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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Armazindy - The Poems and Prose Sketches of James Whitcomb Riley - -Author: James Whitcomb Riley - -Release Date: October 25, 2020 [EBook #63552] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ARMAZINDY *** - - - - -Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_i"></a>[i]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" width="400" height="700" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_ii"></a>[ii]</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_iii"></a>[iii]</span></p> - -<div class="box max20"> - -<p class="center">THE POEMS AND PROSE<br /> -SKETCHES OF<br /> -JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY</p> - -<p class="titlepage larger">ARMAZINDY</p> - -<p class="titlepage">CHARLES SCRIBNER’S<br /> -SONS NEW YORK 1917</p> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_iv"></a>[iv]</span></p> - -<div class="max20"> - -<p class="titlepage smaller">Copyright, 1894, 1898, by<br /> -<span class="smcap">James Whitcomb Riley</span></p> - -<p class="hanging smaller">⁂ <i>The publication of this volume in the Homestead Edition -of the works of James Whitcomb Riley is made possible -by the courtesy of The Bowen-Merrill Company, of -Indianapolis, the original publishers of Mr. Riley’s -books.</i></p> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_v"></a>[v]</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_vi"></a>[vi]</span></p> - -<p class="titlepage">TO<br /> -HENRY EITEL</p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_vii"></a>[vii]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CONTENTS</h2> - -</div> - -<table summary="Contents"> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td class="tdpg smaller">PAGE</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l1">ARMAZINDY</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">Armazindy</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#ARMAZINDY">3</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">The Old Trundle-Bed</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_OLD_TRUNDLE-BED">15</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">Natural Perversities</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#NATURAL_PERVERSITIES">17</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">The Old School-Chum</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_OLD_SCHOOL-CHUM">20</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">Writin’ Back to the Home-Folks</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#WRITIN_BACK_TO_THE_HOME-FOLKS">22</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">The Blind Girl</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_BLIND_GIRL">25</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">We Defer Things</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#WE_DEFER_THINGS">28</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">The Muskingum Valley</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_MUSKINGUM_VALLEY">29</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">For this Christmas</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#FOR_THIS_CHRISTMAS">31</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">A Poor Man’s Wealth</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#A_POOR_MANS_WEALTH">32</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">The Little Red Ribbon</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_LITTLE_RED_RIBBON">34</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">“How did You Rest, Last Night?”</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#HOW_DID_YOU_REST_LAST_NIGHT">35</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">A Good-Bye</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#A_GOOD-BYE">37</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">When Maimie Married</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#WHEN_MAIMIE_MARRIED">38</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">“This Dear Child-Hearted Woman that is Dead”</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THIS_DEAR_CHILD-HEARTED_WOMAN_THAT_IS_DEAD">40</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">To a Poet-Critic</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#TO_A_POET-CRITIC">41</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">An Old-Timer</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#AN_OLD-TIMER">42</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">The Silent Victors</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_SILENT_VICTORS">44</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">Up and Down Old Brandywine</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#UP_AND_DOWN_OLD_BRANDYWINE">51</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_viii"></a>[viii]</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">Three Singing Friends</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THREE_SINGING_FRIENDS">56</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">A Noon Lull</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#A_NOON_LULL">59</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">A Windy Day</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#A_WINDY_DAY">60</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">My Henry</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#MY_HENRY">62</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">The Song I Never Sing</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_SONG_I_NEVER_SING">64</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">To Edgar Wilson Nye</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#TO_EDGAR_WILSON_NYE">67</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">Little David</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#LITTLE_DAVID">68</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">Out of the Hitherwhere</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#OUT_OF_THE_HITHERWHERE">69</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">Rabbit in the Cross-Ties</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#RABBIT_IN_THE_CROSS-TIES">71</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">Serenade—To Nora</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#SERENADE_TO_NORA">72</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">The Little White Hearse</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_LITTLE_WHITE_HEARSE">74</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">What Redress</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#WHAT_REDRESS">76</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">Dreamer, Say</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#DREAMER_SAY">77</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">When Lide Married <em>Him</em></span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#WHEN_LIDE_MARRIED_HIM">79</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">My Bride that is to Be</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#MY_BRIDE_THAT_IS_TO_BE">81</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">“Ringworm Frank”</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#RINGWORM_FRANK">85</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">An Empty Glove</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#AN_EMPTY_GLOVE">87</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><span class="smcap">Our Own</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#OUR_OWN">89</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l1">MAKE-BELIEVE AND CHILD-PLAY</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><i>The Frog</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_FROG">93</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">“Twiggs and Tudens”</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#TWIGGS_AND_TUDENS">95</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">Dolores</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#DOLORES">113</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">When I do Mock</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#WHEN_I_DO_MOCK">114</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">My Mary</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#MY_MARY">115</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><i>Eros</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#EROS">118</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">Orlie Wilde</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#ORLIE_WILDE">119</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">Leonainie</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#LEONAINIE">128</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">To a Jilted Swain</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#TO_A_JILTED_SWAIN">130</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_ix"></a>[ix]</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">The Voices</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_VOICES">131</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l2"><i>A Barefoot Boy</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#A_BAREFOOT_BOY">134</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">The Youthful Patriot</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_YOUTHFUL_PATRIOT">135</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">Ponchus Pilut</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#PONCHUS_PILUT">136</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">A Twintorette</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#A_TWINTORETTE">139</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">Slumber-Song</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#SLUMBER-SONG">140</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">The Circus Parade</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_CIRCUS_PARADE">141</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">Folks at Lonesomeville</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#FOLKS_AT_LONESOMEVILLE">143</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">The Three Jolly Hunters</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_THREE_JOLLY_HUNTERS">144</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">The Little Dog-Woggy</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_LITTLE_DOG-WOGGY">146</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">Charms</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHARMS">148</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">A Few of the Bird-Family</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#A_FEW_OF_THE_BIRD-FAMILY">150</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">Through Sleepy-Land</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THROUGH_SLEEPY-LAND">151</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">The Trestle and the Buck-Saw</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_TRESTLE_AND_THE_BUCK-SAW">153</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">The King of Oo-Rinktum-Jing</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_KING_OF_OO-RINKTUM-JING">154</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">The Toy Penny-Dog</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_TOY_PENNY-DOG">156</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">Jargon-Jingle</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#JARGON-JINGLE">157</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">The Great Explorer</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_GREAT_EXPLORER">158</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">The School-Boy’s Favorite</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_SCHOOL-BOYS_FAVORITE">159</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">Albumania</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#ALBUMANIA">162</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">The Little Mock-Man</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_LITTLE_MOCK-MAN">165</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">Summer-Time and Winter-Time</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#SUMMER-TIME_AND_WINTER-TIME">168</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">Home-Made Riddles</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#HOME-MADE_RIDDLES">169</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">The Lovely Child</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_LOVELY_CHILD">171</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">The Yellowbird</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#THE_YELLOWBIRD">172</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="l3"><span class="smcap">Envoy</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#ENVOY">173</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_1"></a>[1]</span></p> - -<h1>ARMAZINDY</h1> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_2"></a>[2]</span></p> - -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_3"></a>[3]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="ARMAZINDY">ARMAZINDY</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Armazindy;—fambily name</div> - <div class="verse indent0"><em>Ballenger</em>,—you’ll find the same,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As her Daddy answered it,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In the old War-rickords yit,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And, like him, she’s airnt the good</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Will o’ all the neighborhood.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Name ain’t down in <em>History</em>,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But, i jucks! it <em>ort</em> to be!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Folks is got respec’ fer <em>her</em>—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Armazindy Ballenger!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Specially the ones ’at knows</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Fac’s o’ how her story goes</div> - <div class="verse indent0">From the start:—Her father blowed</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Up—eternally furloughed—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">When the old “Sultana” bu’st,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And sich men wuz needed wusst.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Armazindy, ’bout fourteen-</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Year-old then—and thin and lean</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_4"></a>[4]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">As a killdee,—but—<em>my la!</em>—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Blamedest nerve you ever saw!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The girl’s mother’d <em>allus</em> be’n</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sickly—wuz consumpted when</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Word came ’bout her husband.—So</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Folks perdicted <em>she’d</em> soon go—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">(Kind o’ grief <em>I</em> understand,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Losin’ <em>my</em> companion,—and</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Still a widower—and still</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Hinted at, like neighbers will!)</div> - <div class="verse indent0">So, app’inted, as folks said,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ballenger a-bein’ dead,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Widder, ’peared-like, gradjully,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Jes grieved after him tel <em>she</em></div> - <div class="verse indent0">Died, nex’ Aprile wuz a year,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And in Armazindy’s keer</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Leavin’ the two twins, as well</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As her pore old miz’able</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Old-maid aunty ’at had be’n</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Struck with palsy, and wuz then</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Jes a he’pless charge on <em>her</em>—</div> - <div class="verse indent0"><em>Armazindy Ballenger</em>.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Jevver watch a primrose ’bout</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Minute ’fore it blossoms out—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5"></a>[5]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">Kindo’ loosen-like, and blow</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Up its muscles, don’t you know,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And, all suddent, bu’st and bloom</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Out life-size?—Well, I persume</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’At’s the only measure I</div> - <div class="verse indent0"><em>Kin</em> size Armazindy by!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Jes a <em>child</em>, <em>one</em> minute,—nex’,</div> - <div class="verse indent0"><em>Woman-grown</em>, in all respec’s</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And intents and purposuz—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’At’s what Armazindy wuz!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Jes a <em>child</em>, I tell ye! Yit</div> - <div class="verse indent0">She made things git up and git</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Round that little farm o’ hern!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Shouldered all the whole concern;—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Feed the stock, and milk the cows—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Run the <em>farm</em> and run the <em>house</em>!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0"><em>Only</em> thing she didn’t do</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wuz to plough and harvest too—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But the house and childern took</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Lots o’ keer—and had to look</div> - <div class="verse indent0">After her old fittified</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Grandaunt.—Lord! ye could’a’ cried,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Seein’ Armazindy smile,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Peared-like, sweeter all the while!</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6"></a>[6]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">And I’ve heerd her laugh and say:—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">“Jes afore Pap marched away,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He says, ‘I depend on <em>you</em>,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Armazindy, come what may—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">You must be a Soldier, too!’”</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Neighbers, from the fust, ’ud come—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And she’d <em>let</em> ’em help her <em>some</em>,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">“Thanky, ma’am!” and “Thanky, sir!”</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But no charity fer <em>her</em>!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">“<em>She</em> could raise the means to pay</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Fer her farm-hands ever’ day</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sich wuz needed!”—And she <em>could</em>—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In cash-money jes as good</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As farm-produc’s ever brung</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Their perducer, <em>old</em> er young!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">So folks humored her and smiled,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And at last wuz rickonciled</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Fer to let her have her own</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Way about it.—But a-goin’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Past to town, they’d stop and see</div> - <div class="verse indent0">“Armazindy’s fambily,”</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As they’d allus laugh and say,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And look sorry right away,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Thinkin’ of her Pap, and how</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He’d indorse his “Soldier” now!</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7"></a>[7]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">’Course <em>she</em> couldn’t never be</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Much in <em>young-folks’</em> company—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Plenty of <em>in</em>-vites to go,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But das’t leave the house, you know—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Less’n <em>Sund’ys</em> sometimes, when</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Some old <em>Granny</em>’d come and ’ten’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Things, while Armazindy <em>has</em></div> - <div class="verse indent0">Got away fer Church er “Class.”</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Most the youngsters <em>liked</em> her—and</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Twuzn’t hard to understand,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Fer, by time she wuz sixteen,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Purtier girl you never seen—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Ceptin’ she lacked schoolin’, ner</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Couldn’t rag out stylisher—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Like some <em>neighber</em>-girls, ner thumb</div> - <div class="verse indent0">On their blame’ melodium,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Whilse their pore old mothers sloshed</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Round the old back-porch and washed</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Their clothes fer ’em—rubbed and scrubbed</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Fer girls’d ort to jes be’n clubbed!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">—And jes sich a girl wuz Jule</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Reddinhouse.—<em>She’d</em> be’n to school</div> - <div class="verse indent0">At <em>New Thessaly</em>, i gum!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Fool before, but that he’pped <em>some</em>—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_8"></a>[8]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">’Stablished-like more confidence</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’At she <em>never</em> had no sense.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But she wuz a cunnin’, sly,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Meek and lowly sort o’ lie,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’At men-folks like me and you</div> - <div class="verse indent0">B’lieves jes ’cause we ortn’t to.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Jes as purty as a snake,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And as <em>pizen</em>—mercy sake!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Well, about them times it wuz,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Young Sol Stephens th’ashed fer us;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And we sent him over to</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Armazindy’s place to do</div> - <div class="verse indent0"><em>Her</em> work fer her.—And-sir! Well—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Mighty little else to tell,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sol he fell in love with her—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Armazindy Ballenger!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Bless ye!—’Ll, of all the love</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’At I’ve ever yit knowed of,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That-air case o’ theirn beat all!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">W’y, she <em>worshipped</em> him!—And Sol,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Peared-like, could ’a’ kissed the sod</div> - <div class="verse indent0">(Sayin’ is) where that girl trod!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Went to town, she did, and bought</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Lot o’ things ’at neighbers thought</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9"></a>[9]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">Mighty strange fer <em>her</em> to buy,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Raal chintz dress-goods—and ’way high!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Cut long in the skyrt,—also</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Gaiter-pair o’ shoes, you know;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And lace collar;—yes, and fine</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Stylish hat, with ivy-vine</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And red ribbons, and these-’ere</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Artificial flowers and queer</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Little beads and spangles, and</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Oysturch-feathers round the band!