human
Can you write me a poem about josiah quincy the?
assistant
Sure, here's a poem about josiah quincy the:
  _Three hundred copies printed._
Governor Winthrop's Return to Boston
The Changes since, and those which are to come
Rev. John Wilson's Vision
Josiah Quincy's Estimate of Winthrop
Winthrop's Life and Services
An Interview with a Great Character
Winthrop appears to the Writer
He disclaims being Venerable
Age not reckoned in Spirit-land
He refers to First Church and its History
And predicts its still Greater Success
Winthrop's Benediction and Departure
WINTHROP'S STATUE IN SCOLLAY SQUARE . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_
Governor Winthrop's Return to Boston.
Upon these almost universal changes he makes some appropriate
The Thursday Lecture, which was the special clerical and social
Josiah Quincy the elder, the second on the roll of Boston's
There was a quiet hour in Scollay Square;
The cars and teams were blocked from getting there;
No longer shone the famed electric light,--
It flickered out and left the darkest night.
I seemed to feel a shock upon my arm,
And hear the statue speak: "I 'll do no harm,--
An elder of First Church I think you are;
I have a message for you; come, prepare."
"Winthrop!" cried I, "my venerable sire!
Do you reanimate your rich attire?
Most glad am I to have this interview;
Pray, tell me all you wish, things old and new."
"My friend," said he, "no ven'rable am I,
For mortals grow no older when they die;
E'er since my earthly race I long have run,
My age has numbered only sixty-one.
Years are not counted on the heavenly shore,
For in eternal life time is no more.
The children sweet, the lovely bride forsooth,
Transferred, preserve the freshness of their youth.
Those who departed later are not found
Far to transcend them in their endless round.
More of the spirits' life I may not tell;
Enough to say that with them all is well;
God's universe has boundless worlds to show;
His works will take eternity to know.
"But I would speak of your millennial time
Whose fame has gone through yon celestial clime.
Almost one seventh of the years our Lord
Has named for Him, First Church has preached His word.
Its simple cov'nant ever served its need;
It learned to live without a cumbrous creed.
Its 'goodly church,' fast built where flowed the tide,
Fulfils the vision Wilson saw with pride.
Its charming chapel opens wide the door
To the bright children of the suffering poor.
Ah! blest are they who use for them their might!
Angels will bear them on their upward flight;
And, in return, the grateful youth will come,
With prosperous hands, to deck their Christian home.
The seed, wide-spread, will take its deepest root,
And, watered oft, will yield its tenfold fruit.
Erelong those hallowed walls will scarce contain
Those who shall flock to learn the precepts plain.
More week-day services will be required,
To hear the word by holy men inspired;
And long shall those enduring arches ring
With pulpit tones, and songs the choir will sing.
"The cup I gave, and which you pass around,
The sole familiar thing about this ground,
Will prove a token true from age to age,--
May its partakers gild the sacred page!
"Oft as my after-knowledge takes wide range,
I note how wonderful the constant change:
No coin we used is current here to-day;
The bills we passed you would not take for pay.
Our money funds required no 'safety' locks,
And differs much what we and you call 'stocks;'
Men often find yours quite a dangerous game,
And get their foot stuck in them just the same.
"The Thursday Lecture yields no more its grace;
Your Thursday Evening Club now takes its place.
The buildings strong we built have ceased to be.
Lands now most valued then were in the sea.
And so, few centuries hence, 't will be again:
What now is property will sink like rain;
Your mills, railroads, and bonds will be out-played;
Then, too, your fruitful Calumet may fade.
Amass as much as one can call his own,
By right use only can its good be shown;
Pile worldly goods in a superfluous whole,
They are not worth e'en one immortal soul.
"'T was not my lot to have large sums in store,
My wealth was gone ere mortal life was o'er;
But Faith and Liberty I most did prize,--
On those twin rocks I bade a nation rise.
There was another John, you understand;
He founded Learning's halls in this new land;
Not Vanderbilt, nor any moneyed name
Will e'er outshine John Harvard's brilliant fame.
Learn this: strive not for wealth that will not last,
But let your treasures be in heaven cast;
These are alone the real things to crave.
While that will mould, like bodies in the grave,
Material forms to meet decay are sure;
The mind and spirit only will endure.
Hope's blissful visions, with its longings strong,
The will's high purpose, freed from thought of wrong,
Fond memory of good deeds that here were done,
Of sinners from their evil courses won,
The love and knowledge of the God Supreme,
Of Christ who came the fallen to redeem,--
These are, indeed, the good, substantial things
To which the soul for endless ages clings.
"Could I have marked where should this statue stand,
I would have placed it on that Common land,
Of past and coming times the great delight,--
With First Church spire and Capitol in sight;
My figure there should front the setting sun;
That, in review of any good I 've done
During the last score years I passed on earth,
Posterity may better know my worth.
"I love the grand First Church, I love the State.
I planted both.  Their growth, through God, is great,
And both will flourish ever, while the sun
His circuit round this globe shall seem to run.
May every good Saint Botolph's town betide,
And Thursday Club, led by the wisest Guide."
Of what he said, this is, condensed, the sum.
Then flashed the light; on came the busy hum;
Then Winthrop's spirit soared up to the stars;
Mute stood his statue 'mid the noisy cars.