VIII
“Ye who to-day must follow
Whither your fates shall lead,
These are your elder brothers!
Prove yourselves of the breed!
See that ye count as shameful
No work your hands can do;
And when ye are spent, come back to me
That I may comfort you.
Now, through the open portal,
Rise and go forth to-day!
And a mother’s blessing go with you,
To help you on your way.”
THE PURPLE HILLS
Air—“Annie Lisle”
Dying echoes fill the valley,
Heralding the night,
As we gather on the campus
In the waning light.
In the west the sunset’s crimson
All the heaven fills,
And its glory rims the edges
Of our purple hills.
Fast the length’ning shadows gather,
Sunset dims to grey,
And the calling winds of evening
Through the branches play.
With the far stars pale above them
While day’s tumult stills,
Watching us who know and love them,
Stand the purple hills.
Safe within our little valley
From the outer strife,
Are enshrined the happy mem’ries
Of our college life.
And when darker days have found us,
’Mid this old world’s ills;
Still our hearts will turn with gladness
To our purple hills.
Williamstown, 1898.
