, 
 Owned by some aesthetic dame. 
 We sat dow^n on a rustic seat, 
 with blue-bells nodding at pur feet, 
 And there amid the stilly night. 
 While stars above us glittered bright. 
 While zephyrs stired the wiered pines 
 And Luna winked through the trellis vines, 
 We thought, not of the things around u^, 
 But of the mystic spell that bound us. 
 And as we sat, soul merged in soul, 
 My arm around her little form stole; 
 She raised her gentle eyes to mine, 
 I saw in them a love divine. 
 
 ..^- 
 
BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 I could no longer stay the bliss, 
 And to her lips I pressed a kiss, 
 A ki-s, pure as Lucreeia's sigh, 
 That angels might, in heaven, vie. 
 It filled my soul with a mystic spell, 
 That words can not portray or tell; 
 And as I pressed her to my side. 
 She lingered still and only sighed ; 
 Lingered still with a throbbing heart, 
 The powerless victim of Cupid's dart; 
 But this I knew as well as she. 
 Her little soul went out to me. 
 
 earth! heaven! what is like this, 
 
 That tills the soul with sweetest bliss? 
 
 A bliss too deep for human words, 
 
 That stills the tongues of the stoutest Lords. 
 
 Just then the voice of a whip-poor-will 
 
 Sounded clear from across the rill. 
 
 It broke the spell that had us bound 
 
 In silence. Not a single sound 
 
 Had broke the stillness of the hours. 
 
 But the rill and the wind-stired trellis flowers 
 
 She raised to me her drooping head, 
 
 And in trembling accents said 
 
 ''Kind sir, can you to me impart 
 
 The meaning of this magic art 
 
 That wraps in sweetness the human heart? 
 
 Says I, '"Tis bliss from heaven above, 
 
 The untold bliss, the bliss of love; 
 
ELLA. 
 
 The blis which but an hoar ago 
 We ne'er had felt on earth below, 
 A bliss that only is begun 
 When two fond hearts dissolve in one. 
 Sweet girl, this night we'll ne'er i'oriiet, 
 And when the grass with dew is wet. 
 Thoughts will fill your heart and mine 
 Of the rippling rill and the trellis vine. 
 
 Just then the bell from the village tower 
 
 Hounded forth the leaving hour; 
 
 And as we 'rose by the trellis vine, 
 
 1 pressed her throbbing heart to mine. 
 
 She could not speak for joy and bliss. |kir 
 
 But our vows were sealed with a ra})tu red 
 
 We vowed, with trembling, beatino hearts. 
 
 To live and love till death us [)arts. 
 
 And as she turned from me to go 
 
 To her home, where sweetest flowers grow, 
 
 I dropped a tear on the grass that grew 
 
 At my feet, all wet with the evening dew. 
 
 And as she passed dowm by the rill 
 
 I was left alone with the whip-poor-will 
 
 The stars still glittered from above. 
 But my heart was filled with Ella's love, 
 For Ella was the name of her, 
 Above all things, my heart held dear. 
 And now, iind reader we must part, 
 For a time, to still my beating heart; 
 And I must haste to my humble home, 
 And leave you here with the stars alone, 
 
52 BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 ELLA. 
 
 PART. II 
 
 FIVE times hath the month of May, 
 
 With sunny smiles and flowers gay, 
 
 With singing hirds and humming bee, 
 
 Paid her visit to you and me; 
 
 Five times hath the whip-poor-will 
 
 Sung her song by the rippling rill; 
 
 Five times hath the trellis flowers 
 
 Bloomed in May .time's sunny hours; 
 
 Five times hath the sun so bright 
 
 Kissed the flowers with golden light; 
 
 Five times hath gentle Luna smiled 
 
 Upon the plains of Martin wild; 
 
 Five times hath the grass been wet 
 
 In the dews of May since first w^e met, 
 
 Since first we met on the evening still. 
 
 On the verdant bank of the rippling rill, 
 
 Where our souls were joined in a feast of bliss. 
 
 And our vows w^ere sealed with a raptured kiss 
 
 AVhere I left you, reader, with the stars alone 
 
 And hastened to my humble home. 
 
 But 0! what changes wrought, since then, 
 
 Upon the lives of things and men, 
 
 Changes wTought by father Time, 
 
 Whose wings are spread from clime to clime, 
 
 Who, in his still and silent way, 
 
 New scenes disclose from day to day, 
 
ELLA. 
 
