Poem - The Avery Memorial

THE AVERY MEMORIAL

by Mary L. Bolles Branch

Here once an ancient homestead stood,
Gray with long years, of fashion old,
From stately oak, from hallowed wood,
Were hewn its beams, and strong and good
Uprose its walls, a race to hold.
Here round the hearth sat sires and sons,
Mothers and babes, a charming throng;
Eight times renewed the long line runs,
The youths became the aged ones,
The children grew to manhood strong.
Honor and virtue here held sway,
And courage high in word and deed,
Forth went the statesman on his way,
Forth marched the soldier to his fray,
A sturdy race from sturdy seed.
Gone are the walls that stood so long,
Mossed roof and chimney, all are gone,
Where sheltered happy lives were passed
Now blows at will the winter blast,
There is no home, the spot is lone.
Yet stay, what wonders love hath wrought!
Here is the hearthstone of a race,
The threshold that their feet have sought,
Here to our view the bounds are brought,
And ivies the old chimneys grace.
Oh! rooms unseen by mortal eyes,
Wherein may move the friendly guest,
Oh! walls invisible that rise
With household gods in unknown guise,
What is there to meet our quest ?
Behold, the vanished home uprears
This granite shaft whereon today
Wrought in enduring bronze appears
One who shall greet the coming years,
Chief of his race, who seems to say:
Here once an ancient homestead stood,
Gray with long years, of fashion old,
From stately oak, from hallowed wood
Were hewn its beams, and strong and good
Uprose its walls, a race to hold.