The Mountain Home

The Mountain Home

My Home's on the mountain,

'Mid fragrance and shade,

Where gushes the fountain,

In wild flowers arrayed;

Where nature is sweetest,

Unfashion'd by art,

And winds wing their fleetest -

A home of the heart.

The bright summer's morning

Breaks freshly and free,

In gold rays, adorning

The lightly fann'd tree;

The bird there careering

In splendor and song,

Is far more endearing

Than sport of the throng.

The airy cloud floating

Beneath the blue sky,

Or black mass, denoting

The thunder is nigh -

Each makes it a pleasure

O'er highlands to roam,

That spot is a treasure,

My green mountain home.

There, there let me number

The length of my days,

And there let me slumber

In lone forest ways;

O'er my grave be no pennant,

No column, or dome -

Unmark'd let me tenant

My wild mountain home!

John Hickman, Jr.

1:45, p. 4

1837.11.11

From the Philadelphia Saturday Courier