Poem by Lydia Huntley Sigourney

Samuel G. Ogden, Esq.

Died at Astoria, New York, April 5th, 1860.


Upon his suffering couch he lay,
  Whose noble form and mind
The stress of fourscore years had tried,
  Yet left a charm behind.
The charm of heaven-born happiness
  Whose beauty may not fade,
The charm of unimpair'd regard
  For all whom God had made.

Upon his suffering couch he lay,
  While sadly gathering there,
Were loved and loving ones, who made
  That honored life their care;
And 'mid the group, a daughter's voice
  Of wondrous sweetness read
Brief portions from the Book Divine,
  As his dictation led.

"Bow down thine ear, Most Merciful,
  Oh, hearken while I speak,
Now in my time of utmost need,
  To Thee alone I seek.
Shew me some token, Lord, for good,
  Before I pass away,
For Thou hast ever been my strength,
  My comforter and stay."[1]

So when that precious breath went forth,
  Her gentle hand was laid
To close those pale and trembling lids
  In slumber's dreamless shade,
And then, the pure and sacred flowers
  She for his burial twined,
And bade her struggling grief be still
  Till the last rite declined.

Through every trial change of life
  Had reign'd within her breast
A holy zeal of filial love,
  That could not be represt;
Its memories, like a music strain,
  Still in that casket swell,
And wake perchance, some fond response
  Where watching angels dwell.

1. New-Year's Morning
2. Mr. George Beach
3. Miss Alice Beckwith
4. Madam Williams
5. Garafilia Mohalby

Print

1217 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version