The Old
Arm Chair
image of upright arm chair
in which there is a Holy Bible
resting on one arm
I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT, AND WHO SHALL DARE
TO CHIDE ME FOR LOVING THAT OLD ARM CHAIR,
I'VE TREASURED IT LONG AS A HO-LY PRIZE,
I'VE BE-DEW'D IT WITH TEARS, AND EM-BALM'D
IT WITH SIGHS; TIS BOUND BY A THOU-SAND
BANDS OF MY HEART: NOT A TIE WILL BREAK,
NOT A LINK WILL START. WOULD YE LEARN
THE SPELL: A MOTHER SAT THERE, AND A
SA-CRED THING IS THAT OLD ARM CHAIR.
I SAT AND WATCHED HER MANY A DAY
WHEN HER EYE GREW DIM,
AND HER LOCKS WERE GREY:
AND I ALMOST WORSHIPP'D HER
WHEN SHE SMILED,
AND TURN'D FROM HER BIBLE
TO BLESS HER CHILD.
YEARS ROLL'D ON, BUT THE LAST ONE SPED,
MY IDOL WAS SHATTER'D
MY EARTH STAR FLED:
I LEAR'NT HOW MUCH THE HEART CAN BEAR,
WHEN I SAW HER DIE
IN THAT OLD ARM CHAIR.
ELIZA COOK.
