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Poem
August 12, 1796
Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
An elegy mourning the drowning of four-year-old John Bird M'Intosh in Castleton river on May 17, 1796, reflecting on life's fragility and sudden death.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
From a Vermont Paper.
A
ELEGY
On JOHN BIRD M'INTOSH, son of Major Duncan M'Intosh, of Castleton, who was drowned in Castleton river, on the 17th of May, 1796, at the age of 4 years and 6 months.
Two children in beauty appear
Like the flowers of Spring in their bloom;
Tho' they feel not a sorrow nor fear.
Yet they soon may be laid in the tomb.
The misfortune of yesterday shows
How vain are the joys that we prize;
And the blessings that give us repose,
May be suddenly snatch'd from our eyes.
At an hour when the weather was fine,
John Bird by his parents was seen,
His youthful companions to join,
In some innocent sports on the green.
But quickly, (oh! painful to tell!)
With his mates to a river he stray'd,
From a bridge o'er its surface he fell,
And is number'd to-day with the dead.
Our life is, alas! like a dream,
And death wakes our souls into day:
Dear child, 'twas that furious stream,
That wafted thy spirit away!
Tho' thy breast with such fortitude glow'd,
Tho' thy nature was active and brave,
Yet the stream with such violence flow'd,
Thy strength was destroy'd by the wave.
By the willows that grew on its side,
Thou wast floated along, and wast drown'd;
On some alders, immers'd in the tide,
Thy cold little body was found.
How vain were the efforts of art,
In attempting thy life to restore!
Ah! Death had so wounded thy heart,
Thy heart could have motion no more.
Ye living, go view the pale cheek,
That was grac'd with a blush from his birth;
Those lips can with eloquence speak,
Tho' now they must moulder in earth!
From Death and from silence they cry,
Ye thoughtless, ye gay, and ye brave,
Like me, you may suddenly die,
And to-morrow be laid in the grave!
A
ELEGY
On JOHN BIRD M'INTOSH, son of Major Duncan M'Intosh, of Castleton, who was drowned in Castleton river, on the 17th of May, 1796, at the age of 4 years and 6 months.
Two children in beauty appear
Like the flowers of Spring in their bloom;
Tho' they feel not a sorrow nor fear.
Yet they soon may be laid in the tomb.
The misfortune of yesterday shows
How vain are the joys that we prize;
And the blessings that give us repose,
May be suddenly snatch'd from our eyes.
At an hour when the weather was fine,
John Bird by his parents was seen,
His youthful companions to join,
In some innocent sports on the green.
But quickly, (oh! painful to tell!)
With his mates to a river he stray'd,
From a bridge o'er its surface he fell,
And is number'd to-day with the dead.
Our life is, alas! like a dream,
And death wakes our souls into day:
Dear child, 'twas that furious stream,
That wafted thy spirit away!
Tho' thy breast with such fortitude glow'd,
Tho' thy nature was active and brave,
Yet the stream with such violence flow'd,
Thy strength was destroy'd by the wave.
By the willows that grew on its side,
Thou wast floated along, and wast drown'd;
On some alders, immers'd in the tide,
Thy cold little body was found.
How vain were the efforts of art,
In attempting thy life to restore!
Ah! Death had so wounded thy heart,
Thy heart could have motion no more.
Ye living, go view the pale cheek,
That was grac'd with a blush from his birth;
Those lips can with eloquence speak,
Tho' now they must moulder in earth!
From Death and from silence they cry,
Ye thoughtless, ye gay, and ye brave,
Like me, you may suddenly die,
And to-morrow be laid in the grave!
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
What keywords are associated?
Elegy
Drowning
Child Death
Castleton River
1796
Poem Details
Title
Elegy On John Bird M'intosh, Son Of Major Duncan M'intosh, Of Castleton, Who Was Drowned In Castleton River, On The 17th Of May, 1796, At The Age Of 4 Years And 6 Months.
Subject
Drowning Of John Bird M'intosh In Castleton River
Key Lines
Two Children In Beauty Appear
Like The Flowers Of Spring In Their Bloom;
Tho' They Feel Not A Sorrow Nor Fear.
Yet They Soon May Be Laid In The Tomb.
From Death And From Silence They Cry,
Ye Thoughtless, Ye Gay, And Ye Brave,
Like Me, You May Suddenly Die,
And To Morrow Be Laid In The Grave!