ENPages
(seq. 61)
August 1800
Fr. 8 Nothing of consequence
Sat 9 Afternoon saw Samuel Gerauld, found him much altered for the better, become quite [shady?] God bless him. Went home with him and [?] all night.
Sun 10 At Doc Geraulds, home at one O"clock very [late?] at meeting.
Mon 11 Went to Foxbury with Doc Gerauld, who visits a woman there, [she?] had been with child for [18?] months as was said. Saw neither Everell nor [Scratin?], consequently did no busyness.
T 12 Nothing strange. [Welles?] with Adams. at [?] Prentisses evening
Wed 13 Afternoon at the north end
Nor let my future days in grief and woe be spent Oh rather aim thy [darts?] at me; Since life with all my hopes destroy'd Would prove a tiresome cheerless voice Where I my souls delight no longer see, Where Happiness forever flown, And Peace and Consolation fled; Where Pleasure slumb'ring with the dead Leaves but a dreary waste with every comfort gone forgive Great God. my impious prayer,, Teach me submission to thy will; My troubled thoughts peace and be still Disease and Death thy servants are. O fill my heart with grace [?], That when all earthly comforts flee, My trembling soul may hope in thee. While beams of heavenly glory round me shine.
(seq. 62)
An Acrostic to Mass
Blind each attractive [charm?] of form and face, Each winning air each fascinating graces [Your?] dignity with melting softness [?], Sweet sensibility of soul [refind?]; [?] wit with penetration [?] [Yet?] still you [?] to paint the beauteous fair
Belov'd of Heaven the youth whose raptur'd breast, Of charms like thine possessing and possess'd; Love points the way to Hymen's fragrant [bowers?] Kindles the torch and strews the path with [flowers?] Congenial minds alone such bliss can know One are their joys and mutual in their woe, More cannot be enjoy'd in realms below.
On the Death of a Child
Ah lovely flower how short has been thy bloom, Untimely frost has nipp'd the opening [?] Thus in the morn of life snatch'd to the tombs Thy beauties hid beneath the clay cold sod 2 Thy infant mind its opening charms display'd, The dawn gave promise of a beauteous day; But morning dawn soon turns to evening shade And all our glitt'ring prospects fade away.
3 Thus while thy parents feel the blow severe, Their fondest hopes thus blasted e'er they bloom; While o'er they grave they drop the sorrowing tear And mourn their infants melancholy doom; 4 Yet them them not repine at Heavens decree, But bow sumissive to the inflicted rod; From sin and misery now their child is free, And happy with its heavenly Father God.
To the Reverend [?] E- on his with Miss N E-n By another hand
Great source of social joy my prayer attend. The heartfelt language of a faithful friend May the blest pair in holy wedlock join'd Thy care and all protecting presence find. 2 O guide them safe through life's entang'ling maze, With richest mercies crown their future days; May heaven born Piety their joys [?] And heighten earthly pleasures with [?]. 3 May each exalted each refin`d sublime delight, Their ardent love and gratitude excite; To that blest source from whence their pleasures flow Nor rest [contest?] with happiness below.
(seq. 63)
ES 4 Patterns of Piety and heavenly love, Together may they seek the things above; And while confin'd on earth may they aspire, To gain with seraphs in their heavenly choir 5 May circling years their happiness increase And when at long their days on earth must cease Blest be their passage and [?] their way To the bright mansions of eternal day.
A Paraphrase in the foregoing line 1 Great source of joy my prayer attend, The heartfelt language of a friend; May this blest pair in wedlock fetter'd, Find their condition greatly better'd. 2 O guide them through life's maze entang'ling, Keep them from quarrelling and wrangling; May piety their [?] adorning, Render them happy every morning. 3 May every pleasure they delight in, To heaven their ardent love exciting;
A Reflection Soon shall this troubling heart forget to beat, And ever silent, in my bosom lie; This breast no more retain its gental heat, Nor thrill with joy, nor heave with misery's sigh. 2 These eyes that oft with sparkling pleasure well, Shall [ope?] no more to hail the rising day; These lips that speak the language of the soul, In silence seal'd no more my thoughts [convey?] 3 These limits that now with animation prove, Their wanted elasticity [resign'd?]; These ears no longer hear the voice of love Nor to the plaint of wretchedness [inclined?]. 4 Where once in life my breath I lightly drew, When few succeeding years have roll'd away; The more [?] [store?] alone shall bring to view, The name of one long moulder'd in to the day, 5 O may these awful thoughts my soul alarm, That e'er grim death my footsteps shall arrest; I may prepare the tyrant to disarm, And soon on high to be forever blest.
(seq. 64)
To Darkness
Child of the dusky mantled night I woo thy [dim?] oblivious shade; To me impart thy friendly aid For day is hateful to my sight.
2 Oh come in sober livery drest And hide the sorrows of my breast Within thy deep impervious gloom And when the rosy tint sof day, Shall chase thy sombre shades away O soon thy sable hues resume.
3 And let no cheerful voice or sound Disturb the deathlike silence round Which [warns?] me to the silent tomb.
The Summer Evening
How fragrant in summer the cool evening breeze When Sol's burning rays are withdrawn When moonbeams are dancing among the dark trees And dewdrops bespangle the lawn
2 How pleading the sound of the murmuring [rills?] As it glides through the meadows so gay How rich are the fields and how verdant the hills How sprightly the Whippoorwills [lay?] And when to repose we are tranquillly laid How enchanting with musick to wake