Poems (Stephens)/A visit to pleasant vale
A VISIT TO PLEASANT VALE.
The following very happy poetic description of what is known as "Pleasant Vale" extending from Zoar Bridge on the Housatonic to the location of the Dawson Woolen factory, will be familiar to those who were acquainted with the place some years ago. It marks the changes of time in that locality very feelingly:
And this is dear old Pleasant Vale,
Once so familiar to my sight,
Here is the fair extended view,
A youthful fancy's loved delight.
Once so familiar to my sight,
Here is the fair extended view,
A youthful fancy's loved delight.
Again I hear the river's song,
And mark its rapid ceaseless flow,
And watch it shimmer in the sun,
As in the days of long ago.
And mark its rapid ceaseless flow,
And watch it shimmer in the sun,
As in the days of long ago.
This is the path I used to tread
At early morn and close of day,
'Tis worn as smooth and winds about
The same inexplicable way.
At early morn and close of day,
'Tis worn as smooth and winds about
The same inexplicable way.
Here was the store where dainty sweets
Were placed in jars to tempt our gaze,
How covetous we soon become,
What spendthrifts too in childish ways.
Were placed in jars to tempt our gaze,
How covetous we soon become,
What spendthrifts too in childish ways.
This building has a brighter look,
And more of dainties in display,
But time has wrought its wonted change;
I pass without regret today.
And more of dainties in display,
But time has wrought its wonted change;
I pass without regret today.
My road is near the mountain's base,
Huge rocks o'erhead 'twould seem might fall,
While mosses grow on every ledge,
And wild flowers bloom about them all.
Huge rocks o'erhead 'twould seem might fall,
While mosses grow on every ledge,
And wild flowers bloom about them all.
The blacksmith shop was just beyond,
Where truant ones were sure to tire,
They loved to watch the smithy's work
And linger round his cheerful fire.
Where truant ones were sure to tire,
They loved to watch the smithy's work
And linger round his cheerful fire.
There's nothing now to mark the spot,
Except the weeds are ranker grown,
And bits of coal are mingled with
A shapeless mass of dirt and stone.
Except the weeds are ranker grown,
And bits of coal are mingled with
A shapeless mass of dirt and stone.
A little farther was a cot,
With roses clustering round the door,
The house is gone, its habitants
Are dwelling on the brighter shore.
With roses clustering round the door,
The house is gone, its habitants
Are dwelling on the brighter shore.
And now I roach the quaint old church,
A long and well remembered place,
Time was when mid its worshippers
I scarce beheld a stranger's face.
A long and well remembered place,
Time was when mid its worshippers
I scarce beheld a stranger's face.
Again I stand upon the step,
And look within the open door,
How quickly memory pictures there,
The listening throng that met of yore.
And look within the open door,
How quickly memory pictures there,
The listening throng that met of yore.
The quiet graveyard is close by,
Each stone bears some familiar name,
And here and there an epitaph,
The sleepers' virtues yet proclaim.
Each stone bears some familiar name,
And here and there an epitaph,
The sleepers' virtues yet proclaim.
In childhood oft I sought this ground,
To me 'twas neither sad or drear,
For cheerily the blackbirds sang.
In groves of pines then growing near.
To me 'twas neither sad or drear,
For cheerily the blackbirds sang.
In groves of pines then growing near.
And on the hillside just below,
We found fine ferns and berries sweet,
And made beneath the maple shade
A mimic house we thought complete.
We found fine ferns and berries sweet,
And made beneath the maple shade
A mimic house we thought complete.
The rude stone bridge still spans the stream,
Where youthful anglers tried their skill,
Till many torn and brimless hats
Were proof they'd labored with a will.
Where youthful anglers tried their skill,
Till many torn and brimless hats
Were proof they'd labored with a will.
Below the bridge a wealth of mint,
And rushes tall and thrifty grew.
We gathered these at morn and noon,
Now happly other children do.
And rushes tall and thrifty grew.
We gathered these at morn and noon,
Now happly other children do.
The school house is the very same,
That memory long has held so dear,
For happier hours I ne'er have known,
Than those that passed so quickly here.
That memory long has held so dear,
For happier hours I ne'er have known,
Than those that passed so quickly here.
Those youthful friends, where are they now?
I try to trace their worldly lot,
Though some have erred, and some are dead,
Among them all there's none forgot.
I try to trace their worldly lot,
Though some have erred, and some are dead,
Among them all there's none forgot.
The stern old scholar too who came,
And questioned us in ancient lore,
Has passed beyond our mortal ken,
And wiser is than e'er before.
And questioned us in ancient lore,
Has passed beyond our mortal ken,
And wiser is than e'er before.
He had his faults, we'll pass them by,
His virtues our remembrance claim,
And now that we are growing gray,
Will ever kindly speak his name.
His virtues our remembrance claim,
And now that we are growing gray,
Will ever kindly speak his name.
The factory's hum is heard no more,
For ruin there is all complete,
And nothing breaks the silence now
But babbling brooks, and songsters sweet.
For ruin there is all complete,
And nothing breaks the silence now
But babbling brooks, and songsters sweet.
But this is still dear Pleasant Vale,
(A homely spot to some it seems,)
But passing through it once again,
Recalls for me life's brightest dreams.
(A homely spot to some it seems,)
But passing through it once again,
Recalls for me life's brightest dreams.