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1
THE LONE HOUSE.
A roEivi.
I'artlii founbtt) on ^fatt.
H\ C'AHSIE FAIRBANKS.
W !
§^
HALIFAX ! j I
ITU NT ED BY JAMES BOWES & SONS. M
^^^3 •-
TJii: LONi; irorsE.
■ «^ar>«
A I'Ol'M.
TARTI. V r JiNDKD li H 9 k i1 ,
i BY CASSIE TAIRBANKS.
"i"\\ AS !! loiif iv liiit, on a lonrly r<tii(l,
So far rciiioNcd from iicinlilior aliodr,
Von iicr(|< must joiirii(\v for maiiv a iiiih',
( hi citlM-r side, would you swk tin; >iiiiIo
Of friendly wrlcomo oi social clicrr —
l)i<l I lie clouils forl)od<' that a storm drew near —
Liltlf iiirit('(f tlu; wayfarer's /est
'I'o take at that dvvelliii^r tlie noontide rest;
Ami lain was the Irav'lor, whate'er Ins need,
'I'o uriie to a quickened pace liis steed :
I'or few wer<' the footsteps that liniinr'd near
A place so lovely, and yet so drear.
IJrownly outstretehiiit? — the untill'il jrround
Was upheav'd by luany a moss-jjrown mound.
And th(> charrM and hleachiuiif stnMip> on the plm.i
Were as toml)stones markiiirr the fallen slum ;
While the darkliujj river that mutK'red I.v,
Seemed tellim^ some sorrow anifrilv —
PrrcliJiiKT ol'tlic l(>>s (d'tlic It'iilV .scrtMMl
?*f(|iM'!«i'iiii;r its eddies with trciiildini; :;i<m'h ;
(M", it inifilit Im', 'twas trllinir its t r<)id)l<(l Irnr
Ol'liir midnp ()(' lire-sent lied lieiMJoeks iiiar,
\Vli()se skeleton arms on liii^li were Hiiiijr,
As ediivid.xion strained and torture stniny;:
Tliey liad perished in lit lj)|ess a»on> ,
In their verdnrous cloud of vitality ;
And the (hath-hound l"ren/.y of those uauul tree-
Still made an a|i|)eal to earth's sympathies,
\\ liile the lichens, white as a veteran's licud,
Made the withered spectres still more weiril.
JJravc was the heart that first had como
'I'o car\e in the forr-st tiial di.'ar word "home;"
Stronu" was his soul as he firmlv stood,
(iazin;!', iix*' in hand, on the frowninj^ wood,
\]n: he wok(; its echoes with hlow <ni Mow,
Layiu!!^ tlu' clust'rinjr pine trees low.
And the unhaik'd lojjs which that ^(pialtcr hcw'd
Still form the walls of that cabin rude.
Little of huildinj;- cralt he hronght
To rear the shelter which there he flouj»lit :
\o ample proj)ortions gave outward proof
That comfort mijiht nestle bemuitli his r(jof ;
And ns v<':ir on year had flown apace,
IJut two small chand>ers increased i<s s})ace.
Days had come and weeks had tlown
Over the house that was called " the lone,"
Urinji^inj; no chan<2,e with the summer's j^low —
IS'o alteration with winter's snow ;
And the lew improvements which round it <>rew ,
(•five s]>pi that the occupant's wants were few.
And yet 'twas a sijLjht that pleased one well,
As yon rose o'er the hill and looked down the dell,
{]
Oil a tionk wliicli mniiorv \\ill oft iiitiii<l<'
III tlif liiisli of its inTlrrl Mtliind)',
AV lino ilir s|iiriil curl of the >il\«'r\ sihdIvl'
Alonr "t" iiit« Ilifrriit liciliL'" >>|m»I\(',
And .'(M'liK'd it a |il»'asaiit tliiii;^ to Im*
III iIh' liriiii ot" Xatiirr's lilicrly,
1 ntnimiiK IM l»v aii^lit that lasliion Ja\ -
On ilic ( liliiiiyf JKMirs (»f llfciinw (iav>,
Free to iniialr tlif |iiii<' rr(>Ii air,
I iilu'cdiiii;' lime in tin' >Mn>liiiM' tlinc ;
Tliroiiuli nioss-jrrowM tliirkct • to roam at will,
To tlu' >t('ni .iri"«_v st('<'|» <!(" tlif io( K-MariM lull
To coiiH', i)('r('liaiic(\ on llic mmv !,iir
or the to\, in- t!ic mink, (U- the irri/./.ly hrar :
Or, il'i-ylvan attractntns iniiilit fnillnr \' oo,
On tin- trail ot'tlic moose or tin.' carrilnio ;
On — «»n to tin; lake liv whose lilied hrink —
The antjer'd herds liavi! paused to drink —
Or, from keen pursuit, have soi!<;ht to lav«!
