One would like to know more of that race, now extinct, whose seines lie rotting in the garrets of their children, who openly profe...ssed the trade of fishermen, and even fed their townsmen creditably, not skulking through the meadows to a rainy afternoon sport. Dim visions we still get of miraculous draughts of fishes, and heaps uncountable by the riverside, from the tales of our seniors sent on horseback in their childhood from the neighboring towns, perched on saddle-bags, with instructions to get the one bag filled with shad, the other with alewives. At least one memento of those days may still exist in the memory of this generation, in the familiar appellation of a celebrated train-band of this town, whose untrained ancestors stood creditably at Concord North Bridge. Their captain, a man of piscatory tastes, having duly warned his company to turn out on a certain day, they, like obedient soldiers, appeared promptly on parade at the appointed time, but, unfortunately, they went undrilled, except in the manvres of a soldier's wit and unlicensed jesting, that May day; for their captain, forgetting his own appointment, and warned only by the favorable aspect of the heavens, as he had often done before, went a-fishing that afternoon, and his company thenceforth was known to old and young, grave and gay, as "The Shad."LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
I, in my pleached garden, watched the pomp, Forgot my morning wishes, hastily... Took a few herbs and apples, and the Day Turned and departed silent. I, too late, Under her solemn fillet saw the scorn.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Every day brings a ship, Every ship brings a word;... Well for those who have no fear, Looking seaward well assured That the word the vessel brings Is the word they wish to hear.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Spring is strong and virtuous, Broad-sowing, cheerful, plenteous,... Quickening underneath the mould Grains beyond the price of gold. So deep and large her bounties are, That one broad, long midsummer day Shall to the planet overpay The ravage of a year of war.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
What potent blood hath modest May; What fiery force the earth renews,... The wealth of forms, the flush of hues; Joy shed in rosy waves abroad Flows from the heart of Love, the Lord.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Ever the words of the gods resound; But the porches of man's ear... Seldom in this low life's round Are unsealed, that he may hear.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
GOETHE, raised o'er joy and strife, Drew the firm lines of Fate and Life,... And brought Olympian wisdom down To court and mar, to gown and town, Stooping, his finger wrote in clay The open secret of to-day.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
You doubt we read the stars on high, Nathless we read your fortunes true;... The stars may hide in the upper sky, But without glass we fathom you.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »