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THE PIONEERS
1

HOW OFT THE SCENES OF HUMBLE SUIT,

IN NATIVE BEAUTY BOUND,

REMIND US OF THE GOLDEN FRUIT

SET FORTH ON SILVER GROUND.
~

OF GENUINE LOVE, THE MYSTIC BAR, -

SINCE ALL OUR HEARTS ARE KIN, -

BY SETTING GOLDEN GATES AJAR,

LETS PLEASING VISIONS IN;
~

AS SHELL ON MARGIN OF THE MERE

WILL WAKE A BROAD REFRAIN,

RECALLING ON THE LISTENING EAR

THE MUSIC OF THE MAIN.
~
2

‘TIS THUS TRADITION, BY HER CARE,

HAS FONDLY HANDED DOWN

THE STORY OF A LOVING PAIR, -

THE FOUNDERS OF A TOWN.
~

IN SUMMER EVENINGS WONT TO MEET,

THEY OFT WERE SEEN TO STRAY

WHERE NEWPORT’S HALF-CLEARED SINGLE STREET

LED DOWNWARD TO THE BAY.
~

DELIGHTFUL TRYSTS THEY HELD ABOUT

AQUIDNECK’S ANCIENT TREES,

AND OAK-BROWED HEADLANDS REACHING OUT

TO DRINK THE OCEAN BREEZE.
~

BY SPRAY-WET CLIFF THEY SAUNTERED LONG,

OR ROUND THE ELM-CLAD HILL

THEIR THOUGHTS ACCORDANT WITH THE SONG

OF WOOING WHIP-POOR-WILL.
~

THE OUTER LIKE THE INNER CALM,

ALL NATURE JOINED THEIR SONG;

AND EVERY OBJECT SWELLED THE PSALM

THEIR HEARTS WOULD FAIN PROLONG.
~

SWEET THOUGHTS HAD THEY THEY DARED NOT SPEAK;

AS FLOWERS BY DEWS CARESSED,

SO MOISTENED WAS A BLOOMING CHEEK

BY LOVER’S LIPS IMPRESSED.
~

E’EN COMMON SCENES TO EYES OF LOVE

AS BLISSFUL VISIONS RISE;

ALL THINGS THEIR FORMS OF BEAUTY PROVE,

AND SPEAK IN SWEET SURPRISE.
~

AS THUS THEY TALKED, THE MYSTIC TIE,

DEEP FELT BY ALL MANKIND,

WARM IN THE BOND OF DESTINY

THEIR HEARTS TOGETHER TWINED.
~

HOW WONDERFULLY BLIND IS LOVE

TO THINK ITSELF CONCEALED,

MEANWHILE IN EVERY LOOK AND MOVE

THE PASSION IS REVEALED.
~

BUT BLINDER THEY WHO DO NOT KNOW

IT NEVER MAKES ITS TRADE

BY WHAT MEN’S HANDS ALONE BESTOW,

IN SCALES OF TRAFFIC WEIGHED.
~

NOR YET DECIDES FROM QUALITIES

OF FACE OR VOICE OR EYE,

BUT BY SUCH HID AFFINITIES

AS HEARTS ALONE DESCRY.
~

IN THE DIVINE ECONOMY

WHAT SECRET LAWS COMBINE,

IN HAPPY MYSTIC HARMONY,

TO ANSWER ENDS DIVINE.
~

3

THE GUARDIANS OF THE GENTLE MAID

DISSUASIVE LOGIC TRIED,

AND, FINDING THIS FOR NOTHING WEIGHED,

THE LEGAL BANS DENIED.
~

THE SIRE AVERRED, “EXCEPT WITH GAIN,

WITH AMPLE DEEDS OF LAND,

AND NOBLE NAME, ‘TIS WORSE THAN VAIN

TO SEEK MY DAUGHTER’S HAND.
~

“LET LOWLY MEN RETAIN THEIR PLACE,

NOR THINK TO RISE, IN PRIDE,

TO THOSE WHOM FORTUNE BY HER GRACE

HAS NOBLER RANK SUPPLIED.”
~
4

BUT OTHERWISE HAD HEAVEN DECREED,

THAT GUIDES THE SPARROW’S FALL;

