USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Woonsocket > History of the Catholic church in Woonsocket and vicinity, from the celebration of the first mass in 1828, to the present time, with a condensed account of the early history of the church in the United States > Part 18
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In this fair land, where Freedom light On valleys fair in glory shines From mountains grand ; True patriots bold in Freedom's fight Rushed conquering on along the lines, A fearless band !
This is our land, our goal at last, Where exiles from each foreign shore Find peace and rest, Secure from Slavery's with'ring blast ; And here shall dwell for evermore With Freedom's blest.
And now, returning to our guest, Let all fill deep and to the brim, And to his weal, Drink to the hero of our feast ! Here's health and happiness to him, Our friend, O'Neill !
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BEAUTIFUL MOON.
Away above in clearest blue There is a heav'nly light, Supernal in its silv'ry hue, Shining aloft for me and you Throughout the lunar night.
Beautiful moom, whom all adore, As from your throne the mild beams pour O'er all the earth, o'er sea and shore, Beautiful, peerless moon !
The sun has sunk down in the west And night's fair queen appears, And stars come forth in glory dress'd, Bright as souls redeem'd and blest, Shining through all the years. Beautiful moon in the vault so high, Illuming regions of earth and sky, Fain on thy beams would I heavenward fly, Beautiful, beautiful moon.
Arbitress of each passing hour From eventide to morn ; Hiding 'neath clouds when tempest lower, In lightning storms and thunder shower, While sails are wildly torn ; Then coming forth with brighter ray, When warring storms have pass'd away, And winds have ceased their savage play, Beautiful, peaceful moon.
When dews descending lightly fall, You from your burnish'd throne Silver the walls of tower and hall, Covering all with a charm'd pall Of light, alone thine own. Cheering the pilgrim on his way, O'er mountain path and vale and brae, From vesper shade to matin gray, Beautiful, cloudless moon.
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When worlds in vast primeval throng Sprang forth to glorious birth, And sang Creation's morning song, And stars shone forth the heavens among, They crown'd you queen of earth. The sun, in all his lordly sway, Was crown'd the king of solar day, And you, night's queen of silver ray, Beautiful, graceful moon.
Fondly on your form I gaze, As wand'ring through the sky You nightly shine, adorn'd with rays, While planets in their orbits blaze From radiant paths on high ; And there above through boundless space,
With modest mein and smiling face, Your onward course we fervent trace, Beautiful, tearless moon.
Ah, when this form returns to clay, As in the grave I lie, When sets the sun at close of day, And shadows o'er the hill-tops play, And stars adorn the sky, May you in splendor brightly shine Upon that lowly mound of mine, Where flowers fair their tendrils twine, Beautiful, beautiful moon !
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VOYAGE OF THE CARAVELS.
[Read at the celebration of Columbus Day, October 22, 1892.]
The candles are lighted, the mass is sung, In the Church of Our Lady ere the break of day, While the sails of the caravels swell in the breeze, Down on the waters of Palos bay.
Partings are spoken and anchors are weighed Ere stars are faded from out the sky, And away they sail over unknown seas, While the wind blows stiff and waves are high.
There are anxious hearts on the ramparts gray Who watch those ships that westward go; Children weep for their fathers gone, And mothers sink 'neath their weight of woe.
White sails swell in the fresh'ning gale, As the vessels speed for a world unknown ; Away where the sun at eve goes down, With golden clouds for his kingly throne.
One calm brave heart, unknown to fear, Is wrapt in thoughts of the nameless shore ; He dares the dangers of unknown seas, Where keels of vessels ne'er cut before.
Behold that pillar among the clouds, Wrapt in flames that never die, "Tis the beacon light of the eastern world, Where Teneriffe's dome ascends the sky.
Here, legends told, an angel stood With flashing sword strict guard to keep, That none might pass to the sea beyond, To tempt the dangers of the deep.
