Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/272

 Thy task is done; another eye Than thine must gnard thy country's weal; And oh! may wisdom from on high To him the one true path reveal!

When erst was spread the mighty waste Of waters, fathoms wide and far, And darkness rested there, unchased By ray of sun, or moon, or star.

God bade the gloomy deep recede. And so young earth rose on his view; Swift at his word the waters fled, And darkness spread its wings and flew.

The same strong arm hath put to flight Our country's foes; the ruthless band That swept in splendid pomp and might Across our fair and fertile land.

The same Almighty hand hath raised On these wild plains a structure fair, And well may wondering nations gaze At aught so marvelous and rare.

This task is done. The holy shade Of calm retirement waits thee now. The lamp of hope relit hath shed Its sweet refulgence o'er thy brow.

Far from the busy haunts of men. Oh! may thy sou! each fleeting hour Upon the breath of prayer ascend To Him who rules with love and power.

—

Our eldest is an autumn bloom. Just as the summer rose grew pale She smiled upon our woodland home. The brightest flower in all the vale.

The second April came with showers, The buds to ope, and vines to wreathe, And left the sweetest of its flowers Upon my joyous heart to breathe.

Sweet month! but two short years had past. And lo! with smiles again she came, And left a bloom fair as the last, A strange bright flower for me to name!