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HOME LYRICS
HOME LYRICS HANNAH. S. BATTERSBY HER CHILDREN.
INDEX.
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To the Memory of a Beloved Son who passed from Earth April 3rd 1887
Birdies. For a Little Five Year Old
The Angel on War
In Memoriam
The Rink
A Binghampton Home
Mrs. Langtry as Miss Hardcastle in "She Stoops to Conquer"
The Shaker Girl
Ice Palace
The Fable of the Sphynx
Up Sisters Morn is Breaking
Oh! I Love the Free Air of the Grand Mountain Height
Sunrise
Love
To the Empress Eugenie on the Death of Her Son
Science
Christmas Morn
A Victim to Modern Inventions
It is but an Autumn Leaflet
Written on board the S. S. "Egypt" September 5th 1884
Roberval. A Legend of Old France
The Brooklyn Catastrophe
The Naini Tal Catastrophe
To Our Polar Explorers
To the Inconstant
Thanksgiving
"Peace with Honour"
The New Year
Home
It is but a Faded Rosebud
Cleopatra's Needle
A Voice from St. George's Hall
To the Museum Committee on opening Museums on Sundays
Only a Few Links Wanting
A Painful History
Self Denial
To a Faithful Dog
Flowers
A Welcome from Liverpool to the Queen
In Response to a Kind Gift of Flowers
Health
Ingratitude
Trees
To a Faithful Dog
Self Discipline
The Centenary of a Hero
Springbank
Recollections of Fontainebleau
The Tunbridge Wells Flower Show
HOME LYRICS.
TO THE MEMORY OF A BELOVED SON WHO PASSED FROM EARTH APRIL 3rd 1887.
I would gaze down the vista of past years
In fancy see to-night
A loved one passed from sight
But whose blest memory my spirit cheers.
Shrined in the sacred temple of my soul
He seems again to live
And fond affection give
His mother's heart comfort and console.
Perception of the beautiful and bright
In nature and in art
Evolved from his true heart
Perpetual beams like sunshine's cheering light.
A simple unsophisticated life
With faith in action strong
And perseverance long
Made all he did with vigorous purpose rife.
Responsive to sweet sympathy's kind claim
His quick impulsive heart
Loved to take active part
In mirthful joy or sorrowing grief and pain.
His manly face would glow with honest glee.
As with parental pride
Which he ne'er sought to hide
He fondly gazed on his loved family.
For them he crowned with industry his days;
Ever they were to him
The sweetest holiest hymn
Of his heart's jubilant exultant praise.
And Oh the tender pity of his eye.
The gentle touch and word
When his fond heart was stirred
To practical display of sympathy.
His true affection manners gently gay
The kiss that seems e'en now
Warm on my lips and brow
Are memories that ne'er can pass away.
Naught can e'er lessen the fond hope that we
May one day meet above
With all we dearly love
To live again in blissful unity.
* * * * *
BIRDIES. FOR A LITTLE FIVE YEAR OLD.
A tender birdie mother sat
In her soft nest one day
Teaching her little fledglings three
To gambol sing and play.
Dear little brood the mother said
'Tis time for you to fly
From branch to branch from tree to tree
And see the bright blue sky.
Chirrup the eldest quick replied
O yes sweet mother mine
We'll be so glad to hop about
And see the bright sunshine.
Twitter and Downy also said
We too shall happy be
To bask within the sun's warm rays
And swing on branch and tree.
Well then the mother said you shall
And straight the birdies all
Perched on the edge of the high nest
Beside the chestnuts tall.
Remember said the mother bird
You must not go beyond
That row of trees that skirt the edge
Of the transparent pond.
For if you do you might get lost
Or drowned and die in pain
And never to our dear home nest
Return in joy again.
Well mind your orders mother dear
And will not disagree
But do just what you tell us now
Said all the birdies three.
They hopped off on delighted wing
To the next chestnut tree
O'erjoyed and panting with delight
The great grand world to see.
Oh! what a bright glad scene they cried
And what a wond'rous sky!
What joy 'twould be to kiss the Sun
And be with him on high.
And I said Downy I should like
To sail on yonder sea
And with that pretty milk-white bird
Skim o'er the waters free.
