Mary Ann H. T. Bigelow

“ With music to cheer and beguile evening hours;
Then long, very long, may such hours be given—
They whisper content, and the foretaste of heaven.
I was born in the city, the city’s my home,
Yet oft in the country with pleasure I roam;
For there, I confess, the heart finds repose
In its pleasures and sorrows, which here it ne’er knows.
There no fashion, no nonsense, intrude on your walk,
But rational moments of rational talk,
Asserting that soiries, with jewels and dress,
Make a very small part of life’s happiness. ”

“ Cannot happiness perfect be found on this earth?
How absurd to expect it—sin comes with our birth.
As soon from spring bitter, sweet water procure,
Rich clusters of grapes from the thorn;
Look for figs upon thistles, when seeking for food,
Or bread from the cold flinty stone.
The wealth of the Indies, true peace can’t bestow,
The Crown Royal oft presses an aching brow,
E’en in laughter there’s madness—mirth coupled with woe.
As true peace in this world, then, can never be found,
Until deep in the heart Christian graces abound,
Give diligent heed to the keeping thy heart ”

“ And greet with delight, the sixth Edward by name.
But only six years did this King fill the throne,
When called to resign it and lay his crown down.
A worthier we think, has never set
On the throne of Great Britain—at least not as yet.
With pleasure we love to contemplate him now,
With a bright crown of Glory, encircling his brow,
In the region of light, love, peace, and of joy,
Where pleasures eternal can have no alloy.
Sin, sickness, and death, never find entrance there,
For the air is all balm, and the skies ever fair ”

“ Many summers the birds her sad requiem have sung,
But to sound of sweet music she’ll ne’er wake again.
There is but one voice that deep slumber can break,
’Tis the same one that loudly called, “Lazarus, come forth!”
At the sound of that voice all the dead shall arise,
And before God shall stand all the nations on earth.
Then shall this dear one, our first born, awake,
Her mortal put on immortality then;
And oh! blissful thought, that we once more may meet
In that home where’s no parting, death, sorrow, or pain. ”

“ To procure thee a crown and a mansion in Heaven.
As a dream that is gone at the breaking of day,
And a tale that’s soon told, so our years pass away.
“Then count that day lost, whose low setting sun
Can see from thy hand no worthy act done.”
Midst the roses of life many thorns thou wilt find,
“But the cloud that is darkest, with silver is lined.”
As the children of Israel were led on their way
By the bright cloud at night, and the dark cloud by day,
So the Christian is led through the straight narrow road
That brings him direct to his home and his God ”

“ Is there not in this wide world one spot that is blessed
With exemption from suffering, where one may find rest;
Where sickness and sorrow no entranpe can gain,
And the clouds do not return after the rain?
Ah! deceive not thyself by a vain hope like this,
Nor expect in this world to enjoy lasting peace:
But bow with submission to God’s holy will,
For the hand that afflicts is thy kind Father’s still.
If my days are dark here, there are brighter above,
In those pure realms of light, peace, joy, and of love ”

“ So light are his footsteps you scarce hear their tread;
Yet no midnight robber, no murderer is he,
Then why dread recognition—of man why afraid?
Let us follow his footsteps and learn where he goes;
And now at the door of a house see him stand;
But why wait so long ere admittance he seeks,
In attempting to knock, why trembles that hand?
He has come to the fountain of light and of life,
Before whom ne’er suppliant sued humbly in vain;
He has come for the knowledge that alone maketh rich,
And without which we’re poor, though the whole world we gain. ”

“ An aching void earth ne’er can fill;
I’ve tried its joys, its friendships proved,
But felt that aching void there still.
Thy love alone, my Saviour God,
True satisfaction can impart;
Can fill this aching void I feel,
And give contentment to my heart.
Oh! cheer me by thy presence, Lord,
Increase my faith an hundred fold;
Be thy name on my forehead found,
Mine in thy book of life enrolled.
Dec. 19, 1862.
Forever closed that dark blue eye,
Full and expressive, pensive too;
Thy light brown hair, and face so fair,
And graceful form are hid from view.
Life's Changes. ”

