Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SABBATH BELLS, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SABBATH BELLS, by                    
First Line: The old man sits in his easy chair
Last Line: To dwell with his own forever
Subject(s): Old Age


THE old man sits in his easy-chair,
And his ear has caught the ringing
Of many a church-bell far and near,
Their own sweet music singing.
And his head sinks low on the aged breast,
While his thoughts far back are reaching
To the Sabbath morns of his boyish days
And a mother's sacred teaching.

A few years later, and lo! the bells
A merrier strain were pealing,
And heavenward bore the marriage vows
Which his manhood's joys were sealing.
But the old man's eyes are dimming now,
As memory holds before him
The sad, sad picture of later years,
When the tide of grief rolled o'er him;

When the bells were tolling for loved ones gone, --
For the wife, the sons and daughters,
Who, one by one, from his home went out,
And down into death's dark waters.
But the aged heart has still one joy
Which his old life daily blesses,
And his eyes grow bright and his pulses warm
'Neath a grandchild's sweet caresses.

But the old man wakes from his reverie,
And his dear old face is smiling,
While the child with her serious eyes reads on,
The Sabbath hours beguiling.
Ah! bells, once more ye will ring for him,
When the heavenly hand shall sever
The cord of life, and his freed soul flies
To dwell with his own forever.





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