His ardent and enraptured eye will see,
Meet union between Peace and Liberty;
And Truth, with her resplendent roll unfurled,
Benignant Leader of a happy world.
I asked an aged man, a man of years,
Wrinkled, and curved, and white with hoary hairs"Time is the warp of life," he said; "O tell
The young, the fair, the gay, to weave it well."
I asked the ancient, venerable dead,
Sages who wrote, and warriors who bled—
From the cold grave, the hollow murmur flowed,
"Time sowed the seeds we reap in this abode."
I asked a dying sinner, ere the stroke
Of ruthless death life's golden bowl had broke-
I asked him, "What is time?" "Time," he replied,
"I've lost it; oh, the treasure!" and he died.
I asked the golden sun and silver spheres,
Those bright chronometers of days and years—
They told me, time was but a meteor's glare,
And bade me for eternity prepare.
I asked the seasons, in their annual round,
Which beautify or desolate the ground-
And they replied (what oracle more wise)
"Tis folly's blank, and wisdom's highest prize."
I asked a spirit lost-but O the shriek
That pierced my soul-I shudder while I speak-
It cried, "A particle, a speck, a mite
Of endless years, duration infinite."
I asked my bible, and methinks it said,
"Thine is the present hour, the past is fled;
Live, live to-day, to-morrow never yet
On any human being rose or set."
Of things inanimate, my dial, I
Consulted, and it gave me this reply-
"Time is the season fair of living well,
The path to glory, or the path to hell.
I asked old Father Time himself at last,
But in a moment he flew swiftly past;
His chariot was a cloud, the viewless wind
His noiseless steeds, that left no trace behind.
I asked the mighty angel that shall stand
One foot on sea, and one on solid land.
"By heaven's Great King I swear the mystery's o'er— Time was," he cried, "but Time shall be no more!"
For the Master's eye is on us,
Never off us, still upon us,
Night and day!
Work away!
Keep the busy fingers plying,
Keep the ceaseless shuttles flying;
See that never thread lie wrong;
Let not clash or clatter round us,
Sound of whirring wheels confound us;
Steady hand! let woof be strong
And firm, that has to last so long!
Work away!
Keep upon the anvil ringing
Stroke of hammer; on the gloom
Set 'twixt cradle and 'twixt tomb,
Shower of fiery sparkles flinging;
Keep the mighty furnace glowing;
Keep the red ore hissing, flowing
Swift within the ready mould;
See that each one than the old
Still be fitter, still be fairer
For the servant's use, and rarer
For the Master to behold:
Work away!
For the Leader's eye is on us,
Never off us, still upon us,
Night and day!
Wild the trackless prairies round us,
Dark and unsunned woods surround us,
Steep and savage mountains bound us;
Smile the soft savannahs green,
Rivers sweep and roll between :
Work away!
Bring your axes, woodmen true;
Smite the forests 'till the blue
Of heaven's sunny eye looks through
Every wild and tangled glade ;
Jungle, swamp, and thicket shade,
Give to day!
O'er the torrents fling your bridges,
Pioneers! Upon the ridges
Widen, smoothe the rocky stair-
They that follow far behind,
Coming after us, will find
Surer, easier footing there;
Heart to heart, and hand with hand,
From the dawn to dusk o'day,
For The Father's eye is on us,
Never off us, still upon us,
Night and day!
Work and pray!
Pray! and work will be completer;
Work! and prayer will be the sweeter;
Love! and prayer and work the fleeter
Will ascend upon their way!
Fear not, lest the busy finger
Weave a net the soul to stay;
Give her wings she will not linger,
Soaring to the source of day;
Cleaving clouds that still divide us
From the azure depths of rest,
She will come again! beside us,
With the sunshine on her breast,
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