Gazette Of The United States

ODE,

By JOHN RANNIE.

I cannot but remember such things WERE,
And were most precious to me.

SHAKESPEARE.

SCENE.

I once was wont to linger here,
From early dawn to closing day,
Scenes of MY Youth! pale Sorrow flings
A shade o'er all your beauties now;
And robs the moments of their wings
That scatter pleasures as they flow.
While, still, to heighten every care,
Reflection tells me, such THINGS WERE.

'Twas here a tender mother strove
To keep my happiness in view;
I smil'd beneath a parent's love
That soft compassion ever knew.
In whom the virtues all combin'd;
On whom I could with faith rely:
To whom my heart and soul were join'd
By mild Affection's primal tie!
Who smiles in Heav'n, exempt from care,
Whilst I remember, SUCH THINGS WERE.

'Twas here, where calm and tranquil rest,
O'erpays the peasant for his toil,
That, first in blessing, I was blest
With glowing Friendship's open smile.
My friend, far distant, doom'd to roam,
Now braves the fury of the seas;
He fled his peaceful happy home,
His little fortune to increase.
While bleeds afresh the wound of care,
When I remember SUCH THINGS WERE.

Twas here—e'en in this blooming grove,
I fondly gaz'd on Laura's charms,
Who, blushing, own'd a mutual love,
And melted in my youthful arms.
Tho hard the soul-conflicting strife,
Yet Fate, the cruel tyrant, bore
Far from my sight, the charm of life
The lovely maid whom I adore.
'Twould ease my soul of all its care
Could I forget that such THINGS WERE.

Here first I saw the Morn appear
Of guiltless Pleasure's shining day;
I met the dazzling brightness here,
Here mark'd the soft declining ray,
Beheld the skies, whose streaming light
Gave splendor to the parting sun;
Now lost in sorrow's sable night,
And all their mingled glories gone!

'Till death, in pity, end my care,
I must remember, SUCH THINGS WERE.