Alluding To Lines Written In 1804. Poem by Susan Evance

WHY did I mourn the prospects fair,
That glow'd in life's delightful spring,
All sunk like gusts of passing air,
And "flown on Sorrow's sable wing; "

Why did I think that hope was lost,
Her sweet enchanting visions o'er!
And weep for joy by sadness crost,
And say 'twould smile for me no more?

Ah! though my early joys decay'd,
And sunk in Life's tumultuous stream;
Tho' the gay hopes were doom'd to fade
That owed their light to Fancy's beam

A thousand prospects, fair as new,
Now burst upon my ravish'd sight;
A thousand lovely hopes I view,
Glowing with Truth's effulgence bright.

Those fickle beams were shed to fade,
But these shall never more depart;
Those lightly o'er my bosom play'd.
These deeply sink within my heart.

O blest Religion! 'tis to thee
I owe these feelings all divine! -
Still thou my Sun of splendour be,
And ever o'er my prospects shine.