 53 
 
 Changes, great and mighty too, 
 Presents he to the human view. 
 He breathes upon the flowers that grow, 
 They fade and sink to earth below; 
 He touches the cheek of the sleeping babe, 
 81ow% but sure, a change is made; 
 ^v And cares are brought, and busy strife, 
 As child-hood fades in lusty life;^ 
 Another touch, and youth has fled, 
 Old age comes on with feeble tread, 
 
 And man, the noble w^ork of God, 
 In silence sleeps beneath the sod; 
 But as they sink in earth's embrace 
 Others come to fill, their place. 
 
 O fleeting Time! it must be true. 
 You take the old to bring the new. 
 The oak that reared its lofty head 
 Crumbled beneath thy silent tread; 
 But a youthful tree is growing well, 
 To mark the spot where the giant fell. 
 
 The rippling rill still wanders on. 
 The whip-.poor will still sings her song; 
 But naught is seen of the trellis vine, 
 Where first I bowed at Ella's shrine; 
 And the rustic seat has passed away 
 Since first we met in the early May: 
 But to mark the spot whereat they diod 
 An evergreen is spreading wide. 
 
BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 And the happy home in Martin wild, 
 
 That sheltered o'er Lord Aldin's chihl, 
 
 AVhere sweetest, fairest flowers grew. 
 
 And sunshine smiled through a sky of blue, 
 
 Has lost a jewel, bright and fai: , 
 
 Witli sparkling eyes and golden hair, 
 
 A jewel of the brightest hue 
 
 That wondering mortals ever knew, 
 
 A jewel, rich, that glittered bright 
 
 As the stars that shine of a moonless night. 
 
 This jew^el shining till the last, 
 
 F' om Lord Aldin's home has past. 
 
 Past into another sphere. 
 
 The child Lord Aldin loved so dear. 
 
 The child with gentle beaming eyes, 
 
 That made his home a paradise. 
 
 Luna still smiles upon the home, 
 
 The stars still shine above the dome, 
 
 'i'he trailing vines and blushing flowers, 
 
 That filled w^ith sweetness the summer hour 
 
 In beauty still is blooming on; 
 
 But Ella, fairest one, is gone. 
 
 Where swetest bliss is kept in store 
 
 For her who sighs for it no more, 
 
 A spot where brightest flowers grow, 
 
 AVhere soft and balmy zephyrs blow, 
 
 AVith sunny sky of azure blue. 
 
 And golden sunshine streaming through 
 
.• ELLA. 05 
 
 Upon the green and giassy sward, 
 AVhere Ella walks beside her Lord. 
 Its glory bafii(^s human words, 
 Angels, roses, and mocking-birds 
 Hover around the blisful spot, 
 Where Ella cast her happy lot. 
 
 And, though the sweetest bird has tiown. 
 Lord Aldin's is a happy home; 
 No sad hearts or tearful eyes 
 Grieve the loss of the cherished prize. 
 Lord Aldin once did never grieve. 
 When he saw his child must leave; 
 But wilh a father's gentle hand, 
 He led her to the golden sand, 
 When the tide was rising high, 
 And gave her up without a sigh, 
 Gave her up to another sphere, 
 Where love and bliss aw^aited her; 
 And as she. reached the golden shore, 
 Lord Aldin sent his blessings o'er. 
 Then gently bowed his head and smiled, 
 Whispering ''Peace, go with my child." 
 
 Never more wdll Ella's face, 
 FulLof smiles and happy grace, 
 Fill, the old old home with glee, 
 Where.her face w^as wont to be; 
 Nevermore beneath the trees, 
 That wave their verdure in the breeze. 
 
56 BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 Will she stroll when it is late, 
 Adown beside the garden gate, 
 Where we met, to talk of love, 
 Beneath the stars that shone above. 
 
 0! kind reader, what a change! 
 But you will not think it strange, 
 That Father Time, with locks of snow, 
 III his choice has made it so; 
 Made it so and made it best, 
 And not a heart is ill at rest. 
 Not a soul is in despair, 
 At the loss of one so fair. 
 
