| |
| SHE dwells by Great Kanawha’s side, | |
| In valleys green and cool; | |
| And all her hope and all her pride | |
| Are in the village school. | |
| |
| Her soul, like the transparent air | 5 |
| That robes the hills above, | |
| Though not of earth, encircles there | |
| All things with arms of love. | |
| |
| And thus she walks among her girls | |
| With praise and mild rebukes; | 10 |
| Subduing e’en rude village churls | |
| By her angelic looks. | |
| |
| She reads to them at eventide | |
| Of One who came to save; | |
| To cast the captive’s chains aside | 15 |
| And liberate the slave. | |
| |
| And oft the blessed time foretells | |
| When all men shall be free; | |
| And musical, as silver bells, | |
| Their falling chains shall be. | 20 |
| |
| And following her beloved Lord, | |
| In decent poverty, | |
| She makes her life one sweet record | |
| And deed of charity. | |
| |
| For she was rich, and gave up all | 25 |
| To break the iron bands | |
| Of those who waited in her hall, | |
| And labored in her lands. | |
| |
| Long since beyond the Southern Sea | |
| Their outbound sails have sped, | 30 |
| While she, in meek humility, | |
| Now earns her daily bread. | |
| |
| It is their prayers, which never cease, | |
| That clothe her with such grace; | |
| Their blessing is the light of peace | 35 |
| That shines upon her face. | |
| |