Their healed sides in the coolinir \vav«',
(•i\ins»' l»rr>ad mark, in e'aeli dusky frame'.
To the tuhe that utters the hnnt<'r's aim,
NVho reads, in tlu; "lanee ol'the hlood>liol eve.
Mow the brutes that p<'rish reirret to die.
'Tis a stran;j;e, sad t'eelins; to think one's own
The (udv footsteps a ))laee has known —
That the tassel-tuftt'd larches ni<»h
IVe'er ujirrorM their trruc*' in a human eye —
That never the heach tree's folia<>(; spread
Its jflossy !rrand(Mir o'er human head,
Or the wreath-like hranch which tin,' elm array
IJent shrinkiiii'ly down 'neatli a human jia/c,
Till you tluiif; yourself, like a monarch free,
Beneath the ma])le*s red canopy,
in the -tnii^ftli "/*» r/*/," ;iii<l tlir |Ml^^n• '•//< 'Ian,"
< 'lainiiii!: I(>r(lslii|i hm |- the u:i>tr hind tiirrc.
ni'f 'niid Mndi w ildci im'>-^ icvnii'H,
\\ itli tin' lij:litinn;.f's winj.', tlir(tn;;li p.isi (•••nturics,
Tlir rlcrtric lliruU (»rilir liof man's lirart
Mas raiixil mine uitli as wild a thrill to start.
lie nad, w Inn the world was I'rr.-h and Noun:;.
\imI the -plirrrs their (dif>ral praisrs siini;",
The itilant |»anr ol' earth's history,
111 hini>< lllhr n<ddrst mystery !
Natnrrs, divine and hnnian. met
In the ernwM on nniteria! heant\ set
The li\in<; seal <mi a linishetl plan
Was the <otd. (iod's imaL'^e, ofthinkinn' man ;
Ami since the riidi iiil't to him ot'rdi
That ear'li's l)r(»ad ho>om her oun can call,
Il«ddin«r <HO(rs eharter, Inll and iVee,
" Orrr all ! Iia\e jiiven donnni(m l<» ihee,"
Inanimate natnre his will has swayed,
And mntr er<'ati(Mi his iide oheved.
I'iarth's tadcn scms read the name >weei storv,
Thoiiirh dim is the pil'ii', in its faded ^lorv,
\\ hen tIaM come to sotne cpiiet, seehnled sjntl,
W hose \erdnre has hitherto known them not,
To feed ill the traiapiil air protonnd,
Thron<;h ii'c rnstliny surges iliat rippie round.
As it'e\ery leaflet that flattered there
Imprisonei! a spirit eniirosx'd in prayer;
And he who scntiires, with earnest senses,
"Mid the purest <d" earthly influences,
It' his Inari listen, can (dearly hear
Tones that are- mute t(t the careless ear —
K\en that voice which the stillness broke,
When («'.h! la the evetide of ICden spoke!
.)
Unit \\;i- tlir .-iiicuv -.clt Ici's iVaiiif.
^^ lifii ilir wiiniiiii; to tlii iVohi In- ducilinu cmiii"-.
And liis >|iiiit lorsook i\> Imii-c (trrlav,
\N lu'li »l<r|( )M llic \;i)lt'V llir >)ii»\\ -»|n I'l.-. Ijiv.
.\Mtmf \\;is «lr('.-.t Jis a Tiiir \iiiiiii> Undr,
TlKif IxaiMil'iil iiiuniiMH on win* h lir dird.
^ tiltd ;iiid lolird in its \\ liitr iiiTiiN ,
Urnitliini; yladiirss, and lio|»c, and holiday,
'I'liat lannliar liannf, now that hie was o'er,
Had IK \rr srrnii'd hall>o hrijiht hchue :
I' or winicr's rr^alia, iVom cvciv lire,
^^ as lla>hin^' tlir Ida/c of its jcwcdrv.
<iold('ii in'l\V(nk and starry rrown,
^^ith (irndant hrilliants, jj|(.j,|,|\| histr(nis down;
Crystal rncasrd cai h howinj; stem ;
I'acli twiii' wore il.> own prcidiar li'cin ;
While rii<li and rctd, hy the iVo/.cn river,
Hose, j)earl\ shat'ls jroni a s|»aikliii<r tpincr ;
And the sun, from a throne of re,-|dendent hliie.