 A loss? 0! no, it is not so, 
 'Tis a gain of heaven here below, 
 A gain of all that heart could wish, 
 Of constant love, of sweetest bliss, 
 Of joy and peace unknown before. 
 What heart could ask or wish for more? 
 0! 'tis the sweetest boon of life. 
 Sweet angel Ella is my wife. 
 And as I sit beneath this tree, 
 Her loving eyes look out at me 
 Through the blushing trellis fiow^ers 
 That circle 'round that home of ours, 
 That home, ever blest with love 
 And envied by the hosts above. 
 And ,now, kind reader, I will close, 
 While Ella plucl-rs a blushing rose; 
 
ODE TO THE SUN. 57 
 
 Acrofes the lawn, in happy glee, 
 With smiling face she comes to me. 
 
 Kind reader, this, I'd have you know, 
 The sw^eetest bliss on earth below 
 Is sent from God himself above, 
 The untold bliss, the bliss of love. 
 
 ODE ^O J?HE SUN. 
 
 n 
 
 HOU glorious orb, author of light, 
 Thou great and mighty king of day, 
 "When thou did'st take thy throne 
 In the midst of the dark'ning universe, 
 A thousand burnished shafts of light 
 Shot athwart the blacken'd skies, 
 A thousand worlds smiled in exultation, 
 Ceased their groans and leaped for joy 
 Through the eternal depths of space; 
 Cold, barren, naked, fruitless worlds 
 Heaved their huge forms from icy beds. 
 And rushed with unbounded speed 
 Through trackless fields of living light 
 And cheering warmth, to do thy bidding. 
 A thousand mighty angels, tall as Everest, 
 And strong as the huge giant Etna, 
 Rose up from beds of sable night, 
 And with clashing wings and piercing notes 
 
58 BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 That 'waked, from dreams, the sleeping spirit: 
 Sung with joy the glad approach of day; 
 While the sable god of endless night 
 Fled before thy coming magesty, 
 Through a thousand depths of space, 
 Past a thousand rushing worlds, 
 Till, on the accursed shore of Hades, 
 He found an everlasting abode. 
 
 The pide-faced moon, queen of heaven, 
 AVhen thou didst greet her with a smile, 
 Veiled her face in gentle modesty 
 And witlidrew^ from the palace of day. 
 Like the gentle dew% before approaching noon, 
 Shrinks from among the gilded flowers, 
 Shrunk the queen of glory from thy approach 
 And when thou turnest from the gates of day, 
 To lie down 'mid beds of crimson glory, 
 She takes her regal throne in the skies; 
 And from the soft embrace of inviting night. 
 Slowly unveils her lovely timid face, 
 And smiling sw^eetly through a veil of tears. 
 Her queenly brow receives the last faint ray 
 Of thy lingering good-night kisses. 
 
 When thou, sun! ariseth from saffron beds, 
 Like a mighty angel, refreshed from slumber, 
 The shining hosts of heaven flee aw^ay. 
 The golden portals of day swing back, 
 
ODE TO THE SUN-; • . » . . r^^ 
 
 And Mil ocean of light Hoc els' the gilded skies. 
 iNcitiire rejoices and smiles ac tijy a|)proaca, 
 Aujination riseth up to do thee honor, 
 Thrilled with a new impulse ot'liie from thee. 
 Oh! thou, thi'ough whose agency Ave live, 
 ThuLi, who paintest every biu.shing ilowcr, 
 Will) gives a hue to every tinted siiell, 
 Ai.d pcurs a tiood of glory over all; 
 i'iioj who lifts the waters fro.n th;j sea 
 And carries them far up beyond the skies, 
 CJianging thein to golden linked tioi.u:^. 
 To })athe again the face of mother ea.-ih: 
 lliuu, who stireth up tlie migiity Wiiui.-, 
 To sweep in hurricanes across Uie puun.:^, 
 To be again subdued and slilied, 
 ijyst they should bruise the hoa.-t 
 
 Of some sweet ilower. 
 'i'ell me, Oh! Father of everlasting light, 
 Art thou the mansion of eternal God, 
 i^'illed with glory that is too sublime 
 For mortal eyes to witness here below? 
 And when our panting spirits are set free, 
 Shall they, ascending .to the throne, 
 Behold the glory hidden from us here? 
 And bathe in fields of light, transcending all? 
 
 
60 BIG SANDY rOEMS. 
 
 miK S.^02Y OK K^K- 
 
 IN the shilling courts of I'f iiven, 
 Where the mysteries unfold, 
 Are a host of angel faces 
 That visit many places, 
 And one with many graces 
 
 Approached me hold ; 
 And when my head is hoary, 
 I'll not forget the story 
 Of the blessed King of glory 
 That it told. 
 