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wore ’em, Sund’ys, fer a while—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Kindo’ went to Church in style,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sol and Armazindy!—Tel</div> - <div class="verse indent0">It was noised round purty well</div> - <div class="verse indent0">They wuz <em>promised</em>.—And they wuz—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sich news travels—well it does!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Pity ’at <em>that</em> did!—Fer jes</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That-air fac’ and nothin’ less</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Must ’a’ putt it in the mind</div> - <div class="verse indent0">O’ Jule Reddinhouse to find</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Out some dratted way to hatch</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Out <em>some</em> plan to break the match—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Cause she <em>done</em> it!—<em>How?</em> they’s none</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Knows adzac’ly <em>what</em> she done;</div> - <div class="verse indent0"><em>Some</em> claims she writ letters to</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sol’s folks, up nigh Pleasant View</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10"></a>[10]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">Somers—and described, you see,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">“Armazindy’s fambily”—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Hintin’ “ef Sol married <em>her</em>,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He’d jes be pervidin’ fer</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Them-air twins o’ hern, and old</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Palsied aunt ’at couldn’t hold</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Spoon to mouth, and layin’ near</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Bedrid’ on to eighteen year’,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And still likely, ’pearantly,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To live out the century!”</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Well—whatever plan Jule laid</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Out to reach the p’int she made,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">It wuz <em>desper’t</em>.—And she won,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Finully, by marryun</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sol herse’f—<em>e-lopin’</em>, too,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With him, like she <em>had</em> to do,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Cause her folks ’ud allus swore</div> - <div class="verse indent0">“Jule should never marry pore!”</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">This-here part the story I</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Allus haf to hurry by,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Way ’at Armazindy jes</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Drapped back in her linsey dress,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And grabbed holt her loom, and shet</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Her jaws square.—And ef she fret</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11"></a>[11]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">Any ’bout it—never ’peared</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sign ’at <em>neighbers</em> seed er heerd;—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Most folks liked her all the more—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I know <em>I</em> did—certain-shore!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">(’Course <em>I’d</em> knowed her <em>Pap</em>, and what</div> - <div class="verse indent0"><em>Stock</em> she come of.—Yes, and thought,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And think <em>yit</em>, no man on earth</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’S worth as much as that girl’s worth!)</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">As fer Jule and Sol, they had</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Their sheer!—less o’ good than bad!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Her folks let her go.—They said,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">“Spite o’ them she’d made her bed</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And must sleep in it!”—But she,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Peared-like, didn’t sleep so free</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As she ust to—ner so <em>late</em>,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ner so <em>fine</em>, I’m here to state!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sol wuz pore, of course, and she</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wuzn’t ust to poverty—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ner she didn’t ’pear to jes</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Filiate with lonesomeness,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Cause Sol <em>he</em> wuz off and out</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With his th’asher nigh about</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Half the time; er, season done,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He’d be off mi-anderun</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12"></a>[12]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">Round the country, here and there,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Swoppin’ hosses. Well, that-air</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Kind o’ livin’ didn’t suit</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Jule a bit!—and then, to boot,</div> - <div class="verse indent0"><em>She</em> had now the keer o’ two</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Her own childern—and to do</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Her own work and cookin’—yes,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And sometimes fer <em>hands</em>, I guess,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Well as fambily of her own.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Cut her pride clean to the bone!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">So how <em>could</em> the whole thing end?—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">She set down, one night, and penned</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A short note, like—’at she sewed</div> - <div class="verse indent0">On the childern’s blanket—blowed</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Out the candle—pulled the door</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To close after her—and, shore-</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Footed as a cat is, clumb</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In a rigg there and left home,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With a man a-drivin’ who</div> - <div class="verse indent0">“Loved her ever fond and true,”</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As her note went on to say,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">When Sol read the thing next day.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Raally didn’t ’pear to be</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Extry waste o’ sympathy</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13"></a>[13]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">Over Sol—pore feller!—Yit,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sake o’ them-air little bit</div> - <div class="verse indent0">O’ two <em>orphants</em>—as you might</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Call ’em <em>then</em>, by law and right,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sol’s old friends wuz sorry, and</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Tried to hold him out their hand</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Same as allus: But he’d flinch—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Tel, jes ’peared-like, inch by inch,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He let <em>all</em> holts go; and so</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Took to drinkin’, don’t you know,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Tel, to make a long tale short,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He wuz fuller than he ort</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To ’a’ be’n, at work one day</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Bout his th’asher, and give way,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Kindo’-like, and fell and ketched</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In the beltin’.</div> - <div class="verse indent14">... Rid and fetched</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Armazindy to him.—He</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Begged me to.—But time ’at she</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Reached his side, he smiled and <em>tried</em></div> - <div class="verse indent0">To speak.—Couldn’t. So he died....</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Hands all turned and left her there</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And went somers else—<em>some</em>where.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Last, she called us back—in clear</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Voice as man’ll ever hear—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14"></a>[14]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">Clear and stiddy, ’peared to me,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As her old Pap’s ust to be.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Give us orders what to do</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Bout the body—he’pped us, too.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">So it wuz, Sol Stephens passed</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In Armazindy’s hands at last.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">More’n that, she claimed ’at she</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Had consent from him to be</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Mother to his childern—now</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Thout no parents anyhow.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><em>Yes-sir!</em> and she’s <em>got</em> ’em, too,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Folks saw nothin’ else ’ud do—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">So they let her have <em>her way</em>—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Like she’s doin’ yit to-day!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Years now, I’ve be’n coaxin’ her—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Armazindy Ballenger—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To in-large her fambily</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Jes <em>one</em> more by takin’ <em>me</em>—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Which I’m feared she never will,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Though I’m ’lectioneerin’ still.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15"></a>[15]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_OLD_TRUNDLE-BED">THE OLD TRUNDLE-BED</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">O the old trundle-bed where I slept when a boy!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">What canopied king might not covet the joy?</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The glory and peace of that slumber of mine,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Like a long, gracious rest in the bosom divine:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The quaint, homely couch, hidden close from the light,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But daintily drawn from its hiding at night.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">O a nest of delight, from the foot to the head,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Was the queer little, dear little, old trundle-bed!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">O the old trundle-bed, where I wondering saw</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The stars through the window, and listened with awe</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To the sigh of the winds as they tremblingly crept</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Through the trees where the robin so restlessly slept:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Where I heard the low, murmurous chirp of the wren,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the katydid listlessly chirrup again,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Till my fancies grew faint and were drowsily led</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Through the maze of the dreams of the old trundle-bed.</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16"></a>[16]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">O the old trundle-bed! O the old trundle-bed!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With its plump little pillow, and old-fashioned spread;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Its snowy-white sheets, and the blankets above,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Smoothed down and tucked round with the touches of</div> - <div class="verse indent0">love;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The voice of my mother to lull me to sleep</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With the old fairy stories my memories keep</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Still fresh as the lilies that bloom o’er the head</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Once bowed o’er my own in the old trundle-bed.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17"></a>[17]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="NATURAL_PERVERSITIES">NATURAL PERVERSITIES</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">I am not prone to moralize</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In scientific doubt</div> - <div class="verse indent0">On certain facts that Nature tries</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To puzzle us about,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">For I am no philosopher</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of wise elucidation,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But speak of things as they occur,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">From simple observation.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">I notice <em>little</em> things—to wit:—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I never missed a train</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Because I didn’t <em>run</em> for it;</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I never knew it rain</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That my umbrella wasn’t lent,—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Or, when in my possession,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The sun but wore, to all intent,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">A jocular expression.</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18"></a>[18]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">I never knew a creditor</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To dun me for a debt</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But I was “cramped” or “bu’sted”; or</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I never knew one yet,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">When I had plenty in my purse,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To make the least invasion,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As I, accordingly perverse,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Have courted no occasion.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Nor do I claim to comprehend</div> - <div class="verse indent2">What Nature has in view</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In giving us the very friend</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To trust we oughtn’t to.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But so it is: The trusty gun</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Disastrously exploded</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Is always sure to be the one</div> - <div class="verse indent2">We didn’t think was loaded.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Our moaning is another’s mirth,—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And what is worse by half,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">We say the funniest thing on earth</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And never raise a laugh:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Mid friends that love us overwell,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And sparkling jests and liquor,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Our hearts somehow are liable</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To melt in tears the quicker.</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_19"></a>[19]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">We reach the wrong when most we seek</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The right; in like effect,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">We stay the strong and not the weak—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Do most when we neglect.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Neglected genius—truth be said—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">As wild and quick as tinder,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The more you seek to help ahead</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The more you seem to hinder.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">I’ve known the least the greatest, too—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And, on the selfsame plan,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The biggest fool I ever knew</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Was quite a little man:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">We find we ought, and then we won’t—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">We prove a thing, then doubt it,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Know <em>everything</em> but when we don’t</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Know <em>anything</em> about it.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_20"></a>[20]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_OLD_SCHOOL-CHUM">THE OLD SCHOOL-CHUM</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">He puts the poem by, to say</div> - <div class="verse indent0">His eyes are not themselves to-day!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">A sudden glamour o’er his sight—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A something vague, indefinite—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">An oft-recurring blur that blinds</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The printed meaning of the lines,</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And leaves the mind all dusk and dim</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In swimming darkness—strange to him!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">It is not childishness, I guess,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Yet something of the tenderness</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">That used to wet his lashes when</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A boy seems troubling him again;—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21"></a>[21]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The old emotion, sweet and wild,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That drove him truant when a child,</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">That he might hide the tears that fell</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Above the lesson—“Little Nell.”</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And so it is he puts aside</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The poem he has vainly tried</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">To follow; and, as one who sighs</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In failure, through a poor disguise</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Of smiles, he dries his tears, to say</div> - <div class="verse indent0">His eyes are not themselves to-day.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22"></a>[22]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="WRITIN_BACK_TO_THE_HOME-FOLKS">WRITIN’ BACK TO THE HOME-FOLKS</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">My dear old friends—It jes beats all,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The way you write a letter</div> - <div class="verse indent0">So’s ever’ <em>last</em> line beats the <em>first</em>,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And ever’ <em>next</em>-un’s better!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">W’y, ever’ fool-thing you putt down</div> - <div class="verse indent2">You make so inte<em>rest</em>in’,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A feller, readin’ of ’em all,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Can’t tell which is the <em>best</em>-un.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">It’s all so comfortin’ and good,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">’Pears-like I almost <em>hear</em> ye</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And git more sociabler, you know,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And hitch my cheer up near ye</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And jes smile on ye like the sun</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Acrosst the whole per-rairies</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In Aprile when the thaw’s begun</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And country couples marries.</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_23"></a>[23]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">It’s all so good-old-fashioned like</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To <em>talk</em> jes like we’re <em>thinkin’</em>,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Without no hidin’ back o’ fans</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And giggle-un and winkin’,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ner sizin’ how each other’s dressed—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Like some is allus doin’,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">“<em>Is</em> Marthy Ellen’s basque be’n <em>turned</em></div> - <div class="verse indent2">Er shore-enough a new-un!”—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Er “ef Steve’s city-friend hain’t jes</div> - <div class="verse indent2">‘A <em>lee</em>tle kindo’-sorto’”—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Er “wears them-air blame’ eye-glasses</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Jes ’cause he hadn’t ort to?”—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And so straight on, <em>dad-libitum</em>,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Tel all of us feels, <em>some</em>way,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Jes like our “comp’ny” wuz the best</div> - <div class="verse indent2">When we git up to come ’way!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">That’s why I like <em>old</em> friends like <em>you</em>,—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Jes ’cause you’re so <em>abidin’</em>.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ef I wuz built to live “<em>fer keeps</em>,”</div> - <div class="verse indent2">My principul residin’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Would be amongst the folks ’at kep’</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Me allus <em>thinkin’</em> of ’em,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And sorto’ eechin’ all the time</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To tell ’em how I love ’em.—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24"></a>[24]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Sich folks, you know, I jes love so</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I wouldn’t live without ’em,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Er couldn’t even drap asleep</div> - <div class="verse indent2">But what I <em>dreamp’</em> about ’em,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And ef we minded God, I guess</div> - <div class="verse indent2">We’d <em>all</em> love one another</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Jes like one famb’ly,—me and Pap</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And Madaline and Mother.