THE TWAIN WOULD NO DECISION HEED

EXCEPT LOVE’S PERFECT THRALL.
~

“ MY ALL I PLEDGE,” SAID JOHN, “FOR THEE;

NO PRICE I COUNT TO GREAT,

THAT WE HENCEFORTH AS ONE MAY BE, -

OURSELVES OUR RICH ESTATE;
~

“NOR LORDLY NAME, NOR CASTLES FAIR,

CAN LIFE’S BEST DOWER CONTROL;

GOD’S WILL REQUIRES US BUT TO SHARE

THE GIFT OF SOUL FOR SOUL.”
~
5

AS FACE IS MIRRORED TRUE TO FACE

IN PLACID LAKELET’S BREAST,

SO ANSWERED MARY IN HER GRACE,

AND BOTH WERE DOUBLY BLEST.
~
6

THE BANS WERE SAID SPITE LEGAL BAR;

WHEN, HARSHLY SHUT FROM HOME,

THEY PLANNED THEIR LOVE-LIT WAY AFAR,

NOR WRECKED OF STORM OR GLOOM.
~

THE PINNACE SPED THE BAY-SHORE DOWN,

THE ROCK-FRINGED ISLES WERE PASSED,

WHILE ON THE GABLES OF THE TOWN

A FINAL LOOK WAS CAST.
~

BY OAR AND SAIL, IN DUE RELIEF,

THEY BRAVED POINT JUDITH’S WAVES,

ON-GLIDING FEARLESS BY THE REEFS

THE WILD ATLANTIC WAVES,
~

THE BARK RODE ON THE OCEAN LONE,

AND PRECIOUS WAS THE FREIGHT, -

TWO LOVING SOULS TRANSFUSED IN ONE

WITH BOUNDING HOPE ELATE.
~

THE SEA-GULL, CURVING IN HER FLIGHT,

LENT HER APPROVING LAY;

THE PORPOISE, GALLANT AS A KNIGHT,

ADVANCED TO MARK THE WAY.
~

TO SOUTHWARD, SWELLING BILLOWS O’ER,

THE NOONDAY SUNBEAMS FLASHED;

TO NORTHWARD, ON THE BEATEN SHORE,

THE SOUNDING BREAKERS DASHED.
~

AS BEAUTEOUS AS CALYPSO’S ISLE,

MANISSES’ STRAND APPEARED,

WHOSE GREEN BANKS ON THEM CAST A SMILE,

AS WESTWARD STILL THEY STEERED.
~

SUPERIOR TO THE WAVES THEY MET,

THEY RODE THE BILLOWY SEA,

TILL, DOUBLING CAPE MISQUAMICUT,

THEY HAILED A LAND-LOCKED LEA.
~

THE PLACID HARBOR QUITE UNFAMED

TILL OPENED TO VOYAGER’S KEN

BY ADRIAN BLOCK, WHO SAW AND NAMED

IT OESTER RIVIERTJEN.
~
7

ADOWN THE HEAVENS THE WEARY SUN

WAS BOWING TO HIS REST;

ALONG THE HILLS THE SPLENDOR SHONE,

THE EVENING’S GOLDEN CREST.
~

AS SENTINELS AGAINST ALARMS

THE HOARY FORESTS STOOD,

WIDE STRETCHING OUT THEIR LEAFY ARMS

TO SHADE THE TRANQUIL FLOOD.
~

FAR WINDING DOWN FROM HILL AND LEA,

FROM GLEN AND MOUNTAIN-SIDE,

THE PAWCATUCK HERE GAVE THE SEA

ITS SWEET AND LAUGHING TIDE.
~

THE FEARLESS EAGLES SAILING HIGH

ABOVE THE PEACEFUL BAY,

BEHELD WITH PREDATORY EYE

THE NIMBLE SALMON PLAY.
~

AMID THE ROCKS THAT GRACED THE MARGE,

THE OTTER LOOKED AMAZED;

