William Baxter Memory (1843)

 

T H E   L A D I E S '   R E P O S I T O R Y .
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CINCINNATI, JUNE, 1843.

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O r i g i n a l .
M E M O R Y .
BY WILLIAM BAXTER.
WHAT glowing thoughts come flitting by
    At mem'ry's magic spell!
On every breeze we hear the sound
    Of voices lov'd so well.
We live again our youthful hours,
    Hear each forgotten strain--
Once more we cull life's brightest flowers,
    And dream of youth again--
Friends, whom we lov'd, joys that were ours,
    Ere sorrow's with'ring blight
Swept each fair scene away from view,
    And banish'd all delight--
Our cottage home--the silv'ry brook,
    That murmur'd softly by,
Which lull'd our childhood's hours; and yet
    'Tis dear, we scarce know why--
A sister's tones steal on the ear--
    A mother's glance we see,
And hear her voice, as when at first
    She bade us bend the knee,
And taught our infant lips to breathe
    The words of holy prayer
To heav'n; for children's orisons
    Met with acceptance there.
Thus, thus, the thoughts, the scenes, the joys
    Of life's wild, joyous spring,
Sweep o'er the chords of memory,
    And wake each silent string.
Though ye are past, bright, happy days,
    The loveliness of youth
Still cheers my heart with its pure beams
    Of innocence and truth.
But mem'ry still shall brightly burn
    Amid the throng so bright,
Who e'er in the blest shades of bliss
    Enjoy its sacred light.

 

[The Ladies' Repository 3 (June 1843): 188.]

ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC EDITION

      William Baxter's "Memory" was first published in The Ladies' Repository, and Gatherings of the West: A Monthly Periodical Devoted to Literature and Religion, Vol. 3, No. 6, June 1843, p. 188. This volume, edited by L. L. Hamline, was published in Cincinnati by J. F. Wright and L. Swormstedt for the Methodist Episcopal Church.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 2 April 2000.
Updated 28 June 2003.

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