TO AN ABSENT HUSBAND.

The following piece was composed while viewing a beautiful sunset from the capitol at Washington, in September, 1835.

The day draws near its close, love,But I am far from thee;A sweet and calm repose, love,This hour once brought to me.But now I am alone, love,And all the weary day,Ifeelthat thou art gone, love,How can I then be gay?Could’st thou with me enjoy, love,This glorious sunset hour,Of bliss without alloy, love,My soul would feel the power.But now my mourning heart, love,Is struggling to be free;O, could it hence depart, love,’Twould join itself to thee.If hanging on thy arm, love,I could with rapture gaze,And view without alarm, love,Those mild departing rays;But now they speak of change, love,And dearest pleasures gone,Thoughts to my bosom strange, love,Sad thoughts come rushing on.If nought of pain or harm, love,Could cloud our future days,Then nature’s sweetest charm, love,Would nought but pleasure raise:But in a changing world, love,We often have to mourn;Hope’s banner now unfurl’d, love,May soon be rudely torn.If thou wert with me now, love,I could not shelter thee,But if thy head must bow, love,That head could reston me!And I could share the blow, love,Or soothe thee when it came,In gladness or in wo, love,Thou’lt find me still the same.

The day draws near its close, love,

But I am far from thee;

A sweet and calm repose, love,

This hour once brought to me.

But now I am alone, love,

And all the weary day,

Ifeelthat thou art gone, love,

How can I then be gay?

Could’st thou with me enjoy, love,This glorious sunset hour,Of bliss without alloy, love,My soul would feel the power.But now my mourning heart, love,Is struggling to be free;O, could it hence depart, love,’Twould join itself to thee.

Could’st thou with me enjoy, love,

This glorious sunset hour,

Of bliss without alloy, love,

My soul would feel the power.

But now my mourning heart, love,

Is struggling to be free;

O, could it hence depart, love,

’Twould join itself to thee.

If hanging on thy arm, love,I could with rapture gaze,And view without alarm, love,Those mild departing rays;But now they speak of change, love,And dearest pleasures gone,Thoughts to my bosom strange, love,Sad thoughts come rushing on.

If hanging on thy arm, love,

I could with rapture gaze,

And view without alarm, love,

Those mild departing rays;

But now they speak of change, love,

And dearest pleasures gone,

Thoughts to my bosom strange, love,

Sad thoughts come rushing on.

If nought of pain or harm, love,Could cloud our future days,Then nature’s sweetest charm, love,Would nought but pleasure raise:But in a changing world, love,We often have to mourn;Hope’s banner now unfurl’d, love,May soon be rudely torn.

If nought of pain or harm, love,

Could cloud our future days,

Then nature’s sweetest charm, love,

Would nought but pleasure raise:

But in a changing world, love,

We often have to mourn;

Hope’s banner now unfurl’d, love,

May soon be rudely torn.

If thou wert with me now, love,I could not shelter thee,But if thy head must bow, love,That head could reston me!And I could share the blow, love,Or soothe thee when it came,In gladness or in wo, love,Thou’lt find me still the same.

If thou wert with me now, love,

I could not shelter thee,

But if thy head must bow, love,

That head could reston me!

And I could share the blow, love,

Or soothe thee when it came,

In gladness or in wo, love,

Thou’lt find me still the same.

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