 1 shall not attempt to tell you 
 All the wonders it unsealed, 
 
 For they would fill the pages 
 
 Of the volumes of the ages, 
 
 And employ all the sages 
 In the field. 
 
 But this it laid before me, 
 
 And, reader I implore thee. 
 
 By the God wdio bendeth o'er me, 
 Hear what it revealed. 
 
 "In the morning of creation, 
 
 When the Lord was looking o'er 
 All the creatures he had made, 
 As they came from sun and shade. 
 Moving in a grand parade 
 On the shore, 
 
THE STORY OF MaN, (:1 
 
 He beheld with admiration 
 All the hosts with their relation, 
 }>ut the great work of creation 
 Wanted more. 
 
 Then the mighty King of heaven 
 Turning to the angel band, 
 Said: "Let us make a creature, 
 Most beautiful in feature, 
 'JV) be a king and teacher 
 
 O'er the land. 
 I'^or in all of my creation 
 1 iiave no imitation, 
 And witliout hesitation. 
 
 Formed he man. 
 
 Then the hosts of heaven shouted 
 
 In a voice that was rife; 
 And straight-way to him fleeing, 
 They admired this new being, 
 And God, their wonder seeing, 
 
 Gave him life. 
 Then he saw his lonely state, 
 How he needed a fair mate. 
 And to share his high estate. 
 Gave him a wife. 
 
()2 BIG SANDY POEMS. 
 
 Tlion he took th's char.ning- C')'i[)]e, 
 
 The objects of bis love, 
 And invested them with pow m^ 
 O'er every beast and iiower. 
 And blessings sent, each hour, 
 
 From above. 
 And celestial beino-s doted 
 On til is couple grown so noted, 
 AVliile the sweetest musir" floated 
 From t'le dove 
 
 So this man and woman, liappy. 
 
 In a floral scarden stood 
 On a plain but little lower 
 Than the angels, hovering o'er, 
 And no evil cursed their shore, 
 
 They were good. 
 The Lord was pleased to meet them 
 And often came- to greet them. 
 And to choice blessings treat them, 
 • 'Xeath the wood. 
 
 And with nothing to molest them, 
 
 Their happiness was much ; 
 But in order to remind them 
 Of duty, God assigned them 
 A simple law to bind them. 
 It was such: 
 
THE STORY OF MAN. ()3 
 
 Of all the fruitful trees 
 That wave in Eden's breeze, 
 You may eat, but one of these, 
 Do not touch. 
 
 This fatal tree is pleasant, 
 
 And enchanting to the eye, 
 Sweet odors float above it, 
 Inviting you to love it; 
 But it you must not covet, 
 
 pass it by. 
 Though it looks so very neat, 
 And its golden fruit is sweet; 
 Yet the day in which you eat, 
 You will die. 
 
 Then he bless'd the happy couple, 
 
 And ascended to his throne. 
 They were left amid the flowers 
 Of the garden, many hours, 
 To revel in loves sweet bowers. 
 
 All their own. 
 No bliss they need to borrow, 
 Joy came with each to-morrow. 
 Not a pang of grief or sorrow, 
 They had known. 
 
64 BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 They wandered through the Garden, 
 
 King and queen of all the host; 
 And with every thing to suit, 
 They plucked ambrosial fruit, 
 Tamed every fowl and biu'e 
 
 Upon the coast. 
 Not a stain that needed cure, 
 On their lives unsullied pure, 
 Could be found, no word is truer, 
 
 They could boast. 
 
 But Satan who had fallen 
 
 By his conduct in the skies, 
 ^tole in amid the flowers,. 
 To exert his subtle powers 
 On the couple, and for hours 
 
 Thus he tries. 
 lie excited a desire 
 In their nature, to be higher. 
 And this he di 1 inspire, 
 
 To be wise. 
 
 Thus he spoke unto the woman 
 
 He'd beguiled unto the tree. 
 Yea to you the Lord hath said 
 Every tree for you is bread; 
 Eat the fruit above your head 
 And be free. 
 
THE STORY OF MaN. 65 
 
 For the very God doth know, 
 When you eat it, wise you'll grow, 
 And wonders here below, 
 
 You will see. 
 
 His cunning words though fata 
 Was enchanting to her ear, 
 As he spoke about its beauties, 
 And how fair its golden fruit is, 
 Till she quite forgot the duties 
 
 Binding her. 
 And then he caught her eye 
 And spoke the fated lie, 
 God knows you will not die, 
 Never fear. 
 