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25"></a>[25]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_BLIND_GIRL">THE BLIND GIRL</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">If I might see his face to-day!—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">He is so happy now!—To hear</div> - <div class="verse indent0">His laugh is like a roundelay—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">So ringing-sweet and clear!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">His step—I heard it long before</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He bounded through the open door</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To tell his marriage.—Ah! so kind—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">So good he is!—And I—so blind!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">But thus he always came to me—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Me, first of all, he used to bring</div> - <div class="verse indent0">His sorrow to—his ecstasy—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">His hopes and everything;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And if I joyed with him or wept,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">It was not long <em>the music</em> slept,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And if he sung, or if I played—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Or both,—we were the braver made.</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26"></a>[26]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">I grew to know and understand</div> - <div class="verse indent2">His every word at every call,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The gate-latch hinted, and his hand</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In mine confessed it all:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He need not speak one word to me—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He need not sigh—I need not see,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But just the one touch of his palm,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And I would answer—song or psalm.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">He wanted recognition—name—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">He hungered so for higher things,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The altitudes of power and fame,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And all that fortune brings:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Till, with his great heart fevered thus,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And aching as impetuous,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I almost wished sometimes that <em>he</em></div> - <div class="verse indent0">Were blind and patient made, like me.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">But he has won!—I knew he would.—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Once in the mighty Eastern mart,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I knew his music only could</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Be sung in every heart!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And when he proudly sent me this</div> - <div class="verse indent0">From out the great metropolis,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I bent above the graven score</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And, weeping, kissed it o’er and o’er.—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27"></a>[27]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And yet not blither sing the birds</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Than this glad melody,—the tune</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As sweetly wedded with the words</div> - <div class="verse indent2">As flowers with middle-June;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Had he not <em>told</em> me, I had known</div> - <div class="verse indent0">It was composed of love alone—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">His love for <em>her</em>.—And she can see</div> - <div class="verse indent0">His happy face eternally!—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">While <em>I</em>—O God, forgive, I pray!—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Forgive me that I did so long</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To look upon his face to-day!—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I know the wish was wrong.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Yea, I am thankful that my sight</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Is shielded safe from such delight:—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I can pray better, with this blur</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of blindness—both for him and her.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28"></a>[28]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="WE_DEFER_THINGS">WE DEFER THINGS</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">We say and we say and we say,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">We promise, engage and declare,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Till a year from to-morrow is yesterday,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And yesterday is—Where?</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29"></a>[29]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_MUSKINGUM_VALLEY">THE MUSKINGUM VALLEY</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The Muskingum Valley!—How longin’ the gaze</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A feller throws back on its long summer days,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">When the smiles of its blossoms and <em>my</em> smiles wuz one-</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And-the-same, from the rise to the set o’ the sun:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wher’ the hills sloped as soft as the dawn down to noon,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the river run by like an old fiddle-tune,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the hours glided past as the bubbles ’ud glide,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">All so loaferin’-like, ’long the path o’ the tide.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">In the Muskingum Valley—it ’peared-like the skies</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Looked lovin’ on me as my own mother’s eyes,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">While the laughin’-sad song of the stream seemed to be</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Like a lullaby angels was wastin’ on me—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Tel, swimmin’ the air, like the gossamer’s thread,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Twixt the blue underneath and the blue overhead,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">My thoughts went astray in that so-to-speak realm</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wher’ Sleep bared her breast as a piller fer them.</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30"></a>[30]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">In the Muskingum Valley, though far, far away,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I know that the winter is bleak there to-day—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">No bloom ner perfume on the brambles er trees—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wher’ the buds ust to bloom, now the icicles freeze.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That the grass is all hid ’long the side of the road</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wher’ the deep snow has drifted and shifted and blowed—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And I feel in my life the same changes is there,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The frost in my heart, and the snow in my hair.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">But, Muskingum Valley! my memory sees</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Not the white on the ground, but the green in the trees—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Not the froze’-over gorge, but the current, as clear</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And warm as the drop that has jes trickled here;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Not the choked-up ravine, and the hills topped with snow,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But the grass and the blossoms I knowed long ago</div> - <div class="verse indent0">When my little bare feet wundered down wher’ the stream</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In the Muskingum Valley flowed on like a dream.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31"></a>[31]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="FOR_THIS_CHRISTMAS">FOR THIS CHRISTMAS</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Ye old-time stave that pealeth out</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To Christmas revellers all,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">At tavern-tap and wassail-bout,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And in ye banquet-hall.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Whiles ye old burden rings again,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Add yet ye verse, as due:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">“<i>God bless you, merry gentlemen</i>”—</div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>And gentlewomen, too!</i></div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32"></a>[32]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="A_POOR_MANS_WEALTH">A POOR MAN’S WEALTH</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">A poor man? Yes, I must confess—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">No wealth of gold do I possess;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">No pastures fine, with grazing kine,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Nor fields of waving grain are mine;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">No foot of fat or fallow land</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Where rightfully my feet may stand</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The while I claim it as my own—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">By deed and title, mine alone.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Ah, poor indeed! perhaps you say—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But spare me your compassion, pray!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">When I ride not—with you—I walk</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In Nature’s company, and talk</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With one who will not slight or slur</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The child forever dear to her—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And one who answers back, be sure,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With smile for smile, though I am poor.</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33"></a>[33]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And while communing thus, I count</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An inner wealth of large amount,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The wealth of honest purpose blent</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With Penury’s environment,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The wealth of owing naught to-day</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But debts that I would gladly pay,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With wealth of thanks still unexpressed</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With cumulative interest.—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">A wealth of patience and content—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">For all my ways improvident;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A faith still fondly exercised—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">For all my plans unrealized;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A wealth of promises that still,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Howe’er I fail, I hope to fill;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A wealth of charity for those</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Who pity me my ragged clothes.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">A poor man? Yes, I must confess—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">No wealth of gold do I possess;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">No pastures fine, with grazing kine,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Nor fields of waving grain are mine;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But ah, my friend! I’ve wealth, no end!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">For millionaires might condescend</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To bend the knee and envy me</div> - <div class="verse indent0">This opulence of poverty.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_34"></a>[34]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_LITTLE_RED_RIBBON">THE LITTLE RED RIBBON</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The little red ribbon, the ring and the rose!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The summer-time comes, and the summer-time goes—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And never a blossom in all of the land</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As white as the gleam of her beckoning hand!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The long winter months, and the glare of the snows;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The little red ribbon, the ring and the rose!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And never a glimmer of sun in the skies</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As bright as the light of her glorious eyes!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Dreams only are true; but they fade and are gone—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">For her face is not here when I waken at dawn;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The little red ribbon, the ring and the rose</div> - <div class="verse indent0"><em>Mine</em> only; <em>hers</em> only the dream and repose.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">I am weary of waiting, and weary of tears,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And my heart wearies, too, all these desolate years,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Moaning over the one only song that it knows,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The little red ribbon, the ring and the rose!</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35"></a>[35]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="HOW_DID_YOU_REST_LAST_NIGHT">“HOW DID YOU REST, LAST NIGHT?”</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“How did you rest, last night?”—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I’ve heard my gran’pap say</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Them words a thousand times—that’s right—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Jes them words thataway!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As punctchul-like as morning dast</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To ever heave in sight</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Gran’pap ’ud allus haf to ast—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">“How did you rest, last night?”</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Us young-uns used to grin,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">At breakfast, on the sly,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And mock the wobble of his chin</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And eyebrows helt so high</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And kind: “<i>How did you rest, last night?</i>”</div> - <div class="verse indent2">We’d mumble and let on</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Our voices trimbled, and our sight</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Wuz dim, and hearin’ gone.</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36"></a>[36]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse center">...</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Bad as I ust to be,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">All I’m a-wantin’ is</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As puore and ca’m a sleep fer me</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And sweet a sleep as his!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And so I pray, on Jedgment Day</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To wake, and with its light</div> - <div class="verse indent0">See <em>his</em> face dawn, and hear him say—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">“How did you rest, last night?”</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37"></a>[37]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="A_GOOD-BYE">A GOOD-BYE</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“Good-bye, my friend!”</div> - <div class="verse indent2">He takes her hand—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The pressures blend:</div> - <div class="verse indent2">They understand</div> - <div class="verse indent6">But vaguely why, with drooping eye,</div> - <div class="verse indent6">Each moans—“Good-bye!—Good-bye!”</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“Dear friend, good-bye!”</div> - <div class="verse indent2">O she could smile</div> - <div class="verse indent0">If she might cry</div> - <div class="verse indent2">A little while!—</div> - <div class="verse indent6">She says, “I <em>ought</em> to smile—but I—</div> - <div class="verse indent6">Forgive me—<em>There!</em>—Good-bye!”</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“‘Good-bye?’ Ah, no:</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I hate,” says he,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">“These ‘good-byes’ so!”</div> - <div class="verse indent2">“And <em>I</em>,” says she,</div> - <div class="verse indent6">“Detest them so—why, I should <em>die</em></div> - <div class="verse indent6">Were this a <em>real</em> ‘good-bye!’”</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38"></a>[38]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="WHEN_MAIMIE_MARRIED">WHEN MAIMIE MARRIED</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">When Maimie married Charley Brown,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Joy took possession of the town;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The young folks swarmed in happy throngs—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">They rang the bells—they carolled songs—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">They carpeted the steps that led</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Into the church where they were wed;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And up and down the altar-stair</div> - <div class="verse indent0">They scattered roses everywhere;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">When, in her orange-blossom crown,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Queen Maimie married Charley Brown.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">So beautiful she was, it seemed</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Men, looking on her, dreamed they dreamed;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And he, the holy man who took</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Her hand in his, so thrilled and shook.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The gargoyles round the ceiling’s rim</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Looked down and leered and grinned at him,</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39"></a>[39]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">Until he half forgot his part</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of sanctity, and felt his heart</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Beat worldward through his sacred gown—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">When Maimie married Charley Brown.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The bridesmaids kissed her, left and right—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Fond mothers hugged her with delight—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Young men of twenty-seven were seen</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To blush like lads of seventeen,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The while they held her hand to quote</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Such sentiments as poets wrote.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Yea, all the heads that Homage bends</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Were bowed to her.—But O my friends,</div> - <div class="verse indent0"><em>My</em> hopes went up—<em>my</em> heart went down—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">When Maimie married—<em>Charley Brown!</em></div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40"></a>[40]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THIS_DEAR_CHILD-HEARTED_WOMAN_THAT_IS_DEAD">“THIS DEAR CHILD-HEARTED WOMAN THAT IS DEAD”</h2> - -</div> - -<h3>I</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">This woman, with the dear child-heart,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Ye mourn as dead, is—where and what?</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With faith as artless as her Art,</div> - <div class="verse indent24">I question not,—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">But dare divine, and feel, and know</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Her blessedness—as hath been writ</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In allegory.—Even so</div> - <div class="verse indent24">I fashion it:—</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<h3>II</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">A stately figure, rapt and awed</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In her new guise of Angelhood,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Still lingered, wistful—knowing God</div> - <div class="verse indent24">Was very good.—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Her thought’s fine whisper filled the pause;</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And, listening, the Master smiled,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And lo! the stately angel was</div> - <div class="verse indent24">—A little child.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_41"></a>[41]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="TO_A_POET-CRITIC">TO A POET-CRITIC</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Yes,—the bee sings—I confess it—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sweet as honey—Heaven bless it!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Yit he’d be a <em>sweeter</em> singer</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ef he didn’t have no stinger.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42"></a>[42]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="AN_OLD-TIMER">AN OLD-TIMER</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Here where the wayward stream</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Is restful as a dream,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And where the banks o’erlook</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A pool from out whose deeps</div> - <div class="verse indent0">My pleased face upward peeps,</div> - <div class="verse indent14">I cast my hook.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Silence and sunshine blent!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A Sabbath-like content</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of wood and wave;—a free-</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Hand landscape grandly wrought</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of Summer’s brightest thought</div> - <div class="verse indent14">And mastery.—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">For here form, light and shade,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And color—all are laid</div> - <div class="verse indent2">With skill so rarely fine,</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43"></a>[43]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">The eye may even see</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The ripple tremblingly</div> - <div class="verse indent14">Lip at the line.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">I mark the dragon-fly</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Flit waveringly by</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In ever-veering flight,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Till, in a hush profound,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I see him eddy round</div> - <div class="verse indent14">The “cork,” and—’light!