And woke to life the warbling throng,
   While streamlets gaily danced along;
   If such a spot on earth be found,
   Those hills and vallies all around
   Smiled, like the paradise of God,
   When first by sinless beings trod. 
   Thus, rude, romantic, grand, sublime,
   Was Lewiston, in olden time. 
   But Art and Genius, passing by,
   Saw this fair spot neglected lie,
   Then said, in deep emotion’s tone,
   “Shall these bright waves go dancing on,
   Just like a thoughtless child at play,
   Who throws his strength and skill away?”
   Anon, they raised the useful mills,
   The sparkling waters moved the wheels,
   And industry, with cheerful air,
   Was pleased to take her station there. 
   The proud old forest bowed, his head,
   With sullen frowns the savage fled,
   The timid beaver left the shore,
   The deer and moose were seen no more. 
   Rich cultivated fields appeared. 
   Neat tasteful dwellings soon were reared,
   In graceful ranks we see them stand,
   With spacious streets on either hand. 
   Where once the Indian’s wigwam stood,
   The factory, with its busy crowd,
   Dispenses blessings far and near,
   While rich and poor its products share. 
   Here merchandise, with eagle eyes,
   His own and others’ wants supplies;
   And science, like a swelling tide,
   Diffuses knowledge far and wide. 
   The sweetly pealing sabbath bells,
   Now echo round those hills and dells,
   And call the villagers to meet
   Where they enjoy communion sweet,
   With Him who answers ev’ry prayer
   That humble faith can utter there. 
   There’s music in those sabbath bells,
   This pleasing truth methinks they tell,
   That God is held in rev’rence there,
   And worshiped in His house of prayer. 
   In the fair background now are seen
   Sweet hills and dales, all robed in green,
   With here and there a pleasant grove
   Where every class delights to rove;
   There, age sits down beneath the shade,
   Where he has oft in childhood strayed;
   There, youths and maidens often walk,
   To spend an hour in friendly talk;
   There, little children, too, are seen,
   Like lambs they gambol o’er the green;
   They wander there in summer hours
   In quest of birds’ nests, fruit, and flowers. 
   The scholar loves this solitude,
   Where tumult never dares intrude;
   And here the stranger likes to roam,
   And think of loved ones left at home. 
   The saint, at twilight’s pensive hour,
   Here seeks the sweet secluded bower;
   While whisp’ring zephyrs linger near,
   And waft to heaven the humble prayer. 
   And all who study nature’s book,
   On this fair page delight to look;
   They’ll range those hills and vallies o’er,
   And trace the river’s winding shore. 
   Nor can they e’er forget to