Thanks, oh, our Father! that, like him, Thy tender love I see, In radiant hill and woodland dim, And tinted sunset sea. For not in mockery dost Thou fill Thou hid'st no dark and cruel will Behind Thy smiling face! THE HILL-TOP. THE burly driver at my side, We slowly climbed the hill, Whose summit, in the hot noontide, Seemed rising, rising still. At last, our short noon-shadows hid The top-stone, bare and brown, From whence, like Gizeh's pyramid, The rough mass slanted down. I felt the cool breath of the North; Between me and the sun, O'er deep, still lake, and ridgy earth, I saw the cloud-shades run. Before me, stretched for glistening miles, Lay mountain-girdled Squam; Like green-winged birds, the leafy isles Upon its bosom swam. And, glimmering through the sun-haze warm, Far as the eye could roam, Dark billows of an earthquake storm Beflecked with clouds like foam, Their vales in misty shadow deep, I saw the mountain ranges sweep There towered Chocorua's peak; and west, With many a nameless slide-scarred crest Beyond them, like a sun-rimmed cloud, Watched over by the solemn-browed "A good look-off!" the driver spake : "About this time, last year, I drove a party to the Lake, And stopped, at evening, here. 57 'T was duskish down below; but all These hills stood in the sun, Till, dipped behind yon purple wall, He left them, one by one. "A lady, who, from Thornton hill, Had held her place outside, And, as a pleasant woman will, Besought me, with so sweet a smile, I could not choose but rest awhile (These women have such ways!) "On yonder mossy ledge she sat, Her sweet face, in the sunset light Upraised and glorified,— I never saw a prettier sight In all my mountain ride. "As good as fair; it seemed her joy My poor, sick wife, and cripple boy, The tremor in the driver's tone His manhood did not shame : "I dare say, sir, you may have known He named a well-known name. Then sank the pyramidal mounds, For mountain-scope a parlor's bounds, A lighted hearth for day! And lonely years and weary miles Did at that name depart; Kind voices cheered, sweet human smiles Shone warm into my heart. We journeyed on; but earth and sky Had power to charm no more; The dream of memory o'er. |