Low murmurings spread as the sails speed on, And sighs were heard as the shadows fell, But gladness came to each drooping heart, In the soothing tones of the vesper bell. " Salve Regina " o'er the waters spread,
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And " Ave Maris Stella " in gentle cadence rose, Where Religion's voice ne'er before was heard,
And stars rejoiced and waves sunk in repose.
The morning dawned upon a trackless waste, No sail but theirs upon the ocean wide, Land lost to sight, some thoughit to them forever, Still onward sped the barks in stately pride.
This waste of waters was a cheerless sight, And hearts were sick and trouble filled each mind, As visions came of the beloved at home,
In Spain's fair land, now left so far behind.
One morn as stars still hung in glory bright, A siglit was seen that fill'd each soul with dread As everywhere stretched o'er Sargasso's sea,
Vast plains of seaweed in confusion spread.
"Is this the wilderness," the sailors cried, " Where drowned isles are sunk in fathoms deep,
And where in caverns monsters fierce and strange O'er all this waste eternal vigils keep?"
The cautious mariner, still ever on his guard, Explained the cause with more than human skill,
And gave all confidence and gave all hope, Inspired in all by God's most holy will.
Again when discord spread to every crew, Until alone he stood undaunted in his course He did not yield, when even all rebelled, But conquer'd all by his soul's superior force.
At last the land, the promised land, appeared, Fair as bowers where hallow'd spirits dwell, And shouts of joy went up from every deck, And echoed from the shore as morning sunbeams fell.
And all knelt down and kissed the hands of him, The hero, who salvation's flag unfurl'd On that new land with beauty richly clad, Land of the brave, the pride of all the world.
And from that day an onward march began, Of manhood rights, while monarchs watched with dread,
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· As man in freedom walked with steady step, No more to bend the knee or bow the head In servitude to tyrants and to knaves.
No more to feel himself an abject slave, Only to worship God, not men ; Liberty the watchword; freedom or the grave.
And onward this gospel in the march of thought Down through the ages, until at last on high Was raised our flag above a field of blood, The starry banner in fair freedom's sky.
That banner waves the harbinger of hope To all enslaved wherever tyrants reign- That glorious flag, the emblem of the free, Fair as the morn on mountain top or plain.
O, glorious land, and ever glorious flag, May thy stars light the centuries through all time From pole to pole, from sea to farthest sea, In every zone, in every land and clime, Until the world, blessed by the peace you bring, Is purified, till all shall raise the head Throughout the entire earth,
Beneath thy folds, in Heaven's sunshine spread, Till all with one acclaim shall sing, Till all exultant as one human band
Acknowledge but one universal flag-
The starry banner of our native land.
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OUR SUFFERING ISLAND QUEEN.
[Composed in anticipation of Home Rule being granted the Irish people by the English Parliament with Gladstone as premier. ] O, Ireland, mother Ireland, Through seven hundred years Wrong and scorn you've borne, In bitterness and tears.
E'en traitor sons joined with the foe, When the Invader came, And laid thy valleys desolate With ruthless sword and flame.
But still the faithful, fearless few Tried to break your chain, And fought and fell, unconquered still, On many a bloody plain.
At times the victory seemed theirs, At times a darkness lay O'er all the land, with scarce a star To light their weary way.
But now there is bright hope for thee, Our suffering Island Queen ; Ere long the symbol of the free, Our glorious flag of green, Shall wave in pride throughout the land, On every hill and plain, While shouts resound in thunder tones, " We have our own again !"
O, yes, we'll have our own again, The right to make our laws, The right restored on land and main Of dear old Ireland's cause.
The right to live as free-born mell, The right the sword to wield, Where Freedom needs defenders On any battlefield.
Rejoice, ye brave, who've suffer'd long !
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Rejoice for victory won ! The contest was through centuries, But still your hope lived on.
You never faltered in the fight, With foe or recreant knave, Contending ever for the right- Christ the victory gave !
