Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

His manly brow, once more he raised;
There came a vision bright-
And in his eye, as round he gazed,
Gleamed an unearthly light.

"Ye braves, your labors are not lost,
Nor all your toils and pain;
Wealth and renown-to me all past-
Comrades, for you remain.

A mighty nation yet shall rise

Here, where we first have trod, Whose glory, swelling to the skies, Shall praise the Lord, our God.

"I die, but flag not, noble band, Led on by Moscoso,

Ye yet shall find that promised land,

Where golden rivers flow.

And when sore pressed, by hardships driven,
Your hearts with sorrows bleed;

Pray to the God, who reigns in heaven,
For whatsoe'er ye need "

DE SOTO died-his spirit brave
Was crushed by grief and care;
He sought for Gold-he found a grave;
For Fame-he found despair.

[ocr errors]

'Tis midnight-silently his friends

The last sad rite perform,

And 'neath the dark cold stream descends

That once much honored form.

His requiem the silence broke

Of forest, dense and wide,

And prairies vast, and stately oak,
And wilderness replied;

And Spain's stern warriors bowed with grief,
Stood grouped together there;

Their hearts were full, their words were brief,

And short and soft their prayer.

His dirge was, what the wild waves said

His funeral pile, their flow

His sepulchre, their slimy bed,

Where none his place may know. Thus he, who first that mighty stream,

In all its grandeur saw

Thy fate, DE SOTO, it became

To sleep beneath its roar.

BARLEY WOOD.

BY REV. BARON STOW, D.D.

HO, that reads the English language, is not familiar with the name of the distinguished authoress, and devout Christian, HANNAH MORE?

For more than half a century, she was a brilliant star in the literary and religious firmament; and though the period in which she flourished was adorned with a galaxy of minds of uncommon lustre, yet by few was she surpassed in splendor of intellect, and by fewer still in moral worth and genuine usefulness. With strong powers of mind, a versatile genius, a lively fancy, a pure taste, large accumulations of knowledge, and a sound, scriptural piety, she united an extraordinary decision and an unwearied industry in the execu

tion of purposes that had a benevolent regard to human welfare.

66

If, in the early part of her public career, she aimed to achieve a lower order of moral results than those which the Gospel makes prominent, it is gratifying to know that she soon learned, by experiment, a more excellent way," and became so thoroughly instructed in the principles, and so deeply imbued with the spirit of Christianity, as to be satisfied with nothing less than the accomplishment of the higher and more spiritual order —the conversion of men to God, and the formation of their characters after the New Testament pattern.

The productions of her pen were numerous, and greatly diversified in subject and style; and as they appeared in rapid succession, were read with avidity and profit by immense multitudes in both hemispheres. Addressed and adapted to all classes, from the proudest nobleman to the humblest cottager, they diffused salutary influences through the mass of society, and contributed largely to those beneficent changes which, in

these latter days, have given to the religious. world a new and more attractive aspect.

Her distinction, however, belongs not all, nor chiefly, to the literary department. In practical benevolence, she was excelled by few in her native isle. While instructing and delighting, through the press, the more elevated classes, she was actively engaged in the establishment and support of schools among the most ignorant and degraded. The very people whom prelate and priest neglected as unworthy of their care, she gathered around her, and caused to be taught the "gracious words" of Him who is "no respecter of persons." In this way she expended many thousands sterling from her own resources, besides many other thousands contributed by approving friends; and, what was far better, she gave time and personal attention to the system of efforts which required so large an outlay of funds.

Her literary labors were by no means confined to the more cultivated portions of society. She wrote for the ruder classes, books, tracts, and ballads, in form and style the best suited to awaken

« FöregåendeFortsätt »