The Sacrifice of Abraham 9 Absalom 14 Hagar in the Wilderness 20 Jephthah’s Daughter 26 Idleness 32 Dreams 34 October 38 Boyhood 41 Night Sketches 44 Twilight 49 Dawn 51 Scraps from a Journal 53 Better Moments 61 The Hindoo Mother 65 Waiting for the Harvesters 75 FUGITIVE PIECES. The Soldier’s Widow 79 The Burial of Arnold 81 To Laura W---- 84 Sonnets 87, 88, 89 Extract from a Poem Delivered at the Departure of the Senior Class of Yale College in 1826 90 Notes 95 SKETCHES. THE SACRIFICE OF ABRAHAM. Morn breaketh in the east. The purple clouds Are putting on their gold and violet, To look the meeter for the sun’s bright coming. Sleep is upon the waters and the wind; And nature, from the tremulous forest leaf To her majestic master, sleeps. As yet There is no mist upon the deep blue sky, And the clear dew is on the blushing bosoms Of crimson roses, in a holy rest. How hallowed is the hour of morning! meet, Aye, beautifully meet, for the pure prayer. The patriarch standeth at his tented door, With his white locks uncovered. ’Tis his wont To gaze upon the gorgeous orient; And at that hour the awful majesty Of one who talketh often with his God, Is wont to come again and clothe his brow As at his fourscore strength. But now he seemeth To be forgetful of his vigorous frame, And boweth to his staff as at the hour Of noontide sultriness; and that bright sun! He looketh at its pencilled messengers, Coming in golden raiment, as if light Were opening a fearful scroll in heaven. Ah! he is waiting till it herald in The hour to sacrifice his much loved son!