Lent «'a(di and all a |»ri>niatie hin'.
Till the da//.ied ey«'siiilif e(jnld hardly bear
A ji'lory that seemed eeiotial there.
Death and decay had no |»o\\er to aue'
'^['lial dreamland splendor, a silver thaw.
I5iit the hcanty the radiant vision shed
S«'emed jitth- in nni-cni with tin- dead,
Lyinj; iinni(»ved on his wihlvvood hier,
I'liheedin""^ the siranjx»'r nimsnal there,
Whose friendly aid would pillow liis rest
In the scenes that his manhood had lovM the hoi.
Where the purple daisy and ^ohh-n rod
In autumn would hlooni on the hilloidv's sod,
And the oaks (d' summer their shadows wave
In greenest glooiu o'er liid forest jjrave. —
6
Ali<.tli( |- cMiiir ill \\\< |il;uv In dwcn.
'I'd ti'iiiiiit tliiil hut III tiir- hiiH'ly clcll :
Stiaiiiic that :i v.iiiMiiii wii-; iini iilVaid
'Vtt ilwcll I'ar iVniii all iirioliJKir aid —
i''r')iii liiiiiiati hilcn-oiiisc lai' alnol',
AloiH' and d< Iciicrlfss hniratli licr inof !
No l'f« ak ill llic da\'"^ liiniiutniiy —
AloiM' tVojii the iiioni till the v\r to lir,
I! \c«lit at llioM- iiilri-\al>, trw and laic,
W Im'Ii I ia\ tll('i> ir>t«'d tlu'ir lioisc^ tlicrr ;
l>r])(iidlil<:' nil sell" to x-ctl ic! y ^iiard
'I'lial loticlv liomcstrad — to uatcli and \\ai(l
'I'lir iiirai:i<' comrorts slic callrd licr o\\ n,
I'l'oiii tliiil'ty toil li\ lirr roii^li lM'artli>ioiic.
Ill the riiri'<»\\s that iiiaikM lar h:i!i(Uoiiic lacr,
A rrsidutc will had Icll its trace;
And her ryes had a Ihisli in tlirir d('r|»'nin<j'' I^Tcy,
\\ ( II i{iiniiilicr('d lor many a day,
'I'Immi^Ii their heaiity was toreiiiu to that we hlot*.s
In the Ll'eiith- ^a/e (d" u oinanliness.
I'oree and daiin<: were in their spell,
And use hail str('ii<rtheiied their nn'aiiinj:' w(dl.
The Iiiie> ofheiilth had i)ron/ed her (dn-ek,
And nf ((nistant exposing' seemed to sp<-ak ;
I'or none ol" her sisterhood's (juiet ways
llatl tilled the round (d" In-r resth'ss davs.
While they sat sewiii''" heside the door,
SIk' was away <ni the barren moor,
TrMppin::' the mink or the fox, to win
The pri<'e that's set on the flossy skin ;
Or her ride was sendinji' its sharp rep(»rt,
To earn a meal hy the morning's sport ;
And woe to the timid hird whose; wiii<i!;
Across her pathway would .starthul spring :
Part rid ;j-r, or \\ (tnilcnt k. or rjirr ciirlrw.
!'«ll Miiffrrin^ dnun 'lu'tith iiii .-iiin >o tnn'.
\ r\ Wiis !i\u' not Mivailf, ll)oUL(ll striii urii|(Mn|,
<iiiiiiiii^ s(i .stran<»«'ly ln-r li\cliliiHMl ;
Nor was she in.id, iIkhijj:!! tlirrc ."U'cmid In he
\ shadow V truce *>{' insanity
In her wihl |iiirsiiits and hrr -rll-r* hanrr,
NNhih- her tnnjinc's ron^rh s<'<»rn and lit-rre «h lian'."
Ins|ijrcd an awe the intrn(h r Irh
To avoid thi' phicr wlicrr IScck Lantrh'V duidt.
Why slic had chosen apart to h\c,
XoMc of hi'r kindred coultl reason jrive ;
M'hy thus estranji'-d iVoin all natural tics —
^^'llat had nn.s«'xed her synipathies —
\ouc could answer : her striii>L>-|inir heart
N\<»nld id" hifhicn s(H'ro\v t(» none impart ;
Ifer snileii conirst alone she waifcd,
If passion <tr pride in her hosom ratted ;
And tin' only soothiny: her stronjr jirief sonjrhl
^^ as uninterrupted indiilirence ol'thoii<rlu —
To he iin(»h>er\«'d when her wayward soul
Hur^t iVoin the letters (d' sell' contrtd,
And ineinory's hiirnin/^' and passionate' tears
IMowed fast o'er the •,nave cd' end)itt«;red y«;ars.
