“The Old Academy” Poem
“The Old Academy” poem framed and hanging on a wall in the Old Stone House
The walk to see the poem mirrors the experience told in the poem itself. As you travel up to the third floor of the Old Stone House, you are led “through its ancient halls / And up the stairways dim.” Read this circa 1920s poem by Orleans County poet Mary A. (Currier) Smith and find yourself falling into the “footfalls” of sweet and echoing memory.
A closer look at “The Old Academy” poem
THE OLD ACADEMY
By Mary A. (Currier) Smith
(Dedicated to the Students of Brownington Academy, who attend that Institution under the instruction of Mr. Twilight.)
In reverie let me wander,
Through dreamland wander o’er
Again the scenes of girlhood
In happy days of yore.
Bring me the old stone house,
That pile of granite grim;
Lead me through its ancient halls
And up the stairways dim.
Worn by many a footfall
Of noble, good and true;
Who roam in pain no longer
The paths that tears bedew.
In that bright parlor leave me,
Built there so near the sky,
Where silver moonbeams, mellow,
Shine through the windows high.
It is the hour of twilight,
So dusky, dim and gray;
But all our hearts are happy
While tasks are laid away.
Familiar voices greet me,
While loved ones linger near,
And many a fervent hand clasp
Bespeaks that I am dear.
Not mid my early school days,
Doth sweetest memory hold
So many pleasing treasures,
More precious far than gold.
The companionship of many,
The friendship of the few,
Who through long years of trial
Have proved both firm and true.
But listen, ‘tis the pealing, low
Of yonder silvery bell;
Like music stealing o’er me
With sweet and thrilling knell.
We welcome it with pleasure
As all are seated there,
Its note so softly telling:
It is the hour of prayer.
While floats the song of evening
From voices glad and free,
Our joyful hearts uniting
In tuneful melody.
Then doth our loved preceptor,
With words most fitly spoke,
The richest of all blessings
On each one there invoke.
Though long years have passed away
I seem to hear his voice
In earnest accents saying:
“Make heaven your early choice.”
His weary life is ended,
His toilsome work is o’er;
But we hope again to greet him
On the celestial shore.
The cross he bore has vanished:
A glorious crown is won;
With many a star bedecked
The gifts of God’s dear Son.
Song of the Green Mountain Boys
The topmost section of the “Song of the Green Mountain Boys”
From the Davis Family Papers are the printed lyrics of a Civil War era song, featuring a verse referring to “Orleans County boys.” This song describes and motivates a different kind of footfall: marching! It is attributed to J.S.B., C.E.J. and T.T.S.
The section of the song referring to Orleans County boys
Warner Davis, whose descendants donated the collection, served in Company D, 6th Regiment of Vermont Volunteers of the Union Army. We surmise from the Company D roster that the poets were Charles Edwin Joslyn, Thomas Tyler Stewart and either John S. Brown or John S. Bumps.
A photo of Company D, 6th Regiment of Vermont Volunteers of the Union Army
In the above photo of the regiment, someone penned “D 6 Vt” into the arch (to represent Company D, 6th Regiment of Vermont). If you look closely you can see someone included lines to create the impression the letters are hanging like triumphant signs from the arch.
A closer look at the penned letters in the arch
Please click on the button below to see the full song!
Click here to read the full Song of the Green Mountain Boys