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Ho! with the boy’s faith then</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Brimming my heart again,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And knowing, soon or late,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The “nibble” yet shall roll</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Its thrills along the pole,</div> - <div class="verse indent14">I—breathless—wait.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44"></a>[44]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_SILENT_VICTORS">THE SILENT VICTORS</h2> - -</div> - -<p class="center"><span class="smcap">May 30, 1878</span></p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>“Dying for victory, cheer on cheer</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Thundered on his eager ear.”</i></div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Charles L. Holstein.</span></div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<h3>I</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Deep, tender, firm and true, the Nation’s heart</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Throbs for her gallant heroes passed away,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Who in grim Battle’s drama played their part,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And slumber here to-day.—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Warm hearts that beat their lives out at the shrine</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of Freedom, while our country held its breath</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As brave battalions wheeled themselves in line</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And marched upon their death:</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">When Freedom’s Flag, its natal wounds scarce healed,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Was torn from peaceful winds and flung again</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45"></a>[45]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">To shudder in the storm of battle-field—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The elements of men,—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">When every star that glittered was a mark</div> - <div class="verse indent2">For Treason’s ball, and every rippling bar</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of red and white was sullied with the dark</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And purple stain of war:</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">When angry guns, like famished beasts of prey,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Were howling o’er their gory feast of lives,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And sending dismal echoes far away</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To mothers, maids, and wives:—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The mother, kneeling in the empty night,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">With pleading hands uplifted for the son</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Who, even as she prayed, had fought the fight—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The victory had won:</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The wife, with trembling hand that wrote to say</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The babe was waiting for the sire’s caress—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The letter meeting that upon the way,—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The babe was fatherless:</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The maiden, with her lips, in fancy, pressed</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Against the brow once dewy with her breath,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Now lying numb, unknown, and uncaressed</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Save by the dews of death.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46"></a>[46]</span></p> - -<h3>II</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">What meed of tribute can the poet pay</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The Soldier, but to trail the ivy-vine</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of idle rhyme above his grave to-day</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In epitaph design?—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Or wreathe with laurel-words the icy brows</div> - <div class="verse indent2">That ache no longer with a dream of fame,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But, pillowed lowly in the narrow house,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Renown’d beyond the name.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The dewy tear-drops of the night may fall,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And tender morning with her shining hand</div> - <div class="verse indent0">May brush them from the grasses green and tall</div> - <div class="verse indent2">That undulate the land.—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Yet song of Peace nor din of toil and thrift,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Nor chanted honors, with the flowers we heap,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Can yield us hope the Hero’s head to lift</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Out of its dreamless sleep:</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The dear old flag, whose faintest flutter flies</div> - <div class="verse indent2">A stirring echo through each patriot breast,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Can never coax to life the folded eyes</div> - <div class="verse indent2">That saw its wrongs redressed—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_47"></a>[47]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">That watched it waver when the fight was hot,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And blazed with newer courage to its aid,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Regardless of the shower of shell and shot</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Through which the charge was made;—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And when, at last, they saw it plume its wings,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Like some proud bird in stormy element,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And soar untrammelled on its wanderings,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">They closed in death, content.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<h3>III</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">O mother, you who miss the smiling face</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of that dear boy who vanished from your sight,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And left you weeping o’er the vacant place</div> - <div class="verse indent2">He used to fill at night,—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Who left you dazed, bewildered, on a day</div> - <div class="verse indent2">That echoed wild huzzas, and roar of guns</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That drowned the farewell words you tried to say</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To incoherent ones;—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Be glad and proud you had the life to give—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Be comforted through all the years to come,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Your country has a longer life to live,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Your son a better home.</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48"></a>[48]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">O widow, weeping o’er the orphaned child,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Who only lifts his questioning eyes to send</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A keener pang to grief unreconciled,—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Teach him to comprehend</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">He had a father brave enough to stand</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Before the fire of Treason’s blazing gun,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That, dying, he might will the rich old land</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of Freedom to his son.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And, maiden, living on through lonely years</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In fealty to love’s enduring ties,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With strong faith gleaming through the tender tears</div> - <div class="verse indent2">That gather in your eyes,</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Look up! and own, in gratefulness of prayer,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Submission to the will of Heaven’s High Host:—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I see your Angel-soldier pacing there,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Expectant at his post.—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">I see the rank and file of armies vast,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">That muster under one supreme control;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I hear the trumpet sound the signal-blast—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The calling of the roll—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The grand divisions falling into line</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And forming, under voice of One alone,</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49"></a>[49]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">Who gives command, and joins with tongue divine</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The hymn that shakes the Throne.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<h3>IV</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And thus, in tribute to the forms that rest</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In their last camping-ground, we strew the bloom</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And fragrance of the flowers they loved the best,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In silence o’er the tomb.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">With reverent hands we twine the Hero’s wreath</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And clasp it tenderly on stake or stone</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That stands the sentinel for each beneath</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Whose glory is our own.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">While in the violet that greets the sun,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">We see the azure eye of some lost boy;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And in the rose the ruddy cheek of one</div> - <div class="verse indent2">We kissed in childish joy,—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Recalling, haply, when he marched away,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">He laughed his loudest though his eyes were wet.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The kiss he gave his mother’s brow that day</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Is there and burning yet:</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And through the storm of grief around her tossed,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">One ray of saddest comfort she may see,—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50"></a>[50]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">Four hundred thousand sons like hers were lost</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To weeping Liberty.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse center">...</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">But draw aside the drapery of gloom,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And let the sunshine chase the clouds away</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And gild with brighter glory every tomb</div> - <div class="verse indent2">We decorate to-day:</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And in the holy silence reigning round,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">While prayers of perfume bless the atmosphere,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Where loyal souls of love and faith are found,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Thank God that Peace is here!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And let each angry impulse that may start,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Be smothered out of every loyal breast;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And, rocked within the cradle of the heart,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Let every sorrow rest.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51"></a>[51]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="UP_AND_DOWN_OLD_BRANDYWINE">UP AND DOWN OLD BRANDYWINE</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Up and down old Brandywine,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In the days ’at’s past and gone—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With a dad-burn hook-and-line</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And a saplin’-pole—i swawn!</div> - <div class="verse indent4">I’ve had more fun, to the square</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Inch, than ever <em>any</em>where!</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Heaven to come can’t discount <em>mine</em>,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Up and down old Brandywine!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Hain’t no sense in <em>wishin’</em>—yit</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Wisht to goodness I <em>could</em> jes</div> - <div class="verse indent0">“Gee” the blame’ world round and git</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Back to that old happiness!—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Kindo’ drive back in the shade</div> - <div class="verse indent4">“The old Covered Bridge” there laid</div> - <div class="verse indent4">’Crosst the crick, and sorto’ soak</div> - <div class="verse indent4">My soul over, hub and spoke!</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_52"></a>[52]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Honest, now!—it hain’t no <em>dream</em></div> - <div class="verse indent2">’At I’m wantin’,—but <em>the fac’s</em></div> - <div class="verse indent0">As they wuz; the same old stream,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And the same old times, i jacks!—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Gimme back my bare feet—and</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Stonebruise too!—And scratched and tanned!—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">And let hottest dog-days shine</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Up and down old Brandywine!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">In and on betwixt the trees</div> - <div class="verse indent2">’Long the banks, pour down yer noon,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Kindo’ curdled with the breeze</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And the yallerhammer’s tune;</div> - <div class="verse indent4">And the smokin’, chokin’ dust</div> - <div class="verse indent4">O’ the turnpike at its wusst—</div> - <div class="verse indent4"><em>Saturd’ys</em>, say, when it seems</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Road’s jes jammed with country teams!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Whilse the old town, fur away</div> - <div class="verse indent2">’Crosst the hazy pastur’-land,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Dozed-like in the heat o’ day</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Peaceful’ as a hired hand.</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Jolt the gravel th’ough the floor</div> - <div class="verse indent4">O’ the ole bridge!—grind and roar</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53"></a>[53]</span> - <div class="verse indent4">With yer blame’ percession-line—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Up and down old Brandywine!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Souse me and my new straw hat</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Off the foot-log!—what <em>I</em> care?—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Fist shoved in the crown o’ that—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Like the old Clown ust to wear.—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Wouldn’t swop it fer a’ old</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Gin-u-wine raal crown o’ gold!—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Keep yer <em>King</em> ef you’ll gim me</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Jes the boy I ust to be!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Spill my fishin’-worms! er steal</div> - <div class="verse indent2">My best “goggle-eye!”—but you</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Can’t lay hands on joys I feel</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Nibblin’ like they ust to do!</div> - <div class="verse indent4">So, in memory, to-day</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Same old ripple lips away</div> - <div class="verse indent4">At my “cork” and saggin’ line,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Up and down old Brandywine!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">There the logs is, round the hill,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Where “Old Irvin” ust to lift</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Out sunfish from daylight till</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Dewfall—’fore he’d leave “The Drift”</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54"></a>[54]</span> - <div class="verse indent4">And give <em>us</em> a chance—and then</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Kindo’ fish back home again,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Ketchin’ ’em jes left and right</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Where <em>we</em> hadn’t got “a bite”!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Er, ’way windin’ out and in,—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Old path th’ough the iurnweeds</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And dog-fennel to yer chin—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Then come suddent, th’ough the reeds</div> - <div class="verse indent4">And cattails, smack into where</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Them-air woods-hogs ust to scare</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Us clean ’crosst the County-line,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Up and down old Brandywine!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">But the dim roar o’ the dam</div> - <div class="verse indent2">It ’ud coax us furder still</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To’rds the old race, slow and ca’m,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Slidin’ on to Huston’s mill—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Where, I ’spect, “the Freeport crowd”</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Never <em>warmed</em> to us er ’lowed</div> - <div class="verse indent4">We wuz quite so overly</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Welcome as we aimed to be.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Still it ’peared-like ever’thing—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Fur away from home as <em>there</em>—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55"></a>[55]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">Had more <em>relish</em>-like, i jing!—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Fish in stream, er bird in air!</div> - <div class="verse indent4">O them rich old bottom-lands,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Past where Cowden’s School-house stands!</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Wortermelons!—<em>master-mine!</em></div> - <div class="verse indent4">Up and down old Brandywine!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And sich pop-paws!—Lumps o’ raw</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Gold and green,—jes oozy th’ough</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With ripe yallar—like you’ve saw</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Custard-pie with no crust to:</div> - <div class="verse indent4">And jes <em>gorges</em> o’ wild plums</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Till a feller’d suck his thumbs</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Clean up to his elbows! <em>My!</em>—</div> - <div class="verse indent4"><em>Me some more er lem me die!</em></div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Up and down old Brandywine!...</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Stripe me with pokeberry-juice!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Flick me with a pizen-vine</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And yell “<em>Yip!</em>” and lem me loose!</div> - <div class="verse indent4">—Old now as I then wuz young,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">’F I could sing as I <em>have</em> sung,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Song ’ud shorely ring <em>dee-vine</em></div> - <div class="verse indent4">Up and down old Brandywine!</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_56"></a>[56]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THREE_SINGING_FRIENDS">THREE SINGING FRIENDS</h2> - -</div> - -<h3>I<br /> -LEE O. HARRIS</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Schoolmaster and Songmaster! Memory</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Enshrines thee with an equal love, for thy</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Duality of gifts,—thy pure and high</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Endowments—Learning rare, and Poesy.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">These were as mutual handmaids, serving thee,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Throughout all seasons of the years gone by,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">With all enduring joys ’twixt earth and sky—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In turn shared nobly with thy friends and me.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Thus is it that thy clear song, ringing on,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Is endless inspiration, fresh and free</div> - <div class="verse indent4">As the old Mays at verge of June sunshine;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And musical as then, at dewy dawn,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The robin hailed us, and all twinklingly</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Our one path wandered under wood and vine.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57"></a>[57]</span></p> - -<h3>II<br /> -BENJAMIN S. PARKER</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Thy rapt song makes of Earth a realm of light</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And shadow mystical as some dreamland</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Arched with unfathomed azure—vast and grand</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With splendor of the morn; or dazzling bright</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With orient noon; or strewn with stars of night</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Thick as the daisies blown in grasses fanned</div> - <div class="verse indent2">By odorous midsummer breezes and</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Showered over by all bird-songs exquisite.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">This is thy voiced beatific art—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To make melodious all things below,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Calling through them, from far, diviner space,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Thy clearer hail to us.—The faltering heart</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Thou cheerest; and thy fellow-mortal so</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Fares onward under Heaven with lifted face.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<h3>III<br /> -JAMES NEWTON MATTHEWS</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Bard of our Western world!—its prairies wide,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">With edging woods, lost creeks and hidden ways;</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Its isolated farms, with roundelays</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_58"></a>[58]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">Of orchard warblers heard on every side;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Its cross-road school-house, wherein still abide</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Thy fondest memories,—since there thy gaze</div> - <div class="verse indent2">First fell on classic verse; and thou, in praise</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of that, didst find thine own song glorified.