The Lord of righteousness and love, The Savior-God of men, Has led us through the pall of night, To Liberty again.
Nor shall we e'er forget the friends Who've champion'd Ireland's cause, The noble hearted Englishmen, Who've won the world's applause.
Ever still through all the years Let history's page record, That Erin's sons are grateful For long-lost rights restored.
And, O, may He who rules above Be still our guiding light, Directing freemen in the path Of Justice, Truth and Right !
SONGS OF OTHER DAYS.
The songs of other days come back When evening shadows fall ; They breathe into my soul and sing, And those I loved recall. They bring to me the thoughts of her Who sang those cherish'd lays ; O, blessed memory of the past, Dear songs of other days !
You come around me in the night, When all is peace and rest,
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And with tones of sweetest sound Steal gently o'er my breast ; You light each scene in mem'ry's gloom, With beams of prayer and praise, And cheer my weary, aching heart, Sweet songs of other days.
I hear your music o'er the earth Each balmy summer eve, When perfumed zephyrs gently blow O'er closing flower and leaf ; Your tones come back in cadence soft, On the sun's ling'ring rays, Like strains of pure and holy love, Sweet songs of other days.
The thoughts of bosom friends long gone, Who 'round the hearth at night Sung grand, exultant anthems there Of liberty and right : The story of a nation's wrongs, Told in entrancing lays, Come to me from that happy time, Loved songs of other days.
MORTALITY AND IMMORTALITY.
[Written during Major Smyth's last illness.]
I stood beside a river bright, That winded slowly to the sea, And in its flow, by day and night, Of earthly life reminded me.
That river on its onward way, Until it meets its destined tide, And there its waters then are lost In ocean, bounding far and wide.
This is like mortal life, I said, Man's destiny in it I see ;
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On that river in its course ; Life's bark upon a troubled sea.
Again by pain and sickness toss'd, When fading scenes were fading fast ; When sympathy of dearest friends Were o'er my suffering moments cast, I felt it was not hard to die And leave this mortal life behind, Which is but the passing wind ; Immortal life beyond I'll find.
The friends of all my mortal years I there shall meet in joy and peace, Where songs by angel hosts are sung, And love of God will never cease.
The river there, o'er sands of gold, Will ever, endless, onward flow, And flowers bloom, and forests fair In radient sheen of glory glow.
The parents, pass'd from earth to Heaven, The wife and blessed children dear, Will greet me there where smiles of love Are never mingled with a tear.
These thoughts of consolation came When Death's pale shade was hovering near ; But 'round my bed were angel forms, Who bade me face him without fear.
I pray'd, "O, Father, lead me on, I trust and hope in Thee alone ; Permit your frail and erring child To see the glory of Thy throne."
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AVE MARIA.
[Dedicated to the members of the Children of Mary Sodality. ] Ave Maria, Our comfort and love ! Ave Maria, Our refuge above ! Watch thou in darkness, When night shadows fall, Guide us and save us, When sorrows enthrall, Ave Maria !
Ave Maria, Meek, gentle and kind ! Hope of the faithful, Pure light of the mind ! Star of the morning, When clouds pass away, Smile on life's pilgrims, Through life's fitful day, Ave Maria !
Ave Maria, Each spirit lead home ! Guide through the tempest, Safe over the foam. Help of our tired feet, Bring us to thy Son, In joy there to rest, When life's race is run, Ave Maria !
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ANGELS OF THE RED CROSS.
Like spirits of light, when breaketh the day, And the sky is unclouded, and night pass'd away, They move o'er the field, where the patriot-brave Have fallen in battle, their standard to save. They bind up the wounds of the suffering there, And fervent watch o'er them with tenderest care, Through the vigils of night, made sleepless with pain, They soothingly comfort each fever-rack'd brain ; And wear on each breast the symbol of love, The Red Cross, triumphant, a sign from above. On a cross the world's Savior in agony died, The Christ of Salvation, whom sin crucified. 'Mid danger they dread not, but on o'er the ground, Where carnage is fiercest, these angels are found.