“ E’en in my pathway lie;
And decked in rich apparel,
Attract the passers by.
They say the sun when setting,
Is glorious to behold;
And sheds on all at parting,
A radiant crown of gold.
And then the night’s pale empress,
With all her glittering train,
The vacant throne ascending,
Resumes her peaceful reign.
That she in queenly beauty,
Subdued yet silvery light,
Makes scarcely less enchanting
Than day, the sober night. ”

“ Ah, many the thorn he’ll find ‘mid life’s rose.
Then we’ve concerts, fine readings, museum and halls,
With disputes, and debates, in legislative halls,
Ethiopian Minstrels, Shakesperian plays;
And yet, my dear friend, I’m told in these days,
Religion’s blessed joys are most faithfully felt,
With devotion’s pure prayers the proud heart to melt;
That many have turned to the straight narrow road,
Which leadeth to peace and communion with God. ”

“ There is no need of candle, for God is their light,
There never is darkness, for “there is no night.”
Oh! may I there find, when this brief life is past,
By my Saviour prepared, a sweet home at last;
Where sin never enters, death, sorrow, nor care,
And clouds are not feared, for it never rains there. ”

“ Raise thine eyes once again, see that head crowned with thorns;
In those feet, hands, and side, see the deep bleeding wounds.
You now know full well why such suffering was borne,
’Twas for thee, and for me, and for every one
Who trusts in his merits and on him alone.
Thy day is just passed, ’tis now evening with thee,
But the faith of the Christian is given to see
The star of bright promise, amid the dark gloom
Which shall light all thy footsteps and gild the lone tomb;
And at the last day mayst thou and thine stand
An unbroken household at Jesus’ right hand. ”

“ I cannot in rhyme my feelings portray.
The nine they discard me, I’m not of their train,
They entreatingly beg, “I’ll ne’er woo them again;”
But I’ll brave their displeasure, and e’en write to you
A few lines of doggrel, then rhyming adieu.
My errors do “wink at,” for hosts you’ll descry,
And spare all rebuff, and the keen critic’s eye.
I appreciate all of your calm country life,
And feel you are happy as mother and wife;
Surrounded by taste, and the friend so refined,
Who with sterling good sense, loves the delicate mind ”

“ Which trusting for support, will pierce thee through.
Then let us look above this fleeting earth,
To heaven and heavenly joys direct our eyes;
No lasting happiness this world affords—
“He builds too low who builds below the skies.”
Weston, Dec. 1, 1852.
Lines. “They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God. Hosea, 5:4.”
I would frame all my doings to please thee, my God!
’Tis from thee all my mercies proceed;
I would frame all my doings to serve thee, my God!
For thy service is freedom indeed.
I would frame all my doings to please thee, my God! ”

“ His crown and his sceptre were feebly retained.
It was in this reign on her mission intent,
That Joan of Arc to the battle field went:
The French troops were elated, the English dismayed
At the wonderful victories achieved by her aid;
At length fortune turns, and ’tis needless to tell
Of the fate of this maiden—it is all known too well.
Of Edward the fourth it seems proper to say
That he fancied Dame Shore, when wed to Bess Gray.
But the fate of Jane Shore, should be warning to all
Who from love, or ambition, are tempted to fall. ”

“ Oh, no! for his Saviour had all this forgiven,
He saw his repentance, he knew it sincere.
That disciple soon followed his Lord whom he loved,
And many long ages have since passed away;
But the parting command still remains in full force,
And will ever remain so till time’s latest day.
Many wolves in sheep’s clothing are still to be found,
Whom Satan fails not to instruct and employ;
They enter the fold, and with most specious wiles,
Seek the young of the flock to ensnare and destroy. ”

“ Both freed from sorrow, sin, and pain;
There with united voices raise,
In sweet accord their hymns of praise;
Eternally his name t’ adore,
Who died, yet lives forevermore.
Weston, Jan. 3, 1852.
Acrostic. Return to Table of Contents
For thee, my son, a mother’s earnest prayer
Rises to Heaven each day from heart sincere,
Anxiously seeking what concerns thee most;
Not merely earthly good for thee she prays,
Knowledge, or wealth, or fame, or length of days,
What shall these profit, if the soul be lost.
In this life we find alternate day and night,
Not always darkness, sure not always light ”

