Page:Pocahontas, and Other Poems.djvu/201

 THE MOTHER OF WASHINGTON.

��On laying the corner-stone of her monument at Fredericksburg, Virginia.

��LONG hast thou slept unnoted. Nature stole In her soft ministry around thy bed, Spreading her vernal tissue, violet-gemmed, And pearled with dews.

She bade bright summer bring Gifts of frankincense, with sweet song of birds, And autumn cast his reaper's coronet Down at thy feet, and stormy winter speak Sternly of man's neglect.

But now we come

To do thee homage mother of our chief ! Fit homage such as honoureth him who pays. Methinks we see thee as in olden time Simple in garb majestic and serene, Unmoved by pomp or circumstance in truth Inflexible, and with a Spartan zeal Repressing vice and making folly grave.

�� �