Hail, matrons of mercy ! Hail, maidens of grace ! With love in each eye and a smile on each face ; There's joy in your footsteps and faith, without fear, For the weal of humanity in your career.
Where contagion infects with pestilent breath, Like a demon of wrath, spreading sickness and death, There the plague-stricken victims, distracted with pain, In you seek relief, and plead not in vain. You bend o'er each form, bringing solace and cheer, And from suffering restore them with vigilant care.
O, angels created to comfort and bless The wounded in anguish, the poor in distress. Sent here by the Father in infinite love, From His home in the far-distant mansions above !
All scenes with you present are fair to behold ; Without you the earth would be cheerless and cold ; With you pleasure dwells 'round each love-circled heartlı, As proof of God's grace to the children of earth.
March on in your valor! Go forth in your pride ! 'Twas for love such as yours that the Crucified died ! March on, with the Cross of Redemption before, As the guide of your way to the Heavenly shore !
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Emblem of all that is sacred and bless'd, In thy shadow the weary find comfort and rest.
Ah, bless'd be the women who've chosen that sign As a standard to guide them for their love of their kind ! In love for the heroes who fell by the sword In love for all creatures redeem'd by the Lord.
COLUMBIA.
Hail, Columbia! Thee I fondly hail
On every breeze, where'er it may prevail,
From ocean bound, to ocean bound again ; From northern line, to southern sun-kiss'd plain ; O'er verdant vales, o'er mountains towering high, Until their tops reach far into the sky ; O'er lakes and streams, o'er forests vast and wide, Land of the brave, of freeborn hearts the pride !
Upon your soil the tree of Freedom grows, Where living water on eternal flows; Planted by Him, the Lord of the earth and heaven, For man's protection and advancement given.
Meridian star, born of holiest light, A guide by day and glory of the night, Your lamp supernal shall perpetual shine Hope's brightest gem for all of mortal kind.
O'er stormy seas you led the pilgrim band, Like Israel's host, to this fair promised land. Here, with zeal, they broke the stubborn sod, And gave to all the right to worship God, Each in his way, unbound by wrongful laws, Defenders, always, of each rightful cause. The seed they planted flourish'd through each age, Leaving its golden sheen on history's page.
Onward still they grew in manhood pride, And strong in faith upon their laws relied,
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Until at last the foreign yoke was broke, By ardent, daring, cyclopean stroke. In freedom's cause patriot thousands bled, When heav'n bless'd heroes conquered armies led.
A giant infant rose before the world, And angels there our starry flag unfurl'd, While God a mission to the infant gave, To freedom bring to every fetter'd slave In every clime, where'er a tyrant reigns, In Asia's realms, or Africa's desert plains, 'Till on the earth no human serf remains !
Go on, lov'd land, in your exultant place, Salvation's star of all the earth-born race ! The great anointed of the nationhood, Shining forever for the truth you've stood, In victories won, by sacrifice of blood ! Your beams, at last, shall lumine every zone, With freedom's light reflected from your own !
Go on, until your flag alone shall be The common symbol of the nations free ; Best gift of God to each immortal soul, Weaving in peace, when tempests cease to roll ; On highest peak of mountain altitude, On plains, to reek no more with human blood, 'Till men become a blessed brotherhood.
Millennium land, where war and strife must end, And each be linked, as friend to friend, In union's circle of all hearts, in love, Bless'd boon to man below from God, above.
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FAREWELL.
[Dedicated to Miss Nellie Maria Morrissey, a very dear friend. ]
Friend to the friendless, In death's silence sleeping, While those who adore you Above you are weeping.
Solace of every heart, Now gone forever, Out o'er the waves Of eternity's river.
Gone to the land Of the echoless shore, Through time's fleeting hours To greet us no more.