This nii<rht not hist : the hour came
When iVoni smoulderinyf einhers hiirst forth tin t!;iiii«'
Ami a pressing nee<l in Ikt heart aw(d\e,
When jicntler fe(dinL''s within her spok«' :
A eravinjf that s«nne youiiL^ human tiling
Should to her in fond depemh'iKM; clinji* —
A heart hv self-intore.st vet iiiitau"ht,
Artlessly lispinji' each tend«'r thoiijiht,
Breakin<^, with voice that mirth imhiied,
The jijlenco of that stern solitude ;
8
Aii(] tliiit lovc-tliirst » r the (l<'S(»I;ito
Rose i\i\y hy day iiii))(>rtiiiiate,
Till back (HI lior cliildluxKr.s track siic fled,
To the sha(h)wv caves of the <»hl hmncfitcad ;
And wlict) next she trave!•^sed that niooiland wild,
Ifer arms enclasped a sister's child,
Orphaned ere life's j)r<>f>ressi()n new
Lcxdied conscious forth from the eyes of hlue —
()rj)haned ere memory's mystic thread
Had, link hy link, been fashioned,
(iitil the en(hirin;!j^ nicshes twined
The first idea of the infunt mind.
"Father'' and "mother" hence could he
Vajrue words and dark in her history,
And the meaning instinct still would crav(^
Her self-charjied <5iiardian jrently ^ave ;
An<l so il came, in the twili^^ht dim,
ISFight he heard at eve some low sw{>(>t hymn-
And the time-worn volume of sacred lore
I'nhosoni'd ag.un its neglected store,
While solemn inspiration tauglit
Each hermit scholar deepen'd thouiiht ;
Other instruction the wild wood lent.
And, f(dlowing the train of enquiring henl,
The student drew, with ipiickened sense,
Crude facts from forest ex[)erienoe,
Till the l)age of ISature, often trod.
Received a voice from the Hook of Cod.
m * * * *
Day's vagrant sunbeams gently stole
From lloweret lips, grey twilight's dole
Of j)erfnmed dew ; then swej)t the lake,
And tipped the fern, and tinged the brake,.
And, N\ith long, prying glance, betrayed
(',
TIh! secret (if each sylvan sluule,
AVliile brcmder >uiisliiiie iiiiule t' ■ corn
More <i:ol<leii siill, tliat autmini morn.
IJnl all ! lor earth's disruptiire'l ties —
I-'or jarred and hroUm s\ inpatliies !
No dav-sprinur beauty soothed the hreast —
No niorninii" henecHetioii hh-st
The demon soul, that onward strode.
To that h>ne h<mie, the- untravidh'd road.
And shrunk no honi:h, nor shivered lh»\vcr,
With i)resei(nee of an e\il |»o>\er ?
Th«' shadow of a darkening ^Hoom
Passed all unscathed their IVeshened hlooni
I'lu' sweet serenity around
Awoke with sharp contention's sound;
Its mistress gave the asked-lor food,
But entrance to the hut withstood ;
And for a wiiile, her dauntless mien
Obtained In-r will ; then fierce and keen,
Dread im|)re<*ation.s rent the air.
That pitying angids weep to hear ;
And theii the miscreant feigni il to stray
To where the m idening high road lay,
'Neath arches thi<-k with clustering leaves.
While she stood still heiu'ath the (;a\<,'s
Of her low roof, and tixed Iter ga/.e
On the p(!rspective's violet ha/.e.
She marked of light the changeful guise,
Then fixed her wistful, dreamy eyes
Where glacier <doudlets snowier grew,
Ciliding from de|)th to d<'pth (»f blue.
IJnt little deemed she e'er the sun
Had to his zenith splend(/r won,
Iler throbbing and bewildered brum
10
Mi^lit liovrr tVcl cartir.s jjricfs jigain,
I^!t t'md — by poet's tlioiiirlit express'd-
".\r(»nii(] licr rostlfsfjiiess, God's rest."
CANTO II.
When first on l'ii<ilftiid's j>iorics throned,
A royal maiden's voice, firm toned,
Sjiake (|ueenly oath, her peojih' heard
The full expression of each word.
