It once befell, upon a day
      When chilling winds did blow,
And winter had his mantle on
      Of white and dazzling snow;
And every pond and rivulet
      Were bright and smooth as glass,
Some boys went out, a sportive hour
      Upon the ice to pass.

Oh, many a mother's hope was there,
      With kerchief round his chin,
And mittens warm upon his hands,
      And cap of sable skin.
And there was many a gentle youth,
      Their parents' pride and joy;
There, too, was William Patterson,
      A humble negro boy.

Oh, but they were a jolly band,
      And pleasant 'twas to see
How gracefully upon the ice
      They went, and merrily.
Now here, now there, now up, now down,
      While laugh, and joke, and shout,
Were heard upon the sparkling lake,
      And echoed round about.

Alas! for in the very height
      Of all their sport and glee,
The treacherous stay beneath their feet
      Was broken suddenly!
Down, down they sink--seven precious souls,
      Beneath the ice-bound wave;
Oh, who of all that shared their sport
      Will risk his life to save?

"Oh, Patterson, Will Patterson!"
      In agony they cry;
"Our comrades, come, oh, quickly come;
      Save, save them or they die!"
He heard, he flew, small need had they
      To call upon them twice;
Like lightning flash at summer eve,
      He's down beneath the ice.

And soon up to the slippery verge,
      His sable arms upbore
Two shivering youths, the rescued ones,
      And carried safe to shore.
"I'll save them all, I'll save them all!"
      The youthful hero cried;
Again the daring boy went down,
      Rose, struggled, sank, and died.

Vain were thy efforts, noble boy--
      He died, but could not save,
And many a mourning mother's pride
      Lies with him 'neath the wave.
How changed the scene--for laugh and shout,
      For frolic, sport, and glee,
Are heard around that fatal spot,
      Wild shrieks of agony.

And dare we woo the muse for thee,
      Dark Afric's sable son?
Thy name might shine in glowing lines--
      Be graved in lasting stone.
For bold and fearless was thy heart,
      Though black might be thy skin;
The hero on the blood-stained field
      Could scarce thy laurels win.

And now unto his mother's home,
      He left so blithe at morn,
A stiff cold corse her darling boy
      Was sadly, slowly borne!
She laid him in his wintry grave,
      Her earthly stay is gone--
Poor woman--Oh! God pity her,
      She's lost a noble son.

And now to all that may have read
      This short and simple lay,
A word or two before we part
      An humble bard would say:
Oh, life is fleeting, death is sure,
      Think of the judgment-day.


Easton, Pa.