Boston

by


St. Botolph's Town refers to the landmark church in Boston, England. Longfellow's "And echoed in another hemisphere" refers to America's fair city, Boston, named in its honor, founded September 7, 1630, incorporated March 4, 1822.
An illustration for the story Boston by the author Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
St. Botolph's Church and river, Boston, England, 1890
An illustration for the story Boston by the author Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
St. Botolph's Church and river, Boston, England, 1890
An illustration for the story Boston by the author Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
    St. Botolph's Town!    Hither across the plains
        And fens of Lincolnshire, in garb austere,
        There came a Saxon monk, and founded here
        A Priory, pillaged by marauding Danes,
    So that thereof no vestige now remains;
        Only a name, that, spoken loud and clear,
        And echoed in another hemisphere,
        Survives the sculptured walls and painted panes.
    St. Botolph's Town!    Far over leagues of land
        And leagues of sea looks forth its noble tower,
        And far around the chiming bells are heard;
    So may that sacred name forever stand
        A landmark, and a symbol of the power,
        That lies concentred in a single word.

Boston was featured as The Short Story of the Day on Sun, Sep 08, 2019

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