FROMCHARLESLLOYD'SPOEMSONTHEDEATHOFPRISCILLAFARMER,1796

fromcharleslloyd'spoemsonthedeathofpriscillafarmer,1796

thegrandame

(summer,1796.textof1818)

onthegreenhilltop,

hardbythehouseofprayer,amodestroof,

andnotdistinguish'dfromitsneighbour-barn,

savebyaslender-taperinglengthofspire,

thegrandamesleeps.aplainstonebarelytells

thenameanddatetothechancepassenger.

forlowlybornwasshe,andlonghadeat,

well-earned,thebreadofservice:—her'swaselse

amountingspirit,onethatentertained

scornofbaseaction,deeddishonorable,

oraughtunseemly.irememberwell

herreverendimage:iremember,too,

withwhatazealsheservedhermaster'shouse;

andhowtheprattlingtongueofgarrulousage

delightedtorecounttheoft-toldtale

oranecdotedomestic.wiseshewas,

andwondrousskilledingenealogies,

andcouldinaptandvolubletermsdiscourse

ofbirths,oftitles,andalliances;

ofmarriages,andintermarriages;

relationshipremote,ornearofkin;

offriendsoffended,familydisgraced—

maidenhigh-born,butwayward,disobeying

parentalstrictinjunction,andregardless

ofunmixedblood,andancestryremote,

stoopingtowedwithoneoflowdegree.

butthesearenotthypraises;andiwrong

thyhonor'dmemory,recordingchiefly

thingslightortrivial.better'tweretotell,

howwithanoblerzeal,andwarmerlove,

sheservedherheavenlymaster.ihaveseen

thatreverendformbentdownwithageandpain

andranklingmalady.yetnotforthis

ceasedshetopraisehermaker,orwithdrew

hertrustinhim,herfaith,andhumblehope—

someeklyhadshelearn'dtobearhercross—

forshehadstudiedpatienceintheschool

ofchrist,muchcomfortshehadthencederived,

andwasafollowerofthenazarene.