 Then putting forth her hand, 
 She plucked of it and ate, 
 To Adam then she gave, 
 He ate, the deed was brave, 
 But Satan knew a grave, 
 
 Would be their fate. 
 And then they clearly saw, 
 How they'd transgressed the law. 
 And they trembled therein awe 
 
 Beside the gate. 
 
6(> BIG SANDY POEMS* 
 
 Their eyes were opened then, 
 So ihey saw the broken vow; 
 And at the close of day 
 They sought to hide away, 
 For they heard the Lord to say 
 ''Where art thou." 
 And coming from the place, 
 Wliere they hid in their disgrace, 
 They stood before his face, 
 Fearing now. 
 
 The mighty King of heaven 
 
 Knew what they had done, 
 And turning to them said, 
 "Peace and quietude has fled; 
 And troubles come instead, 
 
 To each one. 
 And you will feel the sting 
 For death will surely bring 
 An end to every thing 
 
 Beneath the sun. 
 
 And the very earth was cursed, 
 
 By Jehova's great command 
 And the thistle and the thorn 
 Sprang up before the morn, 
 And misery was born 
 
 Upon the land. 
 
THE STORY OF MaN, G7 
 
 And man was driven out, 
 Into a world of doubt, 
 Where Satan roamed about 
 With his band. 
 
 And the golden gate was closed. 
 
 On the unhappy pair; 
 And to guard the shining way, 
 Tne Lord did then array 
 A flaming sword to stay 
 
 All from there. 
 Lest evil should partake 
 Of fruit that would awake 
 The dead to Life, and make 
 
 The demons fair. 
 
 Then a council was assembled 
 
 In the shining courts on high. 
 This was to ascertain 
 If in heavens broad domain, 
 Any power could regain 
 
 Man, by and by. 
 But of all the mighty host. 
 No one could pay the cost, 
 Man surely is lost, 
 
 He must die. 
 
ijS BIG SANDY POEMS* 
 
 Lo! bahold the King of Glory 
 
 As he rises in the host, 
 Sajdng I alone of all 
 The celestial beings tall, 
 Can raise man from the fall, 
 
 To his post. 
 I, alone, possess the key, 
 My Father gave it me, 
 And I will set him free 
 
 At any cost. 
 
 I will go into the world. 
 
 By sin so sadly cursed. 
 A herald I w^ill sound, 
 And when man is found. 
 The ties that have him bound. 
 
 I will burst. 
 The golden gates once more 
 Shall be opened as before, 
 And peace I will restore 
 
 As at first. 
 
 Then he left the shining court! 
 
 To battle with the foe. 
 And like a little babe, 
 He descended to the shadf 
 That sin and death had made, 
 To strike the blow. 
 
THE STORY OF MAN. 69 
 
 As a gentle lamb he came — 
 Oh! bless his holy name. 
 And spread his mighty fame 
 
 Here below. 
 
 And Satan with his host 
 
 Rose up against the Son. 
 They sought to lay him low, 
 And struck the cruel blow 
 That caused his blood to flow 
 
 For each one. 
 And death, the devils bride, 
 Her tortures on him tried, 
 But glory! then he cried 
 
 It is done. 
 
 And then upon the cross 
 
 He broke the mighty cord, 
 That bound the gates of hell, 
 And Satans powers fell, 
 Conquered, all is well, 
 
 Man's restored. 
 And then he did arise, 
 And^ascended to the skies, 
 While earth and heaven cries, 
 'Praise the Lord' 
 
 THE END. 
 
BIG SANDY POEMS 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Below are given the typographical errors found in 
 this Book 
 
 Words misspelled — Descending, p. 11; AVhereVr, 
 p. 15; Bright, p.l6; Faint, p. 18; Cherished, p. 22; 
 Disappointment, p. 26; Bosom, p. 27; Despairing }>. 
 28;Babbling, p.86; Pebbles,p.36; With, p. 37; A'lce 
 versa, p.38; Mabel, p.43, 44; Sweet, p. 46; 
 Blushing, p. 48; Bliss, p. 51: Blissful, p. 55; Exclaim- 
 ed, p.ll. 
 
 The word ''Sighs" in the last line of the first stanza on 
 p. 23 should be ''Smiles" and ''Have" should be "Has. 
 
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