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">So singing, smite the strings and counterchange</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The lucently melodious drippings of</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Thy happy harp, from airs of “Tempe Vale,”</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To chirp and trill of lowliest flight and range,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In praise of our To-day and home and love—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Thou meadow-lark no less than nightingale.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_59"></a>[59]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="A_NOON_LULL">A NOON LULL</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">’Possum in de ’tater-patch;</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Chicken-hawk a-hangin’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Stiddy ’bove de stable-lot,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ cyarpet-loom a-bangin’!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Hi! Mr. Hoppergrass, chawin’ yo’ terbacker,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Flick ye wid er buggy-whirp yer spit er little blacker!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Niggah in de roas’in’-yeers,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Whiskers in de shuckin’;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Weasel croppin’ mighty shy,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">But ole hen a-cluckin’!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">—What’s got de matter er de mule-colt now?</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Drapt in de turnip-hole, chasin’ f’um de cow!</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_60"></a>[60]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="A_WINDY_DAY">A WINDY DAY</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The dawn was a dawn of splendor,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And the blue of the morning skies</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Was as placid and deep and tender</div> - <div class="verse indent2">As the blue of a baby’s eyes;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The sunshine flooded the mountain,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And flashed over land and sea</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Like the spray of a glittering fountain.—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">But the wind—the wind—Ah me!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Like a weird invisible spirit,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">It swooped in its airy flight;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the earth, as the stress drew near it,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Quailed as in mute affright;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The grass in the green fields quivered—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The waves of the smitten brook</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Chillily shuddered and shivered,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And the reeds bowed down and shook.</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61"></a>[61]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Like a sorrowful miserere</div> - <div class="verse indent2">It sobbed, and it blew and blew,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Till the leaves on the trees looked weary,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And my prayers were weary, too;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And then, like the sunshine’s glimmer</div> - <div class="verse indent2">That failed in the awful strain,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">All the hope of my eyes grew dimmer</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In a spatter of spiteful rain.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_62"></a>[62]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="MY_HENRY">MY HENRY</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">He’s jes a great, big, awk’ard, hulkin’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Feller,—humped, and sorto’ sulkin’-</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Like, and ruther still-appearin’—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Kind-as-ef he wuzn’t keerin’</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Whether school helt out er not—</div> - <div class="verse indent8">That’s my Henry, to a dot!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Allus kindo’ liked him—whether</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Childern, er growed-up together!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Fifteen year’ ago and better,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Fore he ever knowed a letter,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Run acrosst the little fool</div> - <div class="verse indent8">In my Primer-class at school.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">When the Teacher wuzn’t lookin’,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He’d be th’owin’ wads; er crookin’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Pins; er sprinklin’ pepper, more’n</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Likely, on the stove; er borin’</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Gimlet-holes up thue his desk—</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Nothin’ <em>that</em> boy wouldn’t resk!</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63"></a>[63]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">But, somehow, as I was goin’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">On to say, he seemed so knowin’,</div> - <div class="verse indent0"><em>Other</em> ways, and cute and cunnin’—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Allus wuz a notion runnin’</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Thue my giddy, fool-head he</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Jes had be’n cut out fer me!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Don’t go much on <em>prophesyin’</em>,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But last night whilse I wuz fryin’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Supper, with that man a-pitchin’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Little Marthy round the kitchen,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Think-says-I, “Them baby’s eyes</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Is my Henry’s, jes p’cise!”</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_64"></a>[64]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_SONG_I_NEVER_SING">THE SONG I NEVER SING</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">As when in dreams we sometimes hear</div> - <div class="verse indent2">A melody so faint and fine</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And musically sweet and clear,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">It flavors all the atmosphere</div> - <div class="verse indent2">With harmony divine,—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">So, often in my waking dreams,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">I hear a melody that seems</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Like fairy voices whispering</div> - <div class="verse indent4">To me the song I never sing.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Sometimes when brooding o’er the years</div> - <div class="verse indent2">My lavish youth has thrown away—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">When all the glowing past appears</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But as a mirage that my tears</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Have crumbled to decay,—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">I thrill to find the ache and pain</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Of my remorse is stilled again,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">As, forward bent and listening,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">I hear the song I never sing.</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65"></a>[65]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">A murmuring of rhythmic words,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Adrift on tunes whose currents flow</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Melodious with the trill of birds,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And far-off lowing of the herds</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In lands of long ago;</div> - <div class="verse indent4">And every sound the truant loves</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Comes to me like the coo of doves</div> - <div class="verse indent4">When first in blooming fields of Spring</div> - <div class="verse indent4">I heard the song I never sing.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The echoes of old voices, wound</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In limpid streams of laughter where</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The river Time runs bubble-crowned,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And giddy eddies ripple round</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The lilies growing there;</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Where roses, bending o’er the brink,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Drain their own kisses as they drink,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">And ivies climb and twine and cling</div> - <div class="verse indent4">About the song I never sing.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">An ocean-surge of sound that falls</div> - <div class="verse indent2">As though a tide of heavenly art</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Had tempested the gleaming halls</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And crested o’er the golden walls</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In showers on my heart....</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66"></a>[66]</span> - <div class="verse indent4">Thus—thus, with open arms and eyes</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Uplifted toward the alien skies,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Forgetting every earthly thing,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">I hear the song I never sing.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">O nameless lay, sing clear and strong,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Pour down thy melody divine</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Till purifying floods of song</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Have washed away the stains of wrong</div> - <div class="verse indent2">That dim this soul of mine!</div> - <div class="verse indent4">O woo me near and nearer thee,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Till my glad lips may catch the key,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">And, with a voice unwavering,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Join in the song I never sing.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_67"></a>[67]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="TO_EDGAR_WILSON_NYE">TO EDGAR WILSON NYE</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">O “William,”—in thy blithe companionship</div> - <div class="verse indent2">What liberty is mine—what sweet release</div> - <div class="verse indent2">From clamorous strife, and yet what boisterous peace!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ho! ho! it is thy fancy’s finger-tip</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That dints the dimple now, and kinks the lip</div> - <div class="verse indent2">That scarce may sing, in all this glad increase</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of merriment! So, pray-thee, do not cease</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To cheer me thus;—for, underneath the quip</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of thy droll sorcery, the wrangling fret</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of all distress is stilled—no syllable</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of sorrow vexeth me—no tear-drops wet</div> - <div class="verse indent2">My teeming lids save those that leap to tell</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Thee thou’st a guest that overweepeth, yet</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Only because thou jokest overwell.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_68"></a>[68]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="LITTLE_DAVID">LITTLE DAVID</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The mother of the little boy that sleeps</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Has blest assurance, even as she weeps:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">She knows her little boy has now no pain—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">No further ache, in body, heart or brain;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">All sorrow is lulled for him—all distress</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Passed into utter peace and restfulness.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">All health that heretofore has been denied—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">All happiness, all hope, and all beside</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of childish longing, now he clasps and keeps</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In voiceless joy—the little boy that sleeps.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_69"></a>[69]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="OUT_OF_THE_HITHERWHERE">OUT OF THE HITHERWHERE</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Out of the hitherwhere into the <em class="smcap">yon</em>—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The land that the Lord’s love rests upon;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Where one may rely on the friends he meets,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the smiles that greet him along the streets:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Where the mother that left you years ago</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Will lift the hands that were folded so,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And put them about you, with all the love</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And tenderness you are dreaming of.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Out of the hitherwhere into the <em class="smcap">yon</em>—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Where all of the friends of your youth have gone,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Where the old schoolmate that laughed with you,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Will laugh again as he used to do,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Running to meet you, with such a face</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As lights like a moon the wondrous place</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Where God is living, and glad to live,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Since He is the Master and may forgive.</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_70"></a>[70]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Out of the hitherwhere into the <em class="smcap">yon</em>!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Stay the hopes we are leaning on—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">You, Divine, with Your merciful eyes</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Looking down from the far-away skies,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Smile upon us, and reach and take</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Our worn souls Home for the old home’s sake.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And so Amen,—for our all seems gone</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Out of the hitherwhere into the <em class="smcap">yon</em>.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_71"></a>[71]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="RABBIT_IN_THE_CROSS-TIES">RABBIT IN THE CROSS-TIES</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Rabbit in the cross-ties.—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Punch him out—quick!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Git a twister on him</div> - <div class="verse indent2">With a long prong stick.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Watch him on the south side—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Watch him on the—Hi!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">There he goes! Sic him, Tige!</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Yi! Yi!! Yi!!!</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_72"></a>[72]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="SERENADE_TO_NORA">SERENADE—TO NORA</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent14">The moonlight is failin’—</div> - <div class="verse indent14">The sad stars are palin’—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The black wings av night are a-dhroopin’ an’ trailin’;</div> - <div class="verse indent14">The wind’s miserere</div> - <div class="verse indent14">Sounds lonesome an’ dreary;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The katydid’s dumb an’ the nightingale’s weary.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent14">Troth, Nora! I’m wadin’</div> - <div class="verse indent14">The grass an’ paradin’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The dews at your dure, wid my swate serenadin’,</div> - <div class="verse indent14">Alone and forsaken,</div> - <div class="verse indent14">Whilst you’re never wakin’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To tell me you’re wid me an’ I am mistaken!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent14">Don’t think that my singin’</div> - <div class="verse indent14">It’s wrong to be flingin’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Forninst av the dreams that the Angels are bringin’;</div> - <div class="verse indent14">For if your pure spirit</div> - <div class="verse indent14">Might waken and hear it,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">You’d never be draamin’ the Saints could come near it!</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73"></a>[73]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent14">Then lave off your slaapin’—</div> - <div class="verse indent14">The pulse av me’s laapin’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To have the two eyes av yez down on me paapin’.</div> - <div class="verse indent14">Och, Nora! It’s hopin’</div> - <div class="verse indent14">Your windy ye’ll open</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And light up the night where the heart av me’s gropin’.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74"></a>[74]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_LITTLE_WHITE_HEARSE">THE LITTLE WHITE HEARSE</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">As the little white hearse went glimmering by—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The man on the coal-cart jerked his lines,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And smutted the lid of either eye,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And turned and stared at the business signs;</div> - <div class="verse indent4">And the street-car driver stopped and beat</div> - <div class="verse indent4">His hands on his shoulders, and gazed up-street</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Till his eye on the long track reached the sky—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">As the little white hearse went glimmering by.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">As the little white hearse went glimmering by—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">A stranger petted a ragged child</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In the crowded walks, and she knew not why,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">But he gave her a coin for the way she smiled;</div> - <div class="verse indent4">And a boot-black thrilled with a pleasure strange,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">As a customer put back his change</div> - <div class="verse indent4">With a kindly hand and a grateful sigh,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">As the little white hearse went glimmering by.</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_75"></a>[75]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">As the little white hearse went glimmering by—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">A man looked out of a window dim,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And his cheeks were wet and his heart was dry,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">For a dead child even were dear to him!</div> - <div class="verse indent4">And he thought of his empty life, and said:—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">“Loveless alive, and loveless dead—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Nor wife nor child in earth or sky!”</div> - <div class="verse indent4">As the little white hearse went glimmering by.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_76"></a>[76]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="WHAT_REDRESS">WHAT REDRESS</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">I pray you, do not use this thing</div> - <div class="verse indent0">For vengeance; but if questioning</div> - <div class="verse indent0">What wound, when dealt your humankind,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Goes deepest,—surely he will find</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Who wrongs <em>you</em>, loving <em>him</em> no less—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">There’s nothing hurts like tenderness.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77"></a>[77]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="DREAMER_SAY">DREAMER, SAY</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Dreamer, say, will you dream for me</div> - <div class="verse indent2">A wild sweet dream of a foreign land,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Whose border sips of a foaming sea</div> - <div class="verse indent2">With lips of coral and silver sand;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Where warm winds loll on the shady deeps,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Or lave themselves in the tearful mist</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The great wild wave of the breaker weeps</div> - <div class="verse indent2">O’er crags of opal and amethyst?</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Dreamer, say, will you dream a dream</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of tropic shades in the lands of shine,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Where the lily leans o’er an amber stream</div> - <div class="verse indent2">That flows like a rill of wasted wine,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Where the palm-trees, lifting their shields of green,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Parry the shafts of the Indian sun</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Whose splintering vengeance falls between</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The reeds below where the waters run?</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_78"></a>[78]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Dreamer, say, will you dream of love</div> - <div class="verse indent2">That lives in a land of sweet perfume,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Where the stars drip down from the skies above</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In molten spatters of bud and bloom?</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Where never the weary eyes are wet,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And never a sob in the balmy air,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And only the laugh of the paroquet</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Breaks the sleep of the silence there?</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_79"></a>[79]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="WHEN_LIDE_MARRIED_HIM">WHEN LIDE MARRIED <em>HIM</em></h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">When Lide married <em>him</em>—w’y, she had to jes dee-fy</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The whole popilation!—But she never bat’ an eye!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Her parents begged, and <em>threatened</em>—she must give him up—that <em>he</em></div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wuz jes “a common drunkard!”—And he <em>wuz</em>, appearantly.—</div> - <div class="verse indent12">Swore they’d chase him off the place</div> - <div class="verse indent12">Ef he ever showed his face—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Long after she’d <em>eloped</em> with him and <em>married</em> him fer shore!