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POEMS. 431
To follow when they lead, to watch their workings,
To mark their onward course, the end that waits them,
And the deep meaning of their life and struggles.
And thus the sage pursued the river’s windings,
Saw how at hasty intervals reposing,
Its calm and radiant -eye looked up to heaven,
With childlike spirit and with childlike glances
Reflecting back that image on its bosom ;
Then wildly rushing on to wage fresh warfare
With open foes or hidden obstacles,
And plunging boldly over heights and depths
With an intense indomitable purpose,
As to some fixed and ever bright’ning goal,
He marked it grow more calm in broadening channel,
Clear to its inmost depths, like some brave spirit,
When the good fight is fought; then free and peaceful,
A glorious river ‘nid rich margins flowing,
Calmly it rolled toward the ocean, bearing
Not only its own waves, but on their bosom
A world of human labors, human hopes,
Set free by the same power itself that freed.
He saw the stately ships, the barges slow,
Alike from city and from village borne
Upon the river’s arms to world-wide marts
Of commerce, while light winds their sails were swelling,
And joyous songs rung in the evening breezes.
The sage rejoiced ; he felt the answer given,
And graven in his heart. The river’s answer
Lay in the tenor of its noble life!
April, 1847.
And thus it was one day, on banks of Clara river,
With thoughts all fixed on thee, fair Wermland’s lofty
son,
That one who loved thee well, whom thou hast called “ thy
friend,”
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