TO THE ASHLEY RIVER.
Ashley river! Ashley river!Do I tread thy banks again?Then ’twas not farewell forever,Told I thee with throbbing pain,When I sought thee last, sweet river,With my lovely sister, Jane!Was there not a gentle warningMurmur’d in thy gurgling tone?Clouds were gath’ring o’er life’s morning,Which in radiant beauty shone;Ah! Ifeltthe whisper’d warning,I should tread thy banks alone.Yes—alone! my gentle sisterHere no more shall rove with me;How I trembled when I kiss’d her,Standing near our fav’rite tree!Still I dream’d not, angel sister!’Twas my last sweet walk with thee.Evergreens were spreading o’er us,With their cool embow’ring shade;Hoary mosses waved before us,And a graceful drapery made:While the gliding waters bore usMany a tuneful serenade.Pearly tears, in silence starting,Told the heart’s deep seated gloom,While we brooded o’er the partingFrom our early, only home;Ah! we knew not one was startingFor a distant lonely tomb!Now, no mosses wave above her,Where she sleeps so far away;But the eyes of those who love herGuard the precious sleeping clay;Angels keep bright watch above her,Till the resurrection day.O, sweet Ashley! gently gliding,Calmly can I gaze on thee,For my loved one is abidingWhere I quickly hope to be;So, each deep emotion chiding,Still I love to gaze on thee!
Ashley river! Ashley river!Do I tread thy banks again?Then ’twas not farewell forever,Told I thee with throbbing pain,When I sought thee last, sweet river,With my lovely sister, Jane!Was there not a gentle warningMurmur’d in thy gurgling tone?Clouds were gath’ring o’er life’s morning,Which in radiant beauty shone;Ah! Ifeltthe whisper’d warning,I should tread thy banks alone.Yes—alone! my gentle sisterHere no more shall rove with me;How I trembled when I kiss’d her,Standing near our fav’rite tree!Still I dream’d not, angel sister!’Twas my last sweet walk with thee.Evergreens were spreading o’er us,With their cool embow’ring shade;Hoary mosses waved before us,And a graceful drapery made:While the gliding waters bore usMany a tuneful serenade.Pearly tears, in silence starting,Told the heart’s deep seated gloom,While we brooded o’er the partingFrom our early, only home;Ah! we knew not one was startingFor a distant lonely tomb!Now, no mosses wave above her,Where she sleeps so far away;But the eyes of those who love herGuard the precious sleeping clay;Angels keep bright watch above her,Till the resurrection day.O, sweet Ashley! gently gliding,Calmly can I gaze on thee,For my loved one is abidingWhere I quickly hope to be;So, each deep emotion chiding,Still I love to gaze on thee!
Ashley river! Ashley river!Do I tread thy banks again?Then ’twas not farewell forever,Told I thee with throbbing pain,When I sought thee last, sweet river,With my lovely sister, Jane!
Ashley river! Ashley river!
Do I tread thy banks again?
Then ’twas not farewell forever,
Told I thee with throbbing pain,
When I sought thee last, sweet river,
With my lovely sister, Jane!
Was there not a gentle warningMurmur’d in thy gurgling tone?Clouds were gath’ring o’er life’s morning,Which in radiant beauty shone;Ah! Ifeltthe whisper’d warning,I should tread thy banks alone.
Was there not a gentle warning
Murmur’d in thy gurgling tone?
Clouds were gath’ring o’er life’s morning,
Which in radiant beauty shone;
Ah! Ifeltthe whisper’d warning,
I should tread thy banks alone.
Yes—alone! my gentle sisterHere no more shall rove with me;How I trembled when I kiss’d her,Standing near our fav’rite tree!Still I dream’d not, angel sister!’Twas my last sweet walk with thee.
Yes—alone! my gentle sister
Here no more shall rove with me;
How I trembled when I kiss’d her,
Standing near our fav’rite tree!
Still I dream’d not, angel sister!
’Twas my last sweet walk with thee.
Evergreens were spreading o’er us,With their cool embow’ring shade;Hoary mosses waved before us,And a graceful drapery made:While the gliding waters bore usMany a tuneful serenade.
Evergreens were spreading o’er us,
With their cool embow’ring shade;
Hoary mosses waved before us,
And a graceful drapery made:
While the gliding waters bore us
Many a tuneful serenade.
Pearly tears, in silence starting,Told the heart’s deep seated gloom,While we brooded o’er the partingFrom our early, only home;Ah! we knew not one was startingFor a distant lonely tomb!
Pearly tears, in silence starting,
Told the heart’s deep seated gloom,
While we brooded o’er the parting
From our early, only home;
Ah! we knew not one was starting
For a distant lonely tomb!
Now, no mosses wave above her,Where she sleeps so far away;But the eyes of those who love herGuard the precious sleeping clay;Angels keep bright watch above her,Till the resurrection day.
Now, no mosses wave above her,
Where she sleeps so far away;
But the eyes of those who love her
Guard the precious sleeping clay;
Angels keep bright watch above her,
Till the resurrection day.
O, sweet Ashley! gently gliding,Calmly can I gaze on thee,For my loved one is abidingWhere I quickly hope to be;So, each deep emotion chiding,Still I love to gaze on thee!
O, sweet Ashley! gently gliding,
Calmly can I gaze on thee,
For my loved one is abiding
Where I quickly hope to be;
So, each deep emotion chiding,
Still I love to gaze on thee!
December 16, 1840.