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To George Peabody

By Oliver Wendell Holmes

Topics: classic

Danvers, 1866     Bankrupt! our pockets inside out!     Empty of words to speak his praises!     Worcester and Webster up the spout!     Dead broke of laudatory phrases!     Yet why with flowery speeches tease,     With vain superlatives distress him?     Has language better words than these?     THE FRIEND OF ALL HIS RACE, GOD BLESS HIM!     A simple prayer - but words more sweet     By human lips were never uttered,     Since Adam left the country seat     Where angel wings around him fluttered.     The old look on with tear-dimmed eyes,     The children cluster to caress him,     And every voice unbidden cries,     THE FRIEND OF ALL HIS RACE, GOD BLESS HIM!

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"Danvers, 1866..."

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"Danvers, 1866..." by Oliver Wendell Holmes

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Oliver Wendell Holmes

About Oliver Wendell Holmes

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809–1894) was an American poet, physician, and essayist. His poems "Old Ironsides" and "The Chambered Nautilus" are American classics. He was part of the Fireside Poets group.

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