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Poem
June 2, 1836
Herald Of The Times
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
A poem reflecting on the gradual dissolution of a happy family through successive deaths of members—a youth, mother, brother abroad—leaving the household scattered and the home unmarked.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
POETRY.
THE SCATTERED HOUSEHOLD
'How the world's aspect changes.'
The Family group is gathered,
And all are happy there;
The cheerful glance and smile pass round,
For life with them in fair,
A full unbroken household!
It is a pleasant sight:
The Mother's smile is sweeter than
The father's glance more bright,
There is another gathering.
But one is wanting there-
The youth who sat beside his sire
Comes not to fill his chair.
The grave yard bears another stone-
The loved one sleeps beneath;
The cheerful smile doth yet pass round
But thou art mute, O Death,
Again there is a gathering,
But where is she whose smile
Was wont to make our young hearts glad
Our father's care beguile?
In vain we list a mother's voice--
'Tis stifled in the tomb!
The happy smile is seen no more--
Where mirth was, now is gloom.
Once more there is a gathering;
Once more an empty space
Proclaims that Death hath been at work
To fill a brother's place,
His grave is in a distant Isle,
Made by a stranger's hand-
Oh! hard is it to die away
From our own native land!
That group may never gather more-
Around that kindred hearth!
'Tis broken up-what youth lay last
Are scattered o'er the earth!
And where that humble mansion stood
There now is not a stone
To mark the spot and tell of those
Who to their graves are gone.
THE SCATTERED HOUSEHOLD
'How the world's aspect changes.'
The Family group is gathered,
And all are happy there;
The cheerful glance and smile pass round,
For life with them in fair,
A full unbroken household!
It is a pleasant sight:
The Mother's smile is sweeter than
The father's glance more bright,
There is another gathering.
But one is wanting there-
The youth who sat beside his sire
Comes not to fill his chair.
The grave yard bears another stone-
The loved one sleeps beneath;
The cheerful smile doth yet pass round
But thou art mute, O Death,
Again there is a gathering,
But where is she whose smile
Was wont to make our young hearts glad
Our father's care beguile?
In vain we list a mother's voice--
'Tis stifled in the tomb!
The happy smile is seen no more--
Where mirth was, now is gloom.
Once more there is a gathering;
Once more an empty space
Proclaims that Death hath been at work
To fill a brother's place,
His grave is in a distant Isle,
Made by a stranger's hand-
Oh! hard is it to die away
From our own native land!
That group may never gather more-
Around that kindred hearth!
'Tis broken up-what youth lay last
Are scattered o'er the earth!
And where that humble mansion stood
There now is not a stone
To mark the spot and tell of those
Who to their graves are gone.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
What keywords are associated?
Family Gathering
Death Grief
Scattered Household
Family Loss
Mortality
Native Land
Poem Details
Title
The Scattered Household
Subject
Scattering Of A Family By Death
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas
Key Lines
The Family Group Is Gathered,
And All Are Happy There;
The Cheerful Glance And Smile Pass Round,
For Life With Them In Fair,
A Full Unbroken Household!
That Group May Never Gather More
Around That Kindred Hearth!
'Tis Broken Up What Youth Lay Last
Are Scattered O'er The Earth!
And Where That Humble Mansion Stood
There Now Is Not A Stone
To Mark The Spot And Tell Of Those
Who To Their Graves Are Gone.