Verses on Many Occasions; With Others for Which It May Be Thought There Was No Occasion Collected and Printed for His Grand-Children (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1851 Excerpt: ... A POEM, DELIVERED BEFORE THE PHI BETA KAPPA SOCIETY OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY, AUGUST 29, 1839. "Tempora inuUiiiur et nos mutamur com illis." Since we, who meet coevals here, were boys, Our tops and kites dismissed for manlier toys--The dread ordeal passed, and "admittatur" Announced us nurslings of our " Alma Mater;" Since that proud moment which o'erpaid the toil Of school-boy tasks, pursued by midnight oil--When here--our fathers' hope, our mothers' pride, All for the goal of fame, afar descried--Together starting on our four years' race, With limbs elastic and with blooming face, We ran with various speed the classic round, And at its close were all with laurel crowned;--Though some with parts betrayed our want of parts, We all came forth brave bachelors of arts j--Since that eventful, joyous, mournful day, When, taking each his solitary way, As erst our banished parents weeping took Of their loved Eden many a farewell look, We parting entered on a world untried, With hope to cheer and Providence to guide;--Since that still well-remembered day went down, The last we wore the academic gown--How strange the changes time has brought to pass How what seemed gold its touch has turned to brass How fair a world, that looked all bright before, Our backward gaze Las lost, to find no more Vanished the beauteous bow of painted air, As hope went down and left the rain cloud there; And fled the visions that so sweetly smiled, And lured us onward, by those smiles beguiled; And gone the enchantment novelty bestowed, And dead the flowers that fringed the paths we trode; Th' aroma lost, of bud and blossom born, And mute the songs that waked the vernal morn, And quenched the light whose beams illusive shone, And poured o'er life a radiance not its own. From you, dear char...