His work was done; his blessing lay
Like precious ointment on his people’s head,
And God’s great peace was resting on his soul.
His life had been a lengthened sacrifice,
A thing of deep devotion to his race,
Since first he turned his eyes on Egypt’s gild
And glow, and clasped their fortunes in his hand
And held them with a firm and constant grasp.
But now his work was done; his charge was laid
In Joshua’s hand, and men of younger blood
Were destined to possess the land and pass
Through Jordan to the other side.
While the Anti-Slavery movement was in progress in Massachusetts,
Miss Charlotte Forten, of Philadelphia, now Mrs. Francis Grimke, of
Washington, D. C., wrote several articles on Southern life. These
found ready acceptance at the hands of the publishers of the “Atlantic
Monthly.” Miss Forten wrote often, both in prose and verse, but many
very beautiful poems were never published. As the wife of Dr. Grimke
she has been so occupied with work more directly confined to the church
and locality, that nothing from her pen has appeared for some years. We
have been honored, however, with a few lines from private collections
of herself and friends.