| T H E L A D I E S ' R E P O S I T O R Y . |
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CINCINNATI, OCTOBER 1843. |
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| William Baxter | Nature's Worshiper (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, OCTOBER 1843. |
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| O r i g i n a l . |
| N A T U R E ' S W O R S H I P E R . |
| BY WILLIAM BAXTER. |
| SPRING'S early zephyrs wanton'd 'mid the flow'rs, Birds sang their sweetest notes, and far away The streamlet's murmur and the torrent's rush By distance softened, made sweet melody. The wind's soft sigh, and gentle hum of bees Came floating by in tones as sweet as dreams, While earth, and air, and sky, thrill'd each glad sense, For beauty mov'd in all. But there was one With heart attun'd to minstrelsy like this, Whose eye of genius told, where now though dim Struggled the fires of fancy and romance, And all imagination's fairy train-- The bright, sublime, the forms which beauty wears In him all mingled, in him sought a home, And seeking found a kingdom, for they rul'd. Yet he was sad! O why dwelt sadness there? With him 'twas but life's morn, but on his brow Disease wrote plainly that his sun would set, Youth's hopes be crush'd, life's flow'rs fade e'er they bloom'd-- That all he wish'd would vanish. Strange thoughts came o'er him; vision-like they seem'd, Like happy dwellers in a sinless land; Yet they were truthful, shading brightly forth The glowing beings of a lofty mind. Childhood return'd again, each early scene Grav'd deep on mem'ry's page throng'd near, Remember'd voices, and familiar looks, Which make the past, the present, all were there. Hopes cherish'd came again, came to depart, To show that life is but a mockery. He felt that he must die, yet life seem'd sweet, Its hues were bright and life-like, but his heart Was full, and on his brow, death's seal was plac'd; He felt that he must leave all those he lov'd, And bid to earthly scenes a last farewell. Thought reign'd again supreme; where was the past? 'Twas all forgot, the present too was hid, By the bright lustre which now seem'd to gleam From out the shades of dim futurity. All that he lov'd was there, and all that thought Or fancy, in her wildest flight conceiv'd, Of angels' songs, of deep unearthly beauty Which ut'rance seeks in song--all, all was there-- All that he hoped or wish'd. He now could die-- Earth had no forms like those which lured him on, Tempting his spirit soon to join their flight. He look'd again to yon blue sky above, To earth in all its beauty at his feet. Its charms were fading to his closing eye, Far brighter scenes were urging him away. He bar'd his brow to the soft breath of spring And thus in song pour'd forth his last farewell. Again I feel the breath of spring Bathing my fever'd brow-- I hear the waters murmuring In tones so soft and low-- I breathe again the balmy air Perfumn'd with odors sweet. Again I see these vallies fair In beauty at my feet, Nought on the face of nature now Bears traces of decay; But death upon my pallid brow Has written, "Come away." Yon rill's faint dying murmur seems A warning spirit's cry, Soft even as the voice of dreams It tells me I must die. How can I die? creations bright Are rushing through my breast! Such thoughts of loveliness and light That cannot, will not, rest When mem'ry's scenes for ever new Come stealing gladly by. When all hope whisper'd seems in view, How hard it is to die; Yet O what rapt'rous sounds I hear, Come bursting o'er my heart-- Like voices from another sphere They urge me to depart. The strain is faint, and fainter yet The dying echoes float-- With death's cold damp my brow is wet And still I hear each note-- They stir pure thoughts within the deep Recesses of the heart, And in the silent grave to sleep I gladly would depart. 'Tis past, he murmur'd low, 'tis past, And rais'd his dying eye-- It clos'd--his spirit sought at last Its native home--the sky. |
[The Ladies' Repository 3 (October 1843): 305.]
ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC EDITION
William Baxter's "Nature's Worshiper" was first published in The Ladies' Repository, and Gatherings of the West: A Monthly Periodical Devoted to Literature and Religion, Vol. 3, No. 10, October 1843, p. 305. 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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