“ And good scholarship too we descry.
Next in order comes Alice, with bright sunny smile,
That does one's heart good to behold;
May the sorrows of life ne'er that young spirit blight,
Nor that heart be less cheerful when old. ”

“ The man of many sorrows,
The Great Immanuel.
But stop—I dare not venture
Too far on holy ground;
Its heights are too exalted,
Its depths are too profound.
Yet may I be permitted,
When this brief life is past,
The hope in yon bright heaven,
To find my home at last.
When cleansed from all pollution,
From sin and sorrow free,
I, with unclouded vision,
My Saviour God may see
.
Brooklyn, May, 1853.
To my Missionary Friends, Mr. and Mrs. I.G. Bliss. Return to Table of Contents
Why, dear friends, oh! ”

“ And bite that’s doubly fatal,
It kills beyond the grave.
And there’s a great physician,
That e’en this wound may cure;
And those to him applying,
May life and health secure.
The broken heart he healeth,
He cures the sin-sick soul ”

“ I would frame all my doings to serve thee, my God!
But my goodness extends not to thee;
And when on well doing I’m fully intent,
Alas! evil is present with me.
My Creator, Preserver, Redeemer and King,
I would tax all my powers to obey;
But to Him let me look for the help that I need,
Who is the life, the light, and the way.
Weston, Jan. 21, 1853.
“Take no thought for the morrow.” Return to Table of Contents
Take no thought for the morrow, the Saviour hath said,
And he spake as ne’er man spake before ”

“ For many a fair one he seems t’ have enthrall’d.
James second, brother of Charles second succeeded,
But after a reign of four years, he seceded;
When quitting his throne, and his country he flies
Over the channel to France, where he dies.
Next the Prince of Orange, (from Holland he came,)
For the crown of old England, asserted his claim
Through right of his wife, Princess Mary by name.
And William the third with Mary his wife
Are crowned King and Queen of England for life.
This princess was lovely in person and mind,
As a wife most devoted, a friend ever kind. ”

“ But then we’ve books, music, and a brilliant wood fire,
Where logs piled on logs give one warmth e’en to see;
Oh! these evenings in winter are charming to me.
In good keeping these logs are with wind and the hail,
Everything in the country is on a grand scale. ”

“ I must claim the indulgence of my friends for the many defects they will find in my poems, which they will please wink at, remembering that I was sixty years old when I commenced rhyming; and this by way of experiment, while on a visit to my daughter, in Brooklyn.
My first essay, was The Monarchs of England. I took it up for my amusement, wishing to ascertain how much of that history I could recollect without help from any other source than memory.
The rhyme is in many places far from smooth, and there are many redundances that might with advantage be lopped off ”

“ King Edward the fifth was the eldest one’s name,
Though never permitted by his uncle to reign.
Next comes cruel Richard, the third of that name,
Whose vices surpassing put others to shame.
When unhorsed in battle, he’s so anxious to live,
That he cries “for a horse, my kingdom I’ll give.” ”

“ In thy hour of deepest sorrow,
Never murmur, dare not blame;
God, who wounds, alone can heal thee;
Trust his power and praise his name.
Oh! may we say, each, every one,
“Not my will, but thine be done.”
She Slumbers Still. Return to Table of Contents
On a midsummer’s eve she lay down to sleep,
Wearied and toil-worn the maiden was then;
How deep was that slumber, how quiet that rest,
’Twas the sleep from which no one awakens again.
Morn returned in its freshness, and flowers that she loved
In beauty and fragrance were blooming around ”

“ For Pharaoh hath perished beneath the dark sea,
And the long enslaved Hebrews are happy and free.
July 14, 1852.
Hymn, Sung at the Ordination of the Rev. Henry Allen. Return to Table of Contents
We meet to-day as ne’er before,
To greet a pastor of our choice,
Without a single jarring note,
And without one dissenting voice.
Oh thou who art enthroned on high,
Before whom holy angels bow,
Be pleased to hear us when we sing,
Accept the praises offered now.
Let no one present, dare to give,
The service of the lip alone;
Or think if they the heart withhold,
’Twill find acceptance at thy throne. ”