And so never ending,
But always descending.

And so never ending,
But always descending.

Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginnings of my
strength, the excellency of dignity, and the read more

Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginnings of my
strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up
to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my
couch.

How dear to this heart are the scenes of my childhood,
When fond recollection presents them to view.
read more

How dear to this heart are the scenes of my childhood,
When fond recollection presents them to view.
. . . .
The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket,
The moss-covered bucket, which hung in the well.

How sweet from the green mossy brim to receive it,
As, poised on the curb, it inclined to my read more

How sweet from the green mossy brim to receive it,
As, poised on the curb, it inclined to my lips!
Not a full blushing goblet could tempt me to leave it,
The brightest that beauty or revelry sips.

Water its living strength first shows,
When obstacles its course oppose.

Water its living strength first shows,
When obstacles its course oppose.

'Tis a little thing
To give a cup of water; yet its draught
Of cool refreshment, drain'd read more

'Tis a little thing
To give a cup of water; yet its draught
Of cool refreshment, drain'd by fever'd lips,
May give a shock of pleasure to the frame
More exquisite than when nectarean juice
Renews the life of joy in happiest hours.

'Tis rushing now adown the spout,
And gushing out below,
Half frantic in its joyousness,
read more

'Tis rushing now adown the spout,
And gushing out below,
Half frantic in its joyousness,
And wild in eager flow.
The earth is dried and parched with heat,
And it hath long'd to be
Released from out the selfish cloud,
To cool the thirsty tree.

I have drunk deep of the waters of my ancestors.

I have drunk deep of the waters of my ancestors.

Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner:
Honest water, which ne'er left man i' th' mire.

Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner:
Honest water, which ne'er left man i' th' mire.