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

Middle States: Wilmington, Del.

St. John’s Church

By Anonymous

Founded by Alexis I. Du Pont
(Excerpt)

NEVER of dust beneath did sculptured tomb

So eloquently speak as this gray spire

Of thee, O laborer without hire, whose day

Closed with the noon, thy Master calling thee

Straight from the field before thy work was done

To rest with him above. Before thy work

Was done? We dare not say of thee, whose life

Was filled to overflowing with good deeds

Who crowded labors in the noontide hour

So vast as this, that aught was left undone.

No. Blessed be He who set thee to thy task,

And when the hours of servitude were o’er

Redeemed the promise of our Christ, and called

Thee home to glories of thy heritage.

*****