When far from the home

When far from the home of your youth we have rang'd,

How fondly we think of the days that are past;

Their image through changes is ever unchang'd,

Wherever our lot may be cast.

I muse on the features of those whom I lov'd;

The farewell of friendship I yet seem to hear:

The scenes I remember where oft I have rov'd,

The songs that delighted my ear.

In slumbers their music some vision recalls,

And oft I implore it a moment to stay;

But, ah! Soon the measure in soft cadence falls,

I wake, and the sound dies away.

How sad the reverse, - once I wept but in dreams,

The dawn then awoke me to hope and delight;

Now hope never comes with the morning's gay beams,

And joy is a phantom of night.

Oh1 Sleep, how enchanting the power of thy wand,

More swift are thy pinions than fancy e'er spread;

For back o'er the ocean of time they expand,

And bring us to scenes that are fled.

Tho' hope never comes with the morning's gay beams,

Tho' long o'er the desert of life I may roam,

Oh! Let thy soft magic still waft me in dreams

To all the lov'd scenes of my home.