Thy task is done; another eye
Than thine must gnard thy country's weal;
And oh! may wisdom from on high
To him the one true path reveal!
When erst was spread the mighty waste
Of waters, fathoms wide and far,
And darkness rested there, unchased
By ray of sun, or moon, or star.
God bade the gloomy deep recede.
And so young earth rose on his view;
Swift at his word the waters fled,
And darkness spread its wings and flew.
The same strong arm hath put to flight
Our country's foes; the ruthless band
That swept in splendid pomp and might
Across our fair and fertile land.
The same Almighty hand hath raised
On these wild plains a structure fair,
And well may wondering nations gaze
At aught so marvelous and rare.
This task is done. The holy shade
Of calm retirement waits thee now.
The lamp of hope relit hath shed
Its sweet refulgence o'er thy brow.
Far from the busy haunts of men.
Oh! may thy sou! each fleeting hour
Upon the breath of prayer ascend
To Him who rules with love and power.
Our Daughters.
Our eldest is an autumn bloom.
Just as the summer rose grew pale
She smiled upon our woodland home.
The brightest flower in all the vale.
The second April came with showers,
The buds to ope, and vines to wreathe,
And left the sweetest of its flowers
Upon my joyous heart to breathe.
Sweet month! but two short years had past.
And lo! with smiles again she came,
And left a bloom fair as the last,
A strange bright flower for me to name!
