The Sprig of Moss

THERE lived in Munich a poor, weakly youth,
But for the exact date, I cannot vouch for the truth,
And of seven of a family he was the elder,
Who was named, by his parents, Alois Senefelder.

But, poor fellow, at home his father was lying dead,
And his little brothers and sisters were depending upon him for bread,
And one evening he was dismissed from his employment,
Which put an end to all his peace and enjoyment.

The poor lad was almost mad, and the next day
His parent’s remains to the cemetery were taken away;
And when his father was buried, distracted like he grew,
And he strolled through the streets crying, What shall I do!

And all night he wandered on sad and alone,
Until he began to think of returning home,
But, to his surprise, on raising his head to look around,
He was in a part of the country which to him was unknown ground.

And when night came on the poor lad stood aghast,
For all was hushed save the murmuring of a river which flowed past;
And the loneliness around seemed to fill his heart with awe,
And, with fatigue, he sat down on the first stone he saw.

And there resting his elbows and head on his knees,
He sat gazing at the running water, which did him please;
And by the light of the stars which shone on the water blue,
He cried, I will drown myself, and bid this harsh world adieu.

Besides, I’m good for nothing, to himself he said,
And will only become a burden to my mother, I’m afraid
And there, at the bottom of that water, said he,
From all my misfortunes death will set me free.

But, happily for Alois, more pious thoughts rushed into his mind,
And courage enough to drown himself he couldn’t find,
So he resolved to go home again whatever did betide,
And he asked forgiveness of his Creator by the river side.

And as he knelt, a few incoherent words escaped him,
And the thought of drowning himself he considered a great sin,
And the more he thought of it, he felt his flesh creep,
But in a few minutes he fell fast asleep.

And he slept soundly, for the stillness wasn’t broke,
And the day was beginning to dawn before he awoke;
Then suddenly he started up as if in a fright,
And he saw very near him a little stone smooth and white,

Upon which was traced the delicate design of a Sprig of Moss
But to understand such a design he was at a loss,
Then he recollected the Sprig of Moss lying on the stone,
And with his tears he’d moistened it, but it was gone.

But its imprint was delicately imprinted on the stone;
Then, taking the stone under his arm, he resolved to go home,
Saying, God has reserved me for some other thing,
And with joy he couldn’t tell how he began to sing.

And on drawing near the city he met his little brother,
Who told him his uncle had visited his mother,
And on beholding their misery had left them money to buy food,
Then Alois cried, Thank God, the news is good!

Then ’twas on the first day after Alois came home,
He began the printing of the Sprig of Moss on the stone;
And by taking the impressions of watch-cases he discovered, one day,
What is now called the art of Lithography.

So Alois plodded on making known his great discovery,
Until he obtained the notice of the Royal Academy,
Besides, he obtained a gold Medal, and what was more dear to his heart,
He lived to see the wide extension of his art.

And when life’s prospects may at times appear dreary to ye,
Remember Alois Senefelder, the discoverer of Lithography,
How God saved him from drowning himself in adversity,
And I hope ye all will learn what the Sprig of Moss teaches ye.

And God that made a way through the Red Sea,
If ye only put your trust in Him, He will protect ye,
And light up your path, and strew it with flowers,
And be your own Comforter in all your lonely hours.

Wikipedia Article

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Comments (6) »

  1. Steven Armour
    In the year 2013, on the 16th day of September at 2:19 am

    The man was a genius, I tell you. Nobody can write poetry like that.

  2. In the year 2015, on the 6th day of November at 6:35 am

    This poem is amazing!.

  3. In the year 2016, on the 4th day of July at 1:39 am

    Truly I say, McGonagall has talents and gifts writing poems in his time!

  4. Vin Diesel
    In the year 2016, on the 31st day of July at 4:12 am

    Wow, this poem is great and one of the most interesting text I’ve read!

  5. Daniel Bennett
    In the year 2017, on the 8th day of May at 12:38 am

    McGonagall knew that it was 1791, he is lying there. He probably also knew that rather than considering suicide Senenfelder responded to his father’s death by writing a play called “Connoisseur of Girls”. Despite the artistic licence it is an epic poem which compares very favourably to Homer’s better efforts.

  6. In the year 2023, on the 13th day of November at 11:47 am

    スーパーコピー エルメス ボリード エトープ

    皆様の絶好評判を偽物スーパーコピー 時計人気専門 ショップです ロレックススーパーコピーなど世界中有名なスーパーコピー 時計を格安で通販しております。 N級品スーパーコピー 時計は 業界で最高な品質に挑戦します。! その達成は多数のうちの1つです。 しかし、それは、完成を求めるロレックス、および彼らのエクスプローラーをそれらの成功の主要部分と考える人々の両方をガイドする冒険心を象徴します

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