Background: The Albany Freeholder, an anti-rent newspaper, was published between 1845-1854. No page numbers were used.

Albany Freeholder April 23, 1845

THE FIELD OF WHEAT.

BY MISS H. F. GOULD.

Field of wheat, so full and fair,
Showing thus thy shining hair,
Lightly waving either way,
Where the gentle breezes play,
Looking like a sunny sea,
How I love to gaze on thee!
Pleasant art thou to the sight,
And to the thought a rich delight!
Then thy name is music sweet,
Silken sounding field of Wheat!

Pointing upwards to the sky,
Rising straight and aiming high,
Every stalk is seen to shoot,
Like an arrow from the root;
As a well-trained company,
All in uniform agree.
From the footing to the ear—
All in order strict appear;
Marshall’d by a skilful hand,
All together bow or stand.

Still within the proper bound,
None o’ersteps the given ground,
With its tribute held to pay
At his not whom they obey.
Each the gem that studs its crown,
Will in time for man lay down.
Thou in promise art replete,
Bearing precious sheaves of Wheat.

How thy strength in weakness lies!
Not a robber bird that flies,
Finds support whereby to put
On a stalk her lawless foot;
None her predatory beak
Plunges down thy stores to seek,
Where thy guard of silver spears
Keeps the fruit and decks the ears,
No vain insect that could do
Harm to thee, dares venture through
Armory like thine, to win
From the sheath, the grain within.

What a study do we find,
Opened here for eye and mind –
Who that sees thee as thou art
Can disown a grateful heart?
Here upon this favored ground,
Faith is bless’d and hope is crowned:
Charity may find the bread
Wide abroad her gifts to spread;
Wisdom, power and goodness meet,
Beauteous, bounteous field of Wheat.

Transcribed for this website by Terri Nan Treibits.