Sorrows o'ershadow The loved ones behind,
Who murmur your name With each passing wind.
Come back to us, darling, Come near to us, dear ; Come back, e'en in spirit, And dry up each tear.
Must we gaze o'er the valley, Must we search through our home. Still calling your name Through hallway and room?
O, black is the sorrow That falls in each place, Where we seek all in vain For a glimpse of your face.
But yet we shall meet In the home of the bless'd, Near His throne where the weary In peacefulness rest.
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OUR LIZZIE'S BIRTH-DAY.
Again the year brings round the morn We hailed with joy in days gone by, On which our darling child was born, Who cold beneath the earth doth lie. O, Lizzie dear, gaze from above,
On silent tears shed here for you- Behold your parents' sorrowing love, And grief that doth our souls subdue. We remember, dear, the gladsome look Your bright and smiling face put on, As Time recorded in his book
Your birth-day in the years now gone. Oh ! false, deceitful world of tears,
Delusive is each varying scene ; Alternate joys, griefs, hopes and fears, Are all the fruits from thee we glean. The brightest days that bless'd our home Were thy young years, our darling child ; But now, within the silent tomb, We mourn thee dead in anguish wild.
Our happiest years have with thee flown, Our first-born hope, our dearest pride, And we remain on earth to mourn Your loss, who early from us died.
Had heaven propitious on us smiled, Our life's decline to soothe and bless, By leaving you, our loving child, To solace our poor heart's distress. The sere and yellow leaf now mark The course of our declining years, -- Life's winter clouds look grim and dark, As their advancing gloom appears. Heaven's will be done-our Lizzie's gone, To rest in God's eternal sphere, And soon we'll follow, one by one, The path of her we loved so dear.
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FAREWELL, THERESA DEAR.
Farewell, farewell, Theresa dear, To thee, while falls the parting tear, And comes the bitter, grief-born sigh. The sun is bright, my only love, And verdure decks the vale and lea, And warblers chant within the grove, But ah ! they bring no joy to me. My sad heart feels its lonely lot, For I must say that word, Farewell,
And go 'mid scenes where you are not, Afar from all I love to dwell. Amid those scenes in vain I'll seek For that dear look which welcomed me, That roseate bloom upon the cheek, When home returned I found with thee.
Farewell ! but when the twilight hour Sinks o'er the earth at close of day, And wild birds seek their sylvan bowers, Remember him who is far away.
I go where sullen mountains rise Their barren heads in heaven's blue,
And circumscribe the changeful skies Within a narrow, bounded view.
Were you but with me 'mong such scenes, My heart would bound with conscious pride,
To view those glens and deep ravines, And climb the rugged mountain side. We'd gaze upon the eagle's home, And watch the mountain torrent's course,
As o'er the rocks, 'mid spray and foam, It dashed with headlong downward force. Such scenes no charms for me contain. To me their grandeur all is lost,- My thoughts will fly to you again, On whom they're concentrated most.
All dreary now my days shall move, Until again returned to see
Your bright eyes beam with joy and love, O ! ne'er again to part from thee.
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MEDITATION-[Time, Midnight.]
The elock strikes twelve !- another hour has past ; Another day is added to the years ; Time moves along, and my life's span is lost Another day of its existence here.
Another day still nearer to the end Of the world's false and vain-glorious show.
The day just gone doth now already blend With Time's vast waves, that ever ceaseless flow.
How short the space since childhood's happy years, When life was bright with sunshine and fair flowers ; And days roll'd on, undimm'd with earthly cares, And birds melodious sang in forest glades and bowers.
Few years remain between us and the goal. When we shall cease to breathe the air of earth, And dread eternity shall first unfold To us the mystery of life and death.
All alike to the great law must bow ; The young, the old-all of our mortal race, At length must die, at length will be laid low, In the still grave, locked fast in death's embrace.