UPON THE BANK A STAG MOOSE LARGE

HIS ANTLERED FOREHEAD RAISED.
~
8

UPON THE STREAM THE WANDERERS MOVE

PAST CAPE AND BLUFF AND ROCK,

ATTRACTED TO A SHELTERED COVE

THAT DRANK MASTUXET BROOK;
~

WHERE ROUNDED KNOLL AND CURVING VALE

AND WINDING CURRENTS MEET, -

DELIGHTFUL SCENE OF STREAM AND DALE, -

THE RED MAN’S FOND RETREAT;
~

THE SAFE AND FAMOUS RENDEZVOUS

RED WARRIORS CHOSE OF YORE, -

FIT HARBOR FOR THE WAR CANOES

WHEN BATTLE DAYS WERE O’ER.
~
9

THE PAINTED WILD MEN ON THE STRAND,

ALIVE TO LOVE’S SOFT CHARM,

EXTEND THE HOSPITABLE HAND,

ALLAYING ALL ALARM.
~

“STAY, FRIENDS,” SAYS THE NIANTIC CHIEF;

“FREE TO OUR VALLEY COME;

MY WIGWAM OFFERS YOU RELIEF,

NOR THINK TO FARTHER ROAM.
~

“HERE REAR YOUR HUT, HERE BEND YOUR BOW,

HERE JOIN US IN THE CHASE;

MY TRIBE WILL ONLY KINDNESS SHOW

THE BRIDE OF PALLID FACE.”
~

“YOUR WELCOME WE ACCEPT,” SAID JOHN;

“WE HAPPY HERE WOULD STAY;

FOR WHAT OF FAVOR YOU HAVE SHOWN,

WITH HOOKS AND BEADS WE PAY.
~

“ALIKE YOUR WORDS ARE KIND AND BRAVE,

A SOLACE TO THE EAR;

YOUR HEART IS KIN TO HIM WHO GAVE

TO ROGER WILLIAMS CHEER.”
~
10

THUS REST THE WANDERERS OBTAINED

FROM ROYAL NINIGRET,

WHOSE STEADFAST SERVICE NE’ER PROFANED

THE SACRED CALUMET.
~

ALONG THE HILLS THE AGED WOOD

BOWED TO THE SETTLER’S STROKE,

AND FORTH A RUDE LOG CABIN STOOD

THAT UPWARD CURLED ITS SMOKE.
~

DOWN MID THE CEDARS, WINDING SLOW,

‘NEATH COOLING CANOPY,

ROUND ROOTS AND ROCKS, THE BROOK HUMMED LOW

ITS SOOTHING MINSTRELSY.
~

AT HAND THE NATIVE EGLANTINE

AND LILY BREATHED PERFUME;

WHILE O’ER THE DOOR THE FRUITFUL VINE

PUT FORTH ITS VIRGIN BLOOM.
~

BENEATH THE EAVES THE SWALLOW HUNG

HER MOSS-LINED HOUSE OF CLAY;

THE ROBIN ON THE MAPLE SUNG

THE ROSY PEEP OF DAY.
~

CLAD IN THE ROBES THE WILD BEASTS WORE,

STERN BOWMEN LEFT THEIR TRAIL

TO WONDERING VIEW THE CABIN DOOR

THAT SMILED UPON THE VALE.
~
11

THUS LENGTHENED MONTHS ROLLED BY, WHILE NOT

THE VOICE OF KIN OR FRIEND

WAS HEARD TO CHEER THE LONELY COT,

OR CHRISTIAN COUNSEL LEND.
~

AT LAST THE SIRE DIM UNDERSTOOD,

THROUGH HUNTERS OF THE MOOSE,

OF STRANGERS IN THE DISTANT WOOD

“ WHO HAD A WHITE PAPOOSE ”;
~

WHEN, HASTENING WITH AN INDIAN BRAVE

ACROSS THE WILDERNESS,

HE TO HIS EXILED DAUGHTER GAVE

A RECONCILING KISS.
~

“ FORGIVE THE HARSH, IMPERIOUS SPEECH

THAT DROVE YOU FROM MY DOOR;

