Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
America: Vols. XXV–XXIX. 1876–79.

New England: Bethlehem, N. H.

Mount Agassiz

By Charlotte Fiske Bates (1838–1916)

BEFORE this mountain bore his well-loved name

Whose greatness runs through both the hemispheres,

Whose life-work, after death, but swells his fame,

Whose sudden loss set Science’ self in tears,—

I stood upon it; now if I were there

Among the flocking thoughts would this one brood,—

Mount Agassiz! It must have known such prayer

As rose at Penikese where once he stood

Pleading with Heaven, yet uttering not a word,

Leading the face and spirit of that throng

On through an awe-hinged gate, that swung unheard,

Into His presence where all souls belong:—

So doubtless, here, with noisy words unshod,

Went Prayer in Horeb silence unto God.