.Justice she vowed to execute,
As thoufih sweet Mercy's tonoiic were mute ;
'^I'he sw(»r(l ol". lust ice, held unsheathed,
She vowed to list what Mercy breathed ;
And so, when from the reekinj^ sod,
A "hrotlier's hlood " cries uj) to God,
She must arise in («od-like mi<i^ht,
And dra^- the accursed deed to li<>ht ;
(.'rime's labyrinthine course j)ursue,
(inided by one slight scarlet clue,
And gain, if possible, access
To that unsearchable recess.
The hunnin heart, which chance may be
A fortress in its agony,
Where Truth, a coward, grovelling, lies,
And Fear's stern ward escape defies.
Our Sovereign wields no tyrant's rod :
" Victoria, by the (J race of God,"
Rules o'er a realm whose; broad exjianse
IMay never mourn day's dyin*!; glance.
Where lustrous sunshine streamina; down
(iilds still some jewel of her crown.
11
1 iitiriiifi" as those waves of lijilit,
.liistiee iiiislec|)iii<jf seeks lier rifjlit,
IJiit A\ lieres(><''er lier task is spnl.
(ileams Merry's lieaveii-enlialoed Ik aW.
Where sacred missions thus coiuliiMe,
The royal hnv heeoines divine.
And so it eanj(! in solemn state,
And rohed in power (h !e<rate.
The jndjics ol'onr huid ^ave ear
To " iar-otV shriek (»!' wonianV !'» ar*' —
To "stri(hnii ^^''p" — ^" ''stnnninj^' h!ow "-
To "stitk'd j>asp of mortal wor '."
Then lu'ard on An<iiist's scented liaic,
"The j)iteons soh of infant wail." —
it was strant»"e trial — in the eonrt ;
Fjaeh foot of staiulin<r room was son^ht,
And for a whih; each human breast
Abeyant held self interest,
\\ bile in each sej)arate \\l.irlpo(»l thought,
Varied emotions surii,in^' wrought.
'it that tribunal all arraign
One branded with the curse of Cain ;
And he — he was an abject thing —
Earth's earthiest olf-scouring ;
Less than a brute, ior brutes but do
What craving instinct urges to ;
IJut j)ian, with j>assi«ms past control,
Still feels abhorrent to the soul,
The crimson flood, of whose foul stain
He ne'er may cleanse his hand again ;
And all tliey urged in his defence
Was disproportionate rational sense.
The grave f'hief Justice; held the place
His years and righteous judgments grace ;
12
-Viid lit a?" liiiii, calmed hy jiianiM'r.s mild,
(Tlif only wiliicss) stood a child !
He hndr her stand beside him t.'iere ;
fie hehl !iei- hand — he stroked her hair;
.And 'twas a toiicliimx siiiht to see.
And one to hve in mem«»rv,
How (Ml her head his hand still linuered,
The flaxen elC locks ;»-entIy liiio-f red,
And won her childish lips to sjieak
(^f scenes that hh'ux'hed tlu; old man's cheek.
In rustic beauty, roughly <lr«'ss'd,
The litth' maid stood self-posse^sM :
The forest-bred of life's de<nees
Knew nothiiifT, so she ^nzvd at ease,
And answered jtrompt, in accents clear,
Xor fe'lt surprise, nor seemed to fear.
They asked no (»ath : all felt that slie
Sp(d\e truth in truth's simplicity;
And when they (piestioned, ''Would she know
The form of him that dealt the blow ? *'
She sent her vivid silance amonir
The \arious faces of the tliron;;-,
And then replii'd, "He is n<»t here I"
Hut at that moment (uie most near
The accused rose up and left a space,
Revealing- thus th* criminal's face ;
Then eairerly she forward bent,
And, with dismayed astonishment,
She cried, "Ah! there, 1 see him now —
His hand supports his hidden brow;"
Then in a tone m» doubt confessing'.
But iullest certainly expressing,
"Yes!" — and she tried a sob to smother —
"Yes, that's the man that murdered motiiei* !
13
Tlf cnnip on that jnitiinmril iMoni-
\ Iiaii2;iiil, tiilt<'iT<| wrclcli turlorii ;
And nudlu'i- iiid nol \\i>li lliat lie
A Idifr-rcr iitnnd our p!;ic<' should he ;
And so slic hrou2"li1. witli rcadv /.cil,
The rctunants o("our niorniuu' imal ;
And olad was slir, and well rontmi,
^N h<'n. after rcstinij: l>ii< l", he wrnl ;
Hut ere she kiicu, hr hack returned,
Whih' lurions passion in him hurncd ;
And sri/inir. from the cord wood niiih,
A ^riiarhMl h»2", he raised it hi<:h,
And fe||«'d h<'r h<'l])less to the «h)or,
r roni which she never rose np more."
