The March Of Time

Blow not that trumpet blast again!

     Tone down those bells of merry chime –

I hear the heavy tread of men,

As onward strides the march of time.

In ages past, when man was dust,

     This endless march began its tread;

Then by a simple breath-like gust

Our God placed mortal at its head.

And ever since, the cry has been,

     From worldly ones along the line:

“O, march of time, cease now thy reign!

     For now our lives are in their prime.”

It halteth not for weary feet,

     But sweeps us on with restless pace;

And when a comrade has fought his fight

     Another comes to fill his place.

Aug. 20, 1890

   Pub.in

Conn. Ad.

This is dated at Aug. 16, 1890 in what looks (by the nature of the script as well as crossed out poems) to be the original collection. The ascribed date is August 20 in the bound, but still handwritten volume.