The writings of John Greenleaf Whittier, Volume 3.
John Greenleaf Whittier, Ed.

The night is falling, comrades mine,
     Our footsore beasts are weary,
And through yon elms the tavern sign
     Looks out upon us cheery.
The landlord beckons from his door,
     His beechen fire is glowing;
These ample barns, with feed in store,
     Are filled to overflowing.

From many a valley frowned across
     By brows of rugged mountains;
From hillsides where, through spongy moss,
     Gush out the river fountains;
From quiet farm-fields, green and low,
     And bright with blooming clover;
From vales of corn the wandering crow
     No richer hovers over;

Day after day our way has been
     O'er many a hill and hollow;
By lake and stream, by wood and glen,
     Our stately drove we follow.
Through dust-clouds rising thick and dun,
     As smoke of battle o'er us,
Their white horns glisten in the sun,
     Like plumes and crests before us.

We see them slowly climb the hill,
     As slow behind it sinking;