Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.

Stanzas Occasioned by the Death of Dr. Franklin

THUS, some tall tree that long has stood

The glory of its native wood,

By storms destroy’d, or length of years,

Demands the tribute of our tears.

The pile that took long time to raise

Will sink, ’tis true, by slow decays;

But when its destined years are o’er,

We must regret the loss the more.

So long befriended by your art,

Philosopher, we must not part!—

When monarchs tumble to the ground,

Successors easily are found;

But, matchless Franklin, what a few

Can hope to equal such as you,

Who seized from kings their scepter’d pride,

And turn’d the lightning’s darts aside!