from the frontispiece of his Orations and Poems
….ALL day, as days are counted here below,
I’ve ranged the banks of this myster’ous Chasm ;
Whose raging voice has boomed, like thunder in
Distant tones, ever since the morning stars
Their song began. And as I gazed on the
Huge transparent mass, plunging the foaming
Gulf below, my heart was struck with fear, like
Viewing specters in the magic glass, or
Raging winds that swell the deep. And as I
Sat me down for nature to revive, sad
And fearful thoughts rushed on my soul, as I
Gazed on this phenomenon of nature’s
Birth .
……………The king of day was now descending
The western horizon ; and ever since
The morning light had dispersed night’s dreary
Mantle, my vision gazed on this direful
Cataract ; producing scenes terrific
And sublime. The crystal fountains of the
Northern lakes, condensed in old Niag’ra,
With incessant sweep, near, and forever
Near the verge of this drear, and dreadful gulf !
And as they descend the vast abyss, the
Shock is heard in the distance as the voice
And proof of nature’s God. Were it not for
Habit, proving no alarm, man would be
More fearful of this terrific sound, than
Of the lightning’s burst in a stormy sky.
Such are the wonders of nature in this
Mighty Cascade, that the spell yet remains
Upon me; and their mementos enchant
My spirit, and blend with my existence.
….God’s hand made these mighty waters, to plunge
The deep ! to shake the earth afar ; and roll
On amid the gulf, plowed by nature’s stream
In solid rock, through the flight of ages.
Six thousand years this trump of God perchance
Has sounded in the savage ear ; and thus
Made known the Spirit Land. Above the Falls
The current is so strong, and suction so
Severe, the fowl can hardly rise. The red
Man, in his barque, applies the oar too late ! —
His hope is lost ! he to the Spirit cries !
And with a mortal groan descends the grave
Of graves. The swift–winged birds of heaven, in
Sundry plumage decked, parched by sunbeams of
The Summer’s rays, bathe in vapors rising
From this foaming deep, and chant their songs to
Greet its cooling spray. Pilgrims, far and near,
Rush on to view this king of Cataracts ;
And by nature’s incessant anthem, some
Have learned the Author of the song.
…………………………………………………………The dread
Mastodon of the elder world, whose tread
Made the forests shake, perchance in days of
Yore has by these waters slaked his thirst. Fierce
Armies in their pride have near this Chasm met,
With martial din, where the dying groans and
The sad echoes of the cannon’s roar were
Heard in fearful blast. The storms and tempests
Have swept around it ; and the lightning’s flash,
And bolts of thunder, have shook the heavens
Above ; yet these waters rush on with their
Eternal song, from nature’s golden harp.
This music still salutes the ravished ear,
With strains that blend amid the raging storm.
….Near two miles below this Chasm is seen the
Iron Bridge, the wonder of art, sustained
By bolts and bars, posts and rails, gigantic
Cables, and sundry fixtures ; fastened to
The iron–bound shores of two nations ‘ pride,
O’er which the lion and the eagle soar.
On this suspended structure is seen the
Iron horse of rav’nous maw inspired with
Wood and fire, passing and repassing with
His gorgeous trains, journeying East and West
On their rushing pinions ; bearing mankind
And nature’s golden products, far and near.
Four iron cables, made of wiry braid,
Vast in their size, and strong with curly strands,
Extend from shore to shore, and terminate
With fast’nings, secured in solid rock more
Than twelve score feet above the river’s base.
Eight hundred tons comprise the weight of this
Gigantic Bridge ; twenty–four feet its width ;—
Eight hundred feet its length ; and the strength of
Its vast cables twelve thousand tons will bear.
Hard by this structure , on each tow’ring bank
Man’s frightful vision views the turbid stream
Of raging waters, rolling and tumbling
O’er their rocky base, to plunge the distant
Lake below. Immortal be the artist’s
Name that framed, and bound this gorgeous Bridge o’er
The dread Niag’ra, with light and knowledge
Drawn from the funds of the great Supreme.
….Amazing magnificence is seen in
The dire waters of this mighty Cascade.
But this is a mere point in the wonders
Of nature. The forest green, waving in
The gale ; the birds with plumage decked, beaming
In the sun ; earth’s millions of flow’rs kissed by
The dews of heaven ; the swift winged clouds on which
The beauties of earth and sky commingle ;
The Summer’s Sun glowing like the gate of
Paradise ; the tow’ring mountain, on whose
Summit remains eternal snow ; the vast
Prairies lit up by sunbeams waving in
The gale ; the flowing rivers, mountain born,
That wend their way to kiss the briny deep ;
The islands of fire that rise in the main,
And straightway are seen no more ; the rushing
Tornado, with giant pinions, sweeping
Before it the groves and hamlet ; and the
Oceans deep, which like clean hearts return heaven’s
Image ; or in their wild commotion swell
Like the heaving breasts of lions chained in
Agony ; all combine in nature’s book,
To tell the matchless glory of a God.
….If in this nether world our Father speaks
Terrible and sublime, how do the stars
Above, floating the heavens like islands of
Fire, proclaim his greatness ? How tells the vast
Blazonry of the great Original,
Which adorns the supernal fields of space
With beauty, far surpassing the diamond
Points of the mosaic texture ? If when
We look upon this Cataract, we are
Called to admiration, how much more, when
We gaze on the blue arch of heaven’s
Magnificence, besieged by God’s flaming
Seraphim, who keep their watch eternal.
….Ye sons of nature’s God, I pray draw near ;
Behold the wonders of this direful scene !
Hark ! the earth trembles ! the thunder tones of
This Chasm are heard afar ! showing to us
That nature proves a God. Still, we have more
Light ! it rises from the Gospel truth ; and
Reveals our endless weal or woe. Then, let
Adam’s fallen race from slumber rise !—make
Sure the living boon ! so when the works of
Time shall die, God’s holy Son will bear them
To his throne ! where they shall chant redeeming
Love, and share ambrosial strains of Heaven.
There scourging woes shall ever pass away !
And praise eternal shall to God be given.
These scenes of time should warn us of that hour,
When rocks shall rend, and oceans be no more.
….Ye blood–bought and Hell–bound Infidels ! by
This Cataract God is speaking to you.
These thunder tones, and all the sad dirges
Of nature, call for your belief in God !
But something more warns your souls to action !
It is the stable — the manger, and the
Crucifixion ! More, it is the Son of
God in Joseph’s tomb ! his ascension to
Heaven, after giving up the Ghost on
The cross, and his cries for your Salvation
At the right hand of God. Why then reject
The Savior, and make sure the wails of the
Lost ? where no mercy shall ever greet the
Ear ! and no Jesus set free the pris’ner.
Awake from your slumber ! run for life ! and
The bonus of the Crucifixion share.
Source: Roswell Rice. Rice’s Orations and Poems: Containing Orations of Temperance, War, Christ’s Second Advent, etc.; Descant on Time and Immortality, Time’s Destroying Flight, etc., in Blank Verse; Many Lyrics and Acrostics; and numberous Poetic Gems. Springfield, Mass: Press of Springfield Printing Company, 1883