MAY HEAVEN YOUR LOVE-LIT HOUSE ENRICH

WITH BLESSINGS EVERMORE. ”
~

12

THOUGH NOT IN PRIDE OF OUTWARD VIEW,

OR INWARD POMP ARRAYED,

THE SMILES OF HEAVEN THE CABIN KNEW,

AND CHILDREN ROUND IT PLAYED.
~

THOUGH IN A WILD, THE CHILD-SONGS SWEET

MADE EVERY SEASON BRIGHT;

THE PATTER OF THE LITTLE FEET

MADE EVERY LABOR LIGHT.
~

WHEN WINTER WRAPPED THE WOODS IN SNOW,

LOG FIRES LIT UP THE WALLS,

TO CHEEKS IMPARTING HEALTHIER GLOW

THAN KNOWN IN ROYAL HALLS.
~

SECURE FROM THE MARAUDING FEET

OF PANTHER AND OF BEAR,

THE TRAP AND FIRELOCK GAVE THEM MEAT

THAT BARONS PROUD WOULD SHARE.
~

THEY BORROWED HOODS OF BEAVER WARM,

WHILE WOLF AND FOX SUPPLIED

SUCH ROBES AS MET THE DRIVING STORM,

AND BITING FROSTS DEFIED.
~

AT EVE AND SABBATH HOURS, BY CHOICE

THE BOOK OF BOOKS WAS READ;

WITH HUMBLE TRUST WAS HEARD THE VOICE

THE PRESENT SPIRIT SAID.
~
13

NEW SETTLERS DARED THE WILD TO BREAK;

AND BUILD ON NEIGHBORING HEIGHT,

WHOSE GLOWING HEARTH-FIRES JOINED TO MAKE

THE PAGAN REGION LIGHT.
~

BUT ALL A SUITED DEFERENCE BORE

BEFORE THE PIONEERS,

WHO PROVED THAT BONDS OF HEART AND MORE

THAN OVERMATCH FOR FEARS;
~

THAT LOVE CAN MAKE A DESERT BLOOM,

AND EVER WIN ITS WAY,

FROM EVERY SPOT DISPELLING GLOOM

BY ITS ENKINDLING RAY.
~
14

SO HEAVEN UPON THE LOVERS SMILED,

FAR IN THEIR FOREST HOME, -

THE FIRST TO PLANT THE SAVAGE WILD,

AND BID THE DESERT BLOOM.
~

FROM SERVICE TRUE IN HUMBLEST PLACE

WHAT CONSEQUENCES FLOW,

TO GIVE THE WORLD NEW LIFE AND GRACE,

THE TOILERS MAY NOT KNOW.
~

THE FIELDS OF LIFE THE SOWERS TREAD

WITH OPEN, TRUSTFUL HAND;

IN SEASON DUE THE SEED WILL SPREAD

ITS HARVESTS O’ER THE LAND.
~
15

TWO HUNDRED YEARS HAVE SPED APACE,

AND WROUGHT IN MAN’S BEHOOF;

AND THOUSANDS NOW THEIR LINEAGE TRACE

TO JOHN AND MARY’S ROOF.
~

WHAT THOUGH NO MARBLES GREET OUR EYES

TO SPEAK IN THEIR BEHALF,

THE HAND OF HISTORY SUPPLIES

THEIR SHINING EPITAPH.
~

THROUGH PATIENT TRUST AND TOILSOME CARE

EARTH’S HIGHEST PRIZE IS GAINED;

AMID THE LABORS THAT WE BEAR

IS VIRTUE’S STRENGTH ATTAINED.
~

TO SANDALED OR UNSANDALED FEET

LIFE’S EVERY PATH WILL PROVE

BOTH SMOOTH AND BRIGHT, IF WARMLY BEAT

WITHIN US HEARTS OF LOVE.
~

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