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">When Lide married <em>him</em>, it wuz “<i>Katy, bar the door!</i>”</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">When Lide married <em>him</em>—Well! she had to go and be</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A <em>hired girl</em> in town somewheres—while he tromped round to see</div> - <div class="verse indent0">What <em>he</em> could git that <em>he</em> could do,—you might say, jes sawed wood</div> - <div class="verse indent0">From door to door!—that’s what he done—’cause that wuz best he could!</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_80"></a>[80]</span> - <div class="verse indent12">And the strangest thing, i jing!</div> - <div class="verse indent12">Wuz, he didn’t <em>drink</em> a thing,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But jes got down to bizness, like he someway <em>wanted</em> to,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">When Lide married <em>him</em>, like they warned her <em>not</em> to do!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">When Lide married <em>him</em>—er, ruther, <em>had</em> be’n married</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A little up’ards of a year—some feller come and carried</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That <em>hired girl</em> away with him—a ruther <em>stylish</em> feller</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In a bran-new green spring-wagon, with the wheels striped red and yeller:</div> - <div class="verse indent12">And he whispered, as they driv</div> - <div class="verse indent12">To’rds the country, “<em>Now we’ll live!</em>”—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And <em>somepin’ else</em> she <em>laughed</em> to hear, though both her eyes wuz dim,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Bout “<em>trustin’ Love and Heav’n above</em>, sence Lide married <em>him</em>!”</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_81"></a>[81]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="MY_BRIDE_THAT_IS_TO_BE">MY BRIDE THAT IS TO BE</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">O Soul of mine, look out and see</div> - <div class="verse indent0">My bride, my bride that is to be!—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Reach out with mad, impatient hands,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And draw aside futurity</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As one might draw a veil aside—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And so unveil her where she stands</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Madonna-like and glorified—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The queen of undiscovered lands</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of love, to where she beckons me—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">My bride, my bride that is to be.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The shadow of a willow-tree</div> - <div class="verse indent2">That wavers on a garden-wall</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In summer-time may never fall</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In attitude as gracefully</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As my fair bride that is to be;—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Nor ever Autumn’s leaves of brown</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As lightly flutter to the lawn</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As fall her fairy-feet upon</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The path of love she loiters down.—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_82"></a>[82]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">O’er drops of dew she walks, and yet</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Not one may stain her sandal wet—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ay, she might <em>dance</em> upon the way</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Nor crush a single drop to spray,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">So airy-like she seems to me,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">My bride, my bride that is to be.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">I know not if her eyes are light</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As summer skies or dark as night,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I only know that they are dim</div> - <div class="verse indent2">With mystery: In vain I peer</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To make their hidden meaning clear.</div> - <div class="verse indent2">While o’er their surface, like a tear</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That ripples to the silken brim,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A look of longing seems to swim</div> - <div class="verse indent2">All worn and weary-like to me;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And then, as suddenly, my sight</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Is blinded with a smile so bright,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Through folded lids I still may see</div> - <div class="verse indent2">My bride, my bride that is to be.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Her face is like a night of June</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Upon whose brow the crescent-moon</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Hangs pendent in a diadem</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of stars, with envy lighting them.—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And, like a wild cascade, her hair</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83"></a>[83]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">Floods neck and shoulder, arm and wrist,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Till only through a gleaming mist</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I seem to see a Siren there,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With lips of love and melody</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And open arms and heaving breast</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Wherein I fling myself to rest,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The while my heart cries hopelessly</div> - <div class="verse indent0">For my fair bride that is to be.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse center">...</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Nay, foolish heart and blinded eyes!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">My bride hath need of no disguise.—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">But, rather, let her come to me</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In such a form as bent above</div> - <div class="verse indent2">My pillow when, in infancy,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I knew not anything but love.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">O let her come from out the lands</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of Womanhood—not fairy isles,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And let her come with Woman’s hands</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And Woman’s eyes of tears and smiles,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With Woman’s hopefulness and grace</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of patience lighting up her face:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And let her diadem be wrought</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of kindly deed and prayerful thought,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That ever over all distress</div> - <div class="verse indent0">May beam the light of cheerfulness.—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_84"></a>[84]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">And let her feet be brave to fare</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The labyrinths of doubt and care,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That, following, my own may find</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The path to Heaven God designed.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">O let her come like this to me—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">My bride—my bride that is to be.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_85"></a>[85]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="RINGWORM_FRANK">“RINGWORM FRANK”</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Jest Frank Reed’s his <em>real</em> name—though</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Boys all calls him “Ringworm Frank,”</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Cause he allus <em>runs round</em> so.—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">No man can’t tell where to bank</div> - <div class="verse indent10"><em>Frank</em>’ll be,</div> - <div class="verse indent10">Next you see</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Er <em>hear</em> of him!—Drat his melts!—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">That man’s allus <em>somers else</em>!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">We’re old pards.—But Frank he jest</div> - <div class="verse indent2"><em>Can’t</em> stay still!—Wuz <em>prosper’n’</em> here,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But lit out on furder West</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Somers on a ranch, last year:</div> - <div class="verse indent10">Never heard</div> - <div class="verse indent10">Nary a word</div> - <div class="verse indent2"><em>How</em> he liked it, tel to-day,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Got this card, reads thisaway:—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_86"></a>[86]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“Dad-burn climate out here makes</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Me homesick all Winter long,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And when Springtime <em>comes</em>, it takes</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Two pee-wees to sing one song,—</div> - <div class="verse indent10">One sings ‘<em>pee</em>,’</div> - <div class="verse indent10">And the other one ‘<em>wee!</em>’</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Stay right where you air, old pard,—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Wisht <em>I</em> wuz this postal card!”</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_87"></a>[87]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="AN_EMPTY_GLOVE">AN EMPTY GLOVE</h2> - -</div> - -<h3>I</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">An empty glove—long withering in the grasp</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of Time’s cold palm. I lift it to my lips,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And lo, once more I thrill beneath its clasp,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In fancy, as with odorous finger-tips</div> - <div class="verse indent4">It reaches from the years that used to be</div> - <div class="verse indent4">And proffers back love, life and all, to me.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<h3>II</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Ah! beautiful she was beyond belief:</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Her face was fair and lustrous as the moon’s;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Her eyes—too large for small delight or grief,—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The smiles of them were Laughter’s afternoons;</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Their tears were April showers, and their love—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">All sweetest speech swoons ere it speaks thereof.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_88"></a>[88]</span></p> - -<h3>III</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">White-fruited cocoa shown against the shell</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Were not so white as was her brow below</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The cloven tresses of the hair that fell</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Across her neck and shoulders of nude snow;</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Her cheeks—chaste pallor, with a crimson stain—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Her mouth was like a red rose rinsed with rain.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<h3>IV</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And this was she my fancy held as good—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">As fair and lovable—in every wise</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As peerless in pure worth of womanhood</div> - <div class="verse indent2">As was her wondrous beauty in men’s eyes.—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Yet, all alone, I kiss this empty glove—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">The poor husk of the hand I loved—and love.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89"></a>[89]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="OUR_OWN">OUR OWN</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">They walk here with us, hand-in-hand;</div> - <div class="verse indent2">We gossip, knee-by-knee;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">They tell us all that they have planned—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of all their joys to be,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And, laughing, leave us: And, to-day,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">All desolate we cry</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Across wide waves of voiceless graves—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Good-bye! Good-bye! Good-bye!</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_90"></a>[90]</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_91"></a>[91]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="MAKE-BELIEVE_AND_CHILD-PLAY">MAKE-BELIEVE AND CHILD-PLAY</h2> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_92"></a>[92]</span></p> - -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_93"></a>[93]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_FROG"><i>THE FROG</i></h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Who am I but the Frog—the Frog!</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>My realm is the dark bayou,</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>And my throne is the muddy and moss-grown log</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>That the poison-vine clings to—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>And the black-snakes slide in the slimy tide</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Where the ghost of the moon looks blue.</i></div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>What am I but a King—a King!—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>For the royal robes I wear—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>A sceptre, too, and a signet-ring,</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>As vassals and serfs declare:</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>And a voice, god wot, that is equalled not</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>In the wide world anywhere!</i></div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>I can talk to the Night—the Night!—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Under her big black wing</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>She tells me the tale of the world outright,</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>And the secret of everything;</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>For she knows you all, from the time you crawl,</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>To the doom that death will bring.</i></div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_94"></a>[94]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>The Storm swoops down, and he blows—and blows,—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>While I drum on his swollen cheek,</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>And croak in his angered eye that glows</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>With the lurid lightning’s streak;</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>While the rushes drown in the watery frown</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>That his bursting passions leak.</i></div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>And I can see through the sky—the sky—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>As clear as a piece of glass;</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>And I can tell you the how and why</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Of the things that come to pass—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>And whether the dead are there instead,</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Or under the graveyard grass.</i></div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>To your Sovereign lord all hail—all hail!—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>To your Prince on his throne so grim!</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Let the moon swing low, and the high stars trail</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Their heads in the dust to him;</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>And the wide world sing: Long live the King,</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>And grace to his royal whim!</i></div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_95"></a>[95]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="TWIGGS_AND_TUDENS">“TWIGGS AND TUDENS”</h2> - -</div> - -<p>If my old school-chum and room-mate John Skinner is -alive to-day—and no doubt he <em>is</em> alive, and quite so, -being, when last heard from, the very alert and effective -Train Dispatcher at Butler, Indiana,—he will not have -forgotten a certain night in early June (the 8th) of 1870, -in “Old Number ’Leven” of the Dunbar House, Greenfield, -when he and I sat the long night through, getting -ready a famous issue of our old school-paper, “The -Criterion.” And he will remember, too, the queer old -man who occupied, but that one night, the room just -opposite our own, Number 13. For reasons wholly aside -from any superstitious dread connected with the numerals, -13 was not a desirable room; its locality was alien to -all accommodations, and its comforts, like its furnishings, -were extremely meagre. In fact, it was the room -usually assigned to the tramp-printer, who, in those days, -was an institution; or again, it was the local habitation<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_96"></a>[96]</span> -of the oft-recurring transient customer who was too incapacitated -to select a room himself when he retired—or -rather, when he was personally retired by “the -hostler,” as the gentlemanly night-clerk of that era was -habitually designated.</p> - -<p>As both Skinner and myself—between fitful terms of -school—had respectively served as “printer’s devil” in -the two rival newspaper offices of the town, it was natural -for us to find a ready interest in anything pertaining to -the newspaper business; and so it was, perhaps, that we -had been selected, by our own approval and that of our -fellow-students of The Graded Schools, to fill the rather -exalted office of editing “The Criterion.” Certain it is -that the rather abrupt rise from the lowly duties of the -“roller” to the editorial management of a paper of our -own (even if issued in handwriting) we accepted as a -natural right; and, vested in our new power of office, we -were largely “shaping the whisper of the throne” about -our way.</p> - -<p>And upon this particular evening it was, as John and -I had fairly squared ourselves for the work of the night, -that we heard the clatter and shuffle of feet on the side-stairs, -and, an instant later, the hostler establishing -some poor unfortunate in 13, just across the hall.</p> - -<p>“Listen!” said John, as we heard an old man’s voice<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_97"></a>[97]</span> -through the open transom of our door,—“listen at -that!”</p> - -<p>It was an utterance peculiarly refined, in language as -well as intonation. A low, mild, rather apologetic voice, -gently assuring the hostler that “everything was very -snug and comfortable indeed—so far as the <em>compartment</em> -was concerned—but would not the <em>attendant</em> kindly -supply a better light, together with pen-and-ink—and -just a sheet or two of paper,—if he would be so very -good as to find a pardon for so very troublesome a -guest.”</p> - -<p>“Hain’t no writin’-paper,” said the hostler, briefly,—“and -the big lamps is all in use. These fellers here in -’Leven might let you have some paper and—Hain’t <em>you</em> -got a lead-pencil?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no matter!” came the impatient yet kindly answer -of the old voice—“no matter at all, my good fellow!—Good -night—good night!”</p> - -<p>We waited till the sullen, clumpy footsteps down the -hall and stair had died away.</p> - -<p>Then Skinner, with a handful of foolscap, opened our -door; and, with an indorsing smile from me, crossed the -hall and tapped at 13—was admitted—entered, and very -quietly closed the door behind him, evidently that I -might not be disturbed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_98"></a>[98]</span></p> - -<p>I wrote on in silence for quite a time. It was, in fact, -a full half-hour before John had returned,—and with a -face and eye absolutely blazing with delight.</p> - -<p>“An old printer,” whispered John, answering my look,—“and -we’re in luck:—He’s a <em>genius</em>, ’y God! and an -Englishman, and knows Dickens <em>personally</em>—used to write -races with him, and’s got a manuscript of his in his -‘portmanteau,’ as he calls an old oil-cloth knapsack with -one lung clean gone. Excuse this extra light.—Old -man’s lamp’s like a sore eye, and he’s going to touch up -the Dickens sketch for <em>us</em>! <em>Hear?</em>—<em>For us</em>—for ‘The -Criterion.’ Says he can’t sleep—he’s in distress—has -a presentiment—some dear friend is dying—or dead now—and -he must write—<em>write</em>!”</p> - -<p>This is, in briefest outline, the curious history of the -subjoined sketch, especially curious for the reason that -the following morning’s cablegram announced that the -great novelist, Charles Dickens, had been stricken suddenly -and seriously the night previous. On the day of -this announcement—even as “The Criterion” was being -read to perfunctorily interested visitors of The Greenfield -Graded Schools—came the further announcement of Mr. -Dickens’s death. The old printer’s manuscript, here reproduced, -is, as originally, captioned—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_99"></a>[99]</span></p> - -<h3>TWIGGS AND TUDENS</h3> - -<p>“Now who’d want a more cosier little home than me -and Tude’s got here?” asked Mr. Twiggs, as his twinkling -eyes swept caressingly around the cheery little room in -which he, alone, stood one chill December evening as the -great St. Paul’s was drawling six.</p> - -<p>“This ain’t no princely hall with all its gorgeous -paraphanaly, as the play-bills says; but it’s what I calls -a’ ‘interior,’ which for meller comfort and cheerful surroundin’s -ain’t to be ekalled by no other ‘flat’ on the -boundless, never-endin’ stage of this existence!” And -as the exuberant Mr. Twiggs rendered this observation, -he felt called upon to smile and bow most graciously to -an invisible audience, whose wild approval he in turn interpreted -by an enthusiastic clapping of his hands and -the cry of “Ongcore!” in a dozen different keys—this -strange acclamation being made the more grotesque by -a great green parrot perched upon the mantel, which, in -a voice less musical than penetrating, chimed in with -“Hooray for Twiggs and Tudens!” a very great number -of times.</p> - -<p>“Tude’s a queer girl,” said Mr. Twiggs, subsiding into -a reflective calm, broken only by the puffing of his pipe,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_100"></a>[100]</span> -and the occasional articulation of a thought, as it loitered -through his mind. “Tude’s a queer girl!—a werry queer -girl!” repeated Mr. Twiggs, pausing again, with a long -whiff at his pipe, and marking the graceful swoop the -smoke made as it dipped and disappeared up the wide, -black-throated chimney; and then, as though dropping -into confidence with the great fat kettle on the coals, -that steamed and bubbled with some inner paroxysm, he -added, “And queer and nothink short, is the lines for -Tude, eh?</p> - -<p>“Now s’posin’,” he continued, leaning forward and -speaking in a tone whose careful intonation might have -suggested a more than ordinary depth of wisdom and -sagacity,—“s’posin’ a pore chap like me, as ain’t no property -only this-’ere ‘little crooked house,’ as Tude calls -it, and some o’ the properties I ’andles at the Drury—as -I was a-sayin’,—s’posin’ now a’ old rough chap like me was -jest to tell her all about herself, and who she is and all, -and not no kith or kin o’ mine, let alone a daughter, as -<em>she</em> thinks—What do you reckon now ’ud be the upshot, -eh?” And as Mr. Twiggs propounded this mysterious -query he jabbed the poker prankishly in the short-ribs -of the grate, at which the pot, as though humoring a -joke it failed to comprehend wholly, set up a chuckling -of such asthmatic violence that its smothered cachinnations<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101"></a>[101]</span> -tilted its copper lid till Mr. Twiggs was obliged to -dash a cup of water in its face.