The mighty monarchs of despotic thrones Must leave their purple robes and sceptres here ; No more to hear the shouts of joy, or groans, Of nations freed, break o'er each tyrant's bier.
They and their vast and sycophantic throng Of worshippers, are earthly, and soon at last must yield, And mingle with the dust from whence they sprung, An unmourned host, no more their power to wield. Grant, Lord of hosts, of thrones, and seraphim And cherubim, and powers of earth and heaven, When the cold hand of death mine eyes bedim, That all my earthly sins may be forgiven -- May I then find at last a home with Thee, When my clay finds at length its winding sheet ; And the tired spirit is from earth set free, To wait Thy will, before the judgment seat.
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TO EVELEEN STANLEY.
Ten thousand thanks for those sweet lines. Dear Eveleen, Wherein your mind in splendor shines, Dear Eveleen. Those words I'll sing in ardent strains, So long as life to me remains,
Or warm blood circles through my veins, Dear Eveleen.
Fair must be your gentle forni,
Dear Eveleen,
Sparkling with Nature's every charm, Dear Eveleen. Beauty's smiles must light your face, Which formed must be with heavenly grace,
Such as Raphael loved to trace, Dear Eveleen.
Those lines shall linger in mine ear, Dear Eveleen, When evening shadows gather near, Dear Eveleen- When morning draws in roseate light, In woodlands green, with dew-drop bright,
And fade the last dim clouds of night, Dear Eveleen.
In these months of the declining year, Dear Eveleen, When forest leaves look bleak and sere, Dear Eveleen, Your picture of the wildwood scene, The song-bird's notes, the bowers of green, Shall haunt my dreams in all their sheen, Dear Eveleen.
May calm Contentment bless your home, Dear Eveleen,
Where worldly cares may never come, Dear Eveleen ;
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Lighted with smiles of constant love, Guarded by angels from above, And grief from thence may Heaven remove, Dear Eveleen.
May a light of pure delight be yours, Dear Eveleell, In a cottage bright, 'mid sylvan bowers, Dear Eveleen -- Kiss'd with the sun's first orient beams, And last in the west he gleams, And dance his rays in golden streams, Dear Eveleen.
HAPPY WITH THEE.
Happy with thee, when the sunset has faded,
And the moon sheds her light from the still glowing sky ; Happy with thee, when darkness shaded The earth with her mantle of star-spangled dye. Happy with thee, in the dawn of the morning, When refulgence and beauty tint Nature's glad face ; Still happy with thee my path way adorning, .
To my home adding peacefulness, gentleness, grace. Happy with thee, when we wander together O'er the moor or the mountain, the glen or the vale ; Happy with thee, when Autumn winds wither The rose in her beauty, that blossom in the dale. Happy with thee, when the vesper bell pealing, And the soft hour of twilight approaching the earth ; Happy with thee, when every fond feeling Entwines round the heart with love, music and mirth. O! happy with thee-perchance when despairing, The smiles from thy sweet face shall then cheer me on, To my heart giving gladness, all gloom disappearing Like the sunbeams to earth when dark Winter is gone, O! happy with thee, when our years are declining, And age points the path to our home in the sky ; Thou wilt then be my guide-star, brightly shining, As I pour forth to Heaven my soul's latest sigh.
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IRELAND, MY IRELAND !
What tyrant foul now o'er thee reigns, Ireland, my Ireland !
Still holding you in servile chains, Ireland, my Ireland !
The scaffold reeking with your blood,
Your bravest penn'd in prison rude, For standing where your fathers stood. Ireland ! For standing with the great and good, Ireland, my Ireland !
Even the land your children sought, Even with their best blood dearly bought. Ireland, my Ireland ! Now spurns the men who raised on high.
The starry banner to the sky, And by it stood to do or die, Ireland !
To do. or by it bravely die, Ireland, my Ireland !
These men who charged down Malvern Hill, Ireland, my Ireland ! And conquer'd Lee with glorious Phil, Ireland, my Ireland !
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