Sin- said, '' ! had to iiiihu"- run,
When mother l>a(h' m<- fet(di her ;:un,
AN hieh ere I reached tlie rnllian tied,
And mother on the thfor hiv dea(h
1 oaHed until she nnisl ha\e heard,
lint never answered she a word :
And her pale, hlo(»d-staiiie(l features w-re
A look I never saw lufore."
They asked her, how she knew 'twas death '
And r'v«'rv list<'ner held his ])reath,
As o'er those hhie, intrepid eves,
Ther<' came a sickened, strange surj»risc.
"NVhile t(» that lithe and (diildish frame
A woman's weitiht (d' an<:nisli came.
And the cpiick rush of huinin^- tears
Told (d" e\|)erience past her years —
( )f tea<'hiii!j|,- mute, hut ehxpient,
(M'what we call "life's straniic event."
She said she went iii iiu -ried ({uest
Of a younu' hoy, a plavnuitc g'ucst ;
14
And s|KM'(lily tlicy took llicir wny
To wlM'tt; ilie n('!ir<'st fjinu-lioiisc lay.
Fear to their infaiit I'crt lent sjm-ccI,
Wliicli llMiitr'd "ot ill llii-ir hour of iiocil.
Oil — on, without one thought of r«>t,
For h(»iirs those tender travellers Dress'd,
Nor knew that fifteen miles hetwoeii,
Of swam|>y uastt; and barren jrrcen,
Lav, ere their ery for aid niijiht be
Ans\ver<'d by ready synipathy.
Forlorn — lati^nied — by sorrow spent,
Those ehihireii bravely underwent
The weary piliiriniajie that gave
Voice to this legend of the grave —
To those wIk.s*' active interest sped
To seek and sepulchre the dead,
I5v tl.at dark solitary mound
That made one s|»ot of forest ground.
s;.,p,.f.,l — within the dim r(!ccss
Of the brce/e-whispering wilderness!
The shattered tabernacle lay
"Mid sweetest silence — silent clay!
Ifcr's was a lonelier mansion still
Than the rude cabin 'neath the hill,
The lowly house — where (Jod's own keep
A solemn rest — nor wake to weei).
^ * * * *
Thev doomed the wretch to ward confined
As irresjionsible of mind,
Fnshrouded in a dungeou' • gloom
They gave him but a living tomb
Where never to beclouded sense
Darts sunheam-like intelligence.
From year to year to undergo
»*
1.')
One l(»nu dark ninlit ofiMfiital wot-
'Till aid iiivisihlc Wo st'iit
And prison bolt and bar be rent
And to its llesldy t(!niple ceil
Life'ti fevered frenzy <^a>i) farewell !
Tlien He — wliose livinji' kindness sa\ es —
([[iniself a wanderer once 'njid j^raves)
May <^ather tliat demoniae loathed
In his own mind and onr«' more elothed
And on the troubled njaniue's brain
Ciod'.s lonj^ lost image stamp af^ain !
* # # # *
The fire has tiied upon the hearth
Whence the lijiht lau<»h of childish mirth
Has passed away — the rottinji' lloor
Creaks 'neath the passer's tread no more ;
Each ai'ter each the rafters fall —
And totters the deeayinji; wall,
While ranke'st vegetation takes
Possession of what man forsakes,
Nature, regretful, claims her own
Jiv tanii'led vines and briars o'cu'jrrown,
And buries 'neath the herl)a<i:e ureen
The tragic memories of the scene.
NOTE.
TiiK murdt'i of Rebecca Lanffley to which the foregoln,!:; linos reler,
•was committctl on the 21tii of Aiigus^t, ISol, iit !i leninte puit of the
Voail leailing from Halifax to Gujsboro. A true Dill -was returno<l by
the fJrand Juvy of the County of Halifax, on tlie "J'.'th November,
against Alex. McDunaM, a native of Antigonisli, in the (.'uunty of
Sydney, who was tried on the l-!th and 18th of December liefore Mr.
.Justice Dodd, and the following verdict recorded, " th:it the i)risoner is
not guilty upon the indictment, having been insa»'' at the time of the
oUencc being committed. The murderer was subsequently confined i"
the Provincial IVuitcutiary near Halifax.