Said Twitter you talk very large
And do not seem to know
Our little wings have not yet power
Beyond these trees to go.
Besides said Chirrup mother said
We must not go beyond
But only hop and fly about
The trees that skirt the pond.
But mother's gone to get us food
And she will never know
Said Downy so upon the pond
I am resolved to go.
O fie! exclaimed the birdies both
To think of such a thing
You might get harm and on us all
Sorrow and trouble bring.
Oh I am not a bit afraid
I feel so strong and free
And will not homeward go until
I float on yonder sea.
Ah well said both the other two
We will not go with you
Good-bye we will not disobey
Our mother kind and true.
Off went the two obedient birds
And safely reached their nest
The little birdies' happy home
Of sweet delight and rest.
Meanwhile poor naughty Downy flew
From off the chestnut tree
Away towards the milk-white bird
That skimmed the waters free.
But ah! his wings were much too weak
To bear him all the way
And Downy fell imploring aid
From loved ones far away.
But no help came. The mother bird
Was far off gathering food
From perfumed clover meadows round
For her beloved brood.
And when she reached her nest and found
But two birds there alone
And heard that Downy to the pond
So wilfully had flown
Her heart so lately full of joy
Was rent with grief and pain
For fear lest she should never see
Her darling bird again.
Calling upon his name she flew
In terror far and near
From tree to pond from pond to tree
Seeking her birdie dear.
She called; alas no answer came
To that poor mother's cry
She searched among the sweet wild flowers
And chestnut branches high.
At length she spied a tiny speck
Beside the waters clear
It was alas the lifeless form
Of her lost Downy dear.
She drew him on the soft green grass
And chafed his lifeless form
Opened his glassy eyes and mouth
And tried his limbs to warm.
But all in vain her darling bird
Was dead and nevermore
Would he into that mother's ear
His pretty warblings pour.
Then in despair she buried him
Beside the chestnut tree
And covered him with twigs and leaves
While weeping bitterly.
And then with torn and sorrowing heart
She flew back to her home
Where Twit and Chirrup trembling staid
Disconsolate and lone.
My little birdie dears she said
In bitterness and pain
Our darling Downy to his nest
Will never come again.
His wilful disobedience
To my direct commands
Has brought its own dire punishment
Such as all sin demands.
I thought I could have trusted him
For he as you well know
Promised me very faithfully
Not from these trees to go.
I want you both my birdies dear
To learn from this to see
How lying disobedience
Will ever punished be.
So take a lesson from it dears
And be resolved that you
Will never disobey or lie
Whatever else you do.
O yes we'll try our very best
Your orders to obey
And always strive to tell the truth
Whether at work or play.
Dear children who may hear this tale
You too should also try
To do whatever you are told
And never tell a lie.
* * * * *
THE ANGEL ON WAR.
An angel spirit winging
Through aerial space her flight
O'er peaceful sleep-bound nature
Thus sang one autumn night:
What are those hosts advancing
In legions o'er the plain
Through orchards heavy laden
And fields of full-eared grain?
Eastward and westward come they
Shining like gems of light
Beneath soft silvery moonbeams
Of peaceful silent night.
Surely assembled nations
Are gathering for a fete
Of tournament sham fight or joist
In pride of strength elate.
Or may be some grand meeting
On field of cloth of gold
Attracts those swarming legions
A peaceful tryst to hold;
For see the steeds caparisoned
In trappings rich and bright
With noble high-bred men astride
In transports of delight!
The flower of German fatherland
In manhood's strength and pride
Press on in measured marching
By grey-haired veterans' side
And westward press the youth of France
Whose ardour none can stay
Thirsting for laurels in the tilts
And contests of the day.
Emperors with marshals generals
And stalwart men are there;
Flushed with excitement swift they come
The splendid sports to share
Doubtless each wears the colours
Of some loved lady fair
Whom they predict shall one day
Their heart and fortunes share.
Now sable night droops kindly
Into the arms of morn
Who comes to herald in the day
And nature's face adorn?
Heaven's soft grey eastern portals
For her wide open fly
As the grand sun's golden chariot
Wheels proudly through the sky.
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