The Falmouth Bell

Never was there lovelier

Than our Falmouth by the sea.

Tender curves of sky look

On her grace of knoll and lea.

Sweet her nestled Mayflower

Ere from prouder haunts the

Yet has brushed the lingering

With a violet-colored wing.

Bright the autumn gleams

Cranberry marsh and bushy wold,

Till the children's mirth has

Millionaires in leaves of gold;

And upon her pleasant ways,

Set with many a gardened home,

Flash through fret of drooping

Visions far of ocean foam.

Happy bell of Paul Revere,

Sounding o'er such blest

While a hundred times a

Weaves the round from green to green. ——————————————————————————————————————— —  Never were there friendlier

Than in Falmouth by the sea,

Neighbor-households that invoke Pride of sailor-pedigree.

Here is princely interchange Of the gifts of shore and field,

Starred with treasures rare and

That the liberal sea-chests yield.

Culture here burns breezy torch Where gray captains, bronzed of neck Tread their little length of porch With a memory of the deck.

Ah, and here the tenderest hearts,

Here where sorrows sorest wring And the widows shift their parts Comforted and comforting.

Holy bell of Paul Revere Calling such to prayer and praise.

While a hundred times the year Herds her flock of faithful days! ——————————————————————————————————————— —  Greetings to thee, ancient

Of our Falmouth by the sea!

Answered by the ocean swell,

Ring thy centuried Jubilee!

Like the white sails of the Sound,

Hast thou seen the years drift by,

From the dreamful, dim

To a goal beyond the eye.

Long thy maker lieth mute,

Hero of a faded strife;

Thou hast tolled from seed to

Generations three of life.

Still thy mellow voice and

Floats o'er land and listening deep,

And we deem our fathers

From their shadowy hill of sleep.

Ring thy peals for centuries yet,

Living voice of Paul Revere!

Let the future not

That the past accounted dear!