</p> - -<p>“And Tude’s a-comin’ of a’ age, too,” continued Mr. -Twiggs, “when a more tenderer pertecter than a father, -so to speak, wouldn’t be out o’ keepin’ with the nat’ral -order o’ things, seein’ as how she’s sorto’ startin’ for herself-like -now. And it’s a question in my mind, if it ain’t -my bounden duty as her father—or ruther, who has been -a father to her all her life—to kindo’ tell her jest how -things is, and all—and how <em>I</em> am, and everythink,—and -how I feel as though I ort’o stand by her, as I allus -have, and allus <em>have</em> had her welfare in view, and kindo’ -feel as how I allus—ort’o kindo’—ort’o kindo’”—and -here Mr. Twiggs’s voice fell into silence so abruptly that -the drowsy parrot started from its trance-like quiet and -cried “Ortokindo! Ortokindo!” with such a strength of -seeming mockery that it was brushed violently to the -floor by the angry hand of Mr. Twiggs and went backing -awkwardly beneath the table.</p> - -<p>“Blow me,” said Mr. Twiggs, “if the knowin’ impidence -of that-’ere bird ain’t astonishin’!” And then, after a -serious controversy with the draught of his pipe, he -went on with his deliberations.</p> - -<p>“Lor! it were jest scrumptious to see Tude in ‘The -Iron Chest’ last night! Now, I ain’t no actur myself,—I’ve<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102"></a>[102]</span> -been on, of course, a thousand times as ‘fillin’,’ -‘sogers’ and ‘peasants’ and the like, where I never had -no lines, on’y in the ‘choruses’; but if I don’t know -nothin’ but ‘All hail!—All hail!’ I’ve had the experience -of bein’ under the baleful hinfluence of the hoppery-glass, -and I’m free to say it air a ticklish position and -no mistake. But <em>Tude</em>! w’y, bless you, she warn’t the -first bit flustered, was she? ’Peared-like she jest felt -perfectly at home-like—like her mother afore her! And -I’m dashed if I didn’t feel the cold chills a-creepin’ and -a-crawlin’ when she was a-singin’ ‘Down by the river -there grows a green willer and a-weepin’ all night with -the bank for her piller’; and when she come to the part -about wantin’ to be buried there ’while the winds was -a-blowin’ close by the stream where her tears was a-flowin’, -and over her corpse to keep the green willers -growin’,’ I’m d—d if I didn’t blubber right out!” And -as the highly sympathetic Mr. Twiggs delivered this acknowledgment, -he stroked the inner corners of his eyes, -and rubbed his thumb and finger on his trousers.</p> - -<p>“It were a tryin’ thing, though,” he went on, his -mellow features settling into a look not at all in keeping -with his shiny complexion—“it were a tryin’ thing, and -it <em>air</em> a tryin’ thing to see them lovely arms o’ hern -a-twinin’ so lovin’-like around that-’ere Stanley’s neck<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_103"></a>[103]</span> -and a-kissin’ of him—as she’s obleeged to do, of course—as -the ‘properties’ of the play demands; but I’m -blowed if she wouldn’t do it quite so nat’ral-like I’d feel -easier. Blow me!” he broke off savagely, starting up -and flinging his pipe in the ashes, “I’m about a-comin’ -to the conclusion I ain’t got no more courage’n a blasted -school-boy! Here I am old enough to be her father—mighty -nigh it—and yet I’m actually afeard to speak up -and tell her jest how things is, and all, and how I feel -like I—like I—ort’o—ort’o—”</p> - -<p>“<em>Ortokindo! Ortokindo!</em>” shrieked the parrot, clinging -in a reversed position to the under-round of a chair.—“<em>Ortokindo! -Ortokindo! Tude’s come home!—Tude’s -come home!</em>” And as though in happy proof of this -latter assertion, the gentle Mr. Twiggs found his chubby -neck encircled by a pair of rosy arms, and felt upon -his cheek the sudden pressure of a pair of lips that -thrilled his old heart to the core. And then the noisy -bird dropped from its perch and marched pompously -from its place of concealment, trailing its rusty wings -and shrieking, “Tude’s come home!” at the top of its -brazen voice.</p> - -<p>“Shet up!” screamed Mr. Twiggs, with a pretended -gust of rage, kicking lamely at the feathered oracle; -“I’ll ‘Tude’s-come-home’ ye! W’y, a feller can’t hear<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_104"></a>[104]</span> -his <em>ears</em> for your infernal squawkin’!” And then, turning -toward the serious eyes that peered rebukingly into -his own, his voice fell gentle as a woman’s: “Well, there, -Tudens, I beg parding; I do indeed. Don’t look at me -thataway. I know I’m a great, rough, good-for—”But -a warm, swift kiss cut short the utterance; and as the -girl drew back, still holding the bright old face between -her tender palms, he said simply, “You’re a queer girl, -Tudens; a queer girl.”</p> - -<p>“Ha! am I?” said the girl, in quite evident heroics and -quotation, starting back with a theatrical flourish and -falling into a fantastic attitude.—“‘Troth, I am sorry for -it; me poor father’s heart is bursting with gratichude, -and he would fain ease it by pouring out his thanks to -his benefactor.’”</p> - -<p>“Werry good! Werry good, indeed!” said Mr. Twiggs, -gazing wistfully upon the graceful figure of the girl. -“You’re a-growin’ more wonderful’ clever in your ‘presence’ -every day, Tude. You don’t think o’ nothink else -but your actin’, do ye, now?” And, as Mr. Twiggs concluded -his observations, a something very like a sigh -came faltering from his lips.</p> - -<p>“Why, listen there! Ah-ha!” laughed Tude, clapping -her hands and dancing gayly around his chair.—“Why, -you old melancholy Dane, you! are you actually <em>sighing</em>?”<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105"></a>[105]</span> -Then, dropping into a tragic air of deep contrition, she -continued: “‘But, believe me, I would not question -you, but to console you, Wilford. I would scorn to pry -into any one’s grief, much more yours, Wilford, to -satisfy a busy curiosity.’”</p> - -<p>“Oh, don’t, Tude; don’t <em>rehearse</em> like that at me!—I -can’t a-bear it.” And the serious Mr. Twiggs held out -his hand as though warding off a blow. At this appeal -the girl’s demeanor changed to one of tenderest solicitude.</p> - -<p>“Why, Pop’m,” she said, laying her hand on his -shoulder, “I did not mean to vex you—forgive me. I -was only trying to be happy, as I ought, although my -own heart is this very minute heavy—very heavy—very.—No, -no; I don’t mean that—but, Father, Father, I -have not been dutiful.”</p> - -<p>“W’y, yes, you have,” broke in Mr. Twiggs, smothering -the heavy exclamation in his handkerchief. “You ain’t -been ondutiful, nor nothink else. You’re jest all and -everythink that heart could wish. It’s all my own fault, -Tudens; it’s all my fault. You see, I git to thinkin’ -sometimes like I was a-goin’ to <em>lose</em> you; and now that -you are a-comin’ on in years, and gittin’ such a fine -start, and all, and position and everythink.—Yes-sir! -<em>position</em>, ’cause everybody likes you, Tudens. You know<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_106"></a>[106]</span> -that; and I’m that proud of you and all, and that selfish, -that it’s onpossible I could ever, ever give you up;—never, -never, <em>ever</em> give you up!” And Mr. Twiggs again -stifled his voice in his handkerchief and blew his nose -with prolonged violence.</p> - -<p>It may have been the melancholy ticking of the clock, -as it grated on the silence following, it may have been -the gathering darkness of the room, or the plaintive -sighing of the rising wind without, that caused the girl -to shudder as she stooped to kiss the kind old face bent -forward in the shadows, and turned with feigned gayety -to the simple task of arranging supper. But when, a -few minutes later, she announced that Twiggs and -Tudens’s tea was waiting, the two smilingly sat down, -Mr. Twiggs remarking that if he only knew a blessing, -he’d ask it upon that occasion most certainly.</p> - -<p>“—For on’y look at these-’ere ’am and eggs,” he said, -admiringly: “I’d like to know if the Queen herself could -cook ’em to a nicer turn, or serve ’em up more tantaliz’in’er -to the palate. And this-’ere soup,—or whatever it is, -is rich as gravy; and these boughten rolls ain’t a bad thing -either, split in two and toasted as you do ’em, air they, -Tude?” And as Mr. Twiggs glanced inquiringly at his -companion, he found her staring vacantly at her plate. -“I was jest a-sayin’, Tudens—” he went on, pretending<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_107"></a>[107]</span> -to blow his tea and glancing cautiously across his -saucer.</p> - -<p>“Yes, Pop’m, I heard you;—we really <em>ought</em> to have a -blessing, by all means.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Twiggs put down his tea without tasting it. -“Tudens,” he said, after a long pause, in which he carefully -buttered a piece of toast for the second time,—“Tudens, -I’m ’most afeard you didn’t grasp that last -remark of mine: I was a-sayin’—”</p> - -<p>“Well—” said Tudens, attentively.</p> - -<p>“I was a-sayin’,” said Mr. Twiggs, averting his face -and staring stoically at his toast—“I was a-sayin’ that -you was a-gittin’ now to be quite a young woman.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, so you were,” said Tudens, with charming -naïveté.</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Mr. Twiggs, repentantly, but with a -humorous twinkle, “if I wasn’t a-sayin’ of it, I was -<em>a-thinkin’</em> it.”—And then, running along hurriedly, “And -I’ve been a-thinkin’ it for days and days—ever sence -you left the ‘balley’ and went in ‘chambermaids,’ and -last in leadin’ rôles. Maybe <em>you</em> ain’t noticed it, but -I’ve had my eyes on you from the ‘flies’ and the ‘wings’; -and jest betwixt us, Tudens, and not for me as ort to -know better, and does know better, to go a-flatterin’, at -my time o’—or to go a-flatterin’ anybody, as I said,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_108"></a>[108]</span> -after you’re a-gittin’ to be a young woman—and what’s -more, a werry <em>’andsome</em> young woman!”</p> - -<p>“<em>Why, Pop’m!</em>” exclaimed Tudens, blushing.</p> - -<p>“Yes, you are, Tudens, and I mean it, every word of it; -and as I was a-goin’ on to say, I’ve been a-watchin’ of -you, and a-layin’ off a long time jest to tell you summat -that will make your eyes open wider ’an that! What I -mean,” said Mr. Twiggs, coughing vehemently and pushing -his chair back from the table—“what I mean is, -you’ll soon be old enough to be a-settin’ up for yourself-like, -and a-marry’—W’y, Tudens, what <em>ails</em> you?” The -girl had risen to her feet, and, with a face dead white -and lips all tremulous, stood clinging to her chair for support. -“What ails you, Tudens?” repeated Mr. Twiggs, -rising to his feet and gazing on her with a curious expression -of alarm and tenderness.</p> - -<p>“Nothing serious, dear Pop’m,” said Tudens, with a -flighty little laugh,—“only it just flashed on me all at -once that I’d clean forgotten poor ‘Dick’s’ supper.” And -as she turned abruptly to the parrot, cooing and clucking -to him playfully,—up, up from some hitherto undreamed-of -depth within the yearning heart of Mr. Twiggs mutely -welled the old utterance, “Tude’s a queer girl!”</p> - -<p>“Whatever made you think of such a thing, Father?” -called Tudens, gayly; and then, without waiting for an<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_109"></a>[109]</span> -answer, went on cooing to the parrot,—“Hey, old -dicky-bird! do <em>you</em> think Tudens is a handsome young -woman? and do <em>you</em> think Tudens is old enough to marry, -eh?” This query delivered, she broke into a fit of merriment -which so wrought upon the susceptibilities of the -bird that he was heard repeatedly to declare and affirm, -in most positive and unequivocal terms, that Tude had -actually come home.</p> - -<p>“Yes—<em>sir</em>, Tudens!” broke in Mr. Twiggs at last, lighting -a fresh churchwarden and settling into his old position -at the grate; “have your laugh out over it now, but -it’s a werry serious fact, for all that.”</p> - -<p>“I know it, Father,” said the girl, recovering her -gravity, turning her large eyes lovingly upon him and -speaking very tenderly. “I know it—oh, I know it; and -many, many times when I have thought of it, and then -again of your old kindly faith; all the warm wealth of -your love; and our old home here, and all the happiness -it ever held for me and you alike—oh, I have tried -hard—indeed, indeed I have—to put all other thought -away and live for you alone! But, Pop’m! dear old -Pop’m—”And even as the great strong breast made -shelter for her own, the woman’s heart within her flowed -away in mists of gracious tears.</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t live without old Pop’m, could her?” half<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_110"></a>[110]</span> -cried and laughed the happy Mr. Twiggs, tangling his -clumsy fingers in the long dark hair that fell across his -arm, and bending till his glad face touched her own.—“Couldn’t -live without old Pop’m?”</p> - -<p>“Never! never!” sobbed the girl, lifting her brimming -eyes and gazing in the kind old face. “Oh, may I always -live with you, Pop’m? Always?—Forever?—”</p> - -<p>“—And a day!” said Mr. Twiggs, emphatically.</p> - -<p>“Even after I’m—” and she hid her face again.</p> - -<p>“Even after—<em>what</em>, Tudens?”</p> - -<p>“After I’m—after I’m—married?” murmured Tudens, -with a longing pressure.</p> - -<p>“Nothink short!” said Mr. Twiggs;—“perwidin’,” he -added, releasing one hand and smoothing back his scanty -hair—“perwidin’, of course, that your man is a’ honest, -straitforrerd feller, as ain’t no lordly notions nor nothink -o’ that sort.”</p> - -<p>“Nor rich?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I ain’t so p’ticklar about his bein’ <em>pore</em>, adzackly.—Say -a feller as works for his livin’, and knows how to -’usband his earnin’s thrifty-like, and allus ’as a hextry -crown or two laid up against a rainy day—and a good -perwider, of course,” said Mr. Twiggs, with a comfortable -glance around the room.—“’Ll blow me if I didn’t see a -face there a-peerin’ in the winder!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_111"></a>[111]</span></p> - -<p>“Oh, no, you didn’t,” said the girl, without raising her -head. “Go on—‘and a good provider—’”</p> - -<p>“—A good perwider,” continued Mr. Twiggs; “and a -feller, of course, as has a’ eye out for the substantials of -this life, and ain’t afeard o’ work—that’s the idear! -that’s the idear!” said Mr. Twiggs, by way of sweeping -conclusion.</p> - -<p>“And that’s all old Pop’m asks, after all?” queried the -girl, with her radiant face wistful as his own.</p> - -<p>“W’y, certainly!” said Mr. Twiggs, with heartiness. -“Ain’t that all and everythink to make home happy?”—catching -her face between his great brown hands and -kissing her triumphantly.</p> - -<p>“Hooray for Twiggs-and Twiggs-and Twiggs-and—” -cootered the drowsy bird, disjointedly.</p> - -<p>The girl had risen.—“And you’ll forgive me for marrying -such a man?”</p> - -<p>“Won’t I?” said Mr. Twiggs, with a rapturous twinkle.</p> - -<p>As he spoke, she flung her arms about his neck and -pressed her lips close, close against his cheek, her own -glad face now fronting the little window.... She heard -the clicking of the latch, the opening of the door, and -the step of the intruder ere she loosed her hold.</p> - -<p>“God bless you, Pop’m, and forgive me!—This is my -husband.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_112"></a>[112]</span></p> - -<p>The newcomer, Mr. Stanley, reached and grasped the -hand of Mr. Twiggs, eagerly, fervidly, albeit the face he -looked on then will haunt him to the hour of his death.—Yet -haply, some day, when the Master takes the selfsame -hand within his own and whispers, “Tude’s come home,” -the old smile will return.</p> -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_113"></a>[113]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="DOLORES">DOLORES</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Lithe-armed, and with satin-soft shoulders</div> - <div class="verse indent2">As white as the cream-crested wave;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With a gaze dazing every beholder’s,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">She holds every gazer a slave:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Her hair, a fair haze, is outfloated</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And flared in the air like a flame;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Bare-breasted, bare-browed and bare-throated—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Too smooth for the soothliest name.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">She wiles you with wine, and wrings for you</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Ripe juices of citron and grape;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">She lifts up her lute and sings for you</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Till the soul of you seeks no escape;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And you revel and reel with mad laughter,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And fall at her feet, at her beck,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the scar of her sandal thereafter</div> - <div class="verse indent2">You wear like a gyve round your neck.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_114"></a>[114]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="WHEN_I_DO_MOCK">WHEN I DO MOCK</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">When I do mock the blackness of the night</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With my despair—outweep the very dews</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And wash my wan cheeks stark of all delight,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Denying every counsel of dear use</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In mine embittered state; with infinite</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Perversity, mine eyes drink in no sight</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of pleasance that nor moon nor stars refuse</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In silver largess and gold twinklings bright;—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I question me what mannered brain is mine</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That it doth trick me of the very food</div> - <div class="verse indent0">It panteth for—the very meat and wine</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That yet should plump my starved soul with good</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And comfortable plethora of ease,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That I might drowse away such rhymes as these.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_115"></a>[115]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="MY_MARY">MY MARY</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">My Mary, O my Mary!</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The simmer skies are blue:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The dawnin’ brings the dazzle,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ the gloamin’ brings the dew,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The mirk o’ nicht the glory</div> - <div class="verse indent2">O’ the moon, an’ kindles, too,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The stars that shift aboon the lift.—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">But naething brings me you!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Where is it, O my Mary,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Ye are biding a’ the while?</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I ha’ wended by your window—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I ha’ waited by the stile,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ up an’ down the river</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I ha’ won for mony a mile,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Yet never found, adrift or drown’d,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Your lang-belated smile.</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_116"></a>[116]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Is it forgot, my Mary,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">How glad we used to be?—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The simmer-time when bonny bloomed</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The auld trysting-tree,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">How there I carved the name for you,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ you the name for me;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ the gloamin’ kenned it only</div> - <div class="verse indent2">When we kissed sae tenderly.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Speek ance to me, my Mary!—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">But whisper in my ear</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As light as ony sleeper’s breath,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ a’ my soul will hear;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">My heart shall stap its beating,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ the soughing atmosphere</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Be hushed the while I leaning smile</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ listen to you, dear!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">My Mary, O my Mary!</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The blossoms bring the bees;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The sunshine brings the blossoms,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ the leaves on a’ the trees;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The simmer brings the sunshine</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ the fragrance o’ the breeze,—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_117"></a>[117]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">But O wi’out you, Mary,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I care naething for these!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">We were sae happy, Mary!</div> - <div class="verse indent2">O think how ance we said—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wad ane o’ us gae fickle,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Or are o’ us lie dead,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To feel anither’s kisses</div> - <div class="verse indent2">We wad feign the auld instead,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ ken the ither’s footsteps</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In the green grass owerhead.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">My Mary, O my Mary!</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Are ye dochter o’ the air,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That ye vanish aye before me</div> - <div class="verse indent2">As I follow everywhere?—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Or is it ye are only</div> - <div class="verse indent2">But a mortal, wan wi’ care,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sin’ I search through a’ the kirkyird</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ I dinna find ye there?</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_118"></a>[118]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="EROS"><i>EROS</i></h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>The storm of love has burst at last</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Full on me: All the world, before,</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Was like an alien, unknown shore</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Along whose verge I laughing passed.—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>But now—I laugh not any more,—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Bowed with a silence vast in weight</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>As that which falls on one who stands</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>For the first time on ocean sands,</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Seeing and feeling all the great</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Awe of the waves as they wash the lands</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>And billow and wallow and undulate.</i></div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_119"></a>[119]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="ORLIE_WILDE">ORLIE WILDE</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">A goddess, with a siren’s grace,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A sun-haired girl on a craggy place</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Above a bay where fish-boats lay</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Drifting about like birds of prey.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Wrought was she of a painter’s dream,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wise only as are artists wise,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">My artist-friend, Rolf Herschkelhiem,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With deep sad eyes of oversize,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And face of melancholy guise.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">I pressed him that he tell to me</div> - <div class="verse indent0">This masterpiece’s history.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He turned—<em>re</em>turned—and thus beguiled</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Me with the tale of Orlie Wilde:—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“We artists live ideally:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">We breed our firmest facts of air;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">We make our own reality—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_120"></a>[120]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">We dream a thing and it is so.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The fairest scenes we ever see</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Are mirages of memory;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The sweetest thoughts we ever know</div> - <div class="verse indent0">We plagiarize from Long Ago:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And as the girl on canvas there</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Is marvellously rare and fair,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Tis only inasmuch as she</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Is dumb and may not speak to me!”</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He tapped me with his mahlstick—then</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The picture,—and went on again:</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“Orlie Wilde, the fisher’s child—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I see her yet, as fair and mild</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As ever nursling summer day</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Dreamed on the bosom of the bay:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">For I was twenty then, and went</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Alone and long-haired—all content</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With promises of sounding name</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And fantasies of future fame,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And thoughts that now my mind discards</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As editor a fledgling bard’s.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“At evening once I chanced to go,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With pencil and portfolio,</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_121"></a>[121]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">Adown the street of silver sand</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That winds beneath this craggy land,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To make a sketch of some old scurf</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of driftage, nosing through the surf</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A splintered mast, with knarl and strand</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of rigging-rope and tattered threads</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of flag and streamer and of sail</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That fluttered idly in the gale</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Or whipped themselves to sadder shreds.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The while I wrought, half listlessly,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">On my dismantled subject, came</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A sea-bird, settling on the same</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With plaintive moan, as though that he</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Had lost his mate upon the sea;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And—with my melancholy trend—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">It brought dim dreams half understood—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">It wrought upon my morbid mood,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I thought of my own voyagings</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That had no end—that have no end.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And, like the sea-bird, I made moan</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That I was loveless and alone.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And when at last with weary wings</div> - <div class="verse indent0">It went upon its wanderings,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With upturned face I watched its flight</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Until this picture met my sight:</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_122"></a>[122]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">A goddess, with a siren’s grace,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A sun-haired girl on a craggy place</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Above a bay where fish-boats lay</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Drifting about like birds of prey.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“In airy poise she, gazing, stood</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A matchless form of womanhood,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That brought a thought that if for me</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Such eyes had sought across the sea,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I could have swum the widest tide</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That ever mariner defied,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And, at the shore, could on have gone</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To that high crag she stood upon,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To there entreat and say, ‘My Sweet,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Behold thy servant at thy feet.’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And to my soul I said: ‘Above,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">There stands the idol of thy love!’</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“In this rapt, awed, ecstatic state</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I gazed—till lo! I was aware</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A fisherman had joined her there—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A weary man, with halting gait,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Who toiled beneath a basket’s weight:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Her father, as I guessed, for she</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Had run to meet him gleefully</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_123"></a>[123]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">And ta’en his burden to herself,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That perched upon her shoulder’s shelf</div> - <div class="verse indent0">So lightly that she, tripping, neared</div> - <div class="verse indent0">A jutting crag and disappeared;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But left the echo of a song</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That thrills me yet, and will as long</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As I have being!...</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent14">... “Evenings came</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And went,—but each the same—the same:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">She watched above, and even so</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I stood there watching from below;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Till, grown so bold at last, I sung,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">(What matter now the theme thereof!)—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">It brought an answer from her tongue—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Faint as the murmur of a dove,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Yet all the more the song of love....</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“I turned and looked upon the bay,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With palm to forehead—eyes a-blur</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In the sea’s smile—meant but for her!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I saw the fish-boats far away</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In misty distance, lightly drawn</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In chalk-dots on the horizon—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Looked back at her, long, wistfully,—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_124"></a>[124]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">And, pushing off an empty skiff,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I beckoned her to quit the cliff</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And yield me her rare company</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Upon a little pleasure-cruise.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">She stood, as loathful to refuse,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To muse for full a moment’s time,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Then answered back in pantomime</div> - <div class="verse indent0">‘She feared some danger from the sea</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Were she discovered thus with me.’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I motioned then to ask her if</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I might not join her on the cliff;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And back again, with graceful wave</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of lifted arm, she answer gave</div> - <div class="verse indent0">‘She feared some danger from the sea.’</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“Impatient, piqued, impetuous, I</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sprang in the boat, and flung ‘Good-bye’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">From pouted mouth with angry hand,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And madly pulled away from land</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With lusty stroke, despite that she</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Held out her hands entreatingly:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And when far out, with covert eye</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I shoreward glanced, I saw her fly</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In reckless haste adown the crag,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Her hair a-flutter like a flag</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_125"></a>[125]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">Of gold that danced across the strand</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In little mists of silver sand.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">All curious I, pausing, tried</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To fancy what it all implied,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">When suddenly I found my feet</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Were wet; and, underneath the seat</div> - <div class="verse indent0">On which I sat, I heard the sound</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of gurgling waters, and I found</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The boat aleak alarmingly....</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I turned and looked upon the sea,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Whose every wave seemed mocking me;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I saw the fishers’ sails once more—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In dimmer distance than before;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I saw the sea-bird wheeling by,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With foolish wish that <em>I</em> could fly:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I thought of firm earth, home and friends—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I thought of everything that tends</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To drive a man to frenzy and</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To wholly lose his own command;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I thought of all my waywardness—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Thought of a mother’s deep distress;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of youthful follies yet unpurged—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sins, as the seas, about me surged—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Thought of the printer’s ready pen</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To-morrow drowning me again;—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_126"></a>[126]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">A million things without a name—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I thought of everything but—Fame....</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“A memory yet is in my mind,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">So keenly clear and sharp-defined,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I picture every phase and line</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of life and death, and neither mine,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">While some fair seraph, golden-haired,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Bends over me,—with white arms bared,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That strongly plait themselves about</div> - <div class="verse indent0">My drowning weight and lift me out—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With joy too great for words to state</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Or tongue to dare articulate!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“And this seraphic ocean-child</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And heroine was Orlie Wilde:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And thus it was I came to hear</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Her voice’s music in my ear—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ay, thus it was Fate paved the way</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That I walk desolate to-day!” ...</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The artist paused and bowed his face</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Within his palms a little space,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">While reverently on his form</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I bent my gaze and marked a storm</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_127"></a>[127]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">That shook his frame as wrathfully</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As some typhoon of agony,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And fraught with sobs—the more profound</div> - <div class="verse indent0">For that peculiar laughing sound</div> - <div class="verse indent0">We hear when strong men weep.... I leant</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With warmest sympathy—I bent</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To stroke with soothing hand his brow,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He murmuring—“’Tis over now!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And shall I tie the silken thread</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of my frail romance?” “Yes,” I said.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He faintly smiled; and then, with brow</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In kneading palm, as one in dread—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">His tasselled cap pushed from his head;—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">“‘Her voice’s music,’ I repeat,”</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He said,—“’twas sweet—O passing sweet!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Though she herself, in uttering</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Its melody, proved not the thing</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of loveliness my dreams made meet</div> - <div class="verse indent0">For me—there, yearning, at her feet—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Prone at her feet—a worshipper,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">For lo! she spake a tongue,” moaned he,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">“Unknown to me;—unknown to me</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As mine to her—as mine to her.”</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_128"></a>[128]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="LEONAINIE">LEONAINIE</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Leonainie—Angels named her;</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And they took the light</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of the laughing stars and framed her</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In a smile of white;</div> - <div class="verse indent6">And they made her hair of gloomy</div> - <div class="verse indent6">Midnight, and her eyes of bloomy</div> - <div class="verse indent6">Moonshine, and they brought her to me</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In the solemn night.—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">In a solemn night of summer,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">When my heart of gloom</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Blossomed up to greet the comer</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Like a rose in bloom;</div> - <div class="verse indent6">All forebodings that distressed me</div> - <div class="verse indent6">I forgot as Joy caressed me—</div> - <div class="verse indent6">(<em>Lying</em> Joy! that caught and pressed me</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In the arms of doom!)</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_129"></a>[129]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Only spake the little lisper</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In the Angel-tongue;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Yet I, listening, heard her whisper,—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">“Songs are only sung</div> - <div class="verse indent6">Here below that they may grieve you—</div> - <div class="verse indent6">Tales but told you to deceive you,—</div> - <div class="verse indent6">So must Leonainie leave you</div> - <div class="verse indent2">While her love is young.”</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Then God smiled and it was morning.</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Matchless and supreme</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Heaven’s glory seemed adorning</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Earth with its esteem:</div> - <div class="verse indent6">Every heart but mine seemed gifted</div> - <div class="verse indent6">With the voice of prayer, and lifted</div> - <div class="verse indent6">Where my Leonainie drifted</div> - <div class="verse indent2">From me like a dream.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_130"></a>[130]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="TO_A_JILTED_SWAIN">TO A JILTED SWAIN</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Get thee back neglected friends;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And repay, as each one lends,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Tithes of shallow-sounding glee</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Or keen-ringing raillery:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Get thee from lone vigils; be</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But in jocund company,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Where is laughter and acclaim</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Boisterous above the name.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Get where sulking husbands sip</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ale-house cheer, with pipe at lip;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And where Mol the barmaid saith</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Curst is she that marrieth.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_131"></a>[131]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_VOICES">THE VOICES</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Down in the night I hear them:</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The Voices—unknown—unguessed,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That whisper, and lisp, and murmur,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And will not let me rest.—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Voices that seem to question,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In unknown words, of me,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of fabulous ventures, and hopes and dreams</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of this and the World to be.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Voices of mirth and music,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">As in sumptuous homes; and sounds</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of mourning, as of gathering friends</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In country burial-grounds.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Cadence of maiden voices—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Their lovers’ blent with these;</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_132"></a>[132]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">And of little children singing,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">As under orchard trees.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And often, up from the chaos</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of my deepest dreams, I hear</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sounds of their phantom laughter</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Filling the atmosphere:</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">They call to me from the darkness;</div> - <div class="verse indent2">They cry to me from the gloom,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Till I start sometimes from my pillow</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And peer through the haunted room;</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">When the face of the moon at the window</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Wears a pallor like my own,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And seems to be listening with me</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To the low, mysterious tone,—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The low, mysterious clamor</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of voices that seem to be</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Striving in vain to whisper</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of secret things to me;—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Of a something dread to be warned of;</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of a rapture yet withheld;</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_133"></a>[133]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">Or hints of the marvellous beauty</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of songs unsyllabled.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">But ever and ever the meaning</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Falters and fails and dies,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And only the silence quavers</div> - <div class="verse indent2">With the sorrow of my sighs.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And I answer:—O Voices, ye may not</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Make me to understand</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Till my own voice, mingling with you,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Laughs in the Shadow-land.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_134"></a>[134]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="A_BAREFOOT_BOY"><i>A BAREFOOT BOY</i></h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>A barefoot boy! I mark him at his play—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>For May is here once more, and so is he,—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>His dusty trousers, rolled half to the knee,</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>And his bare ankles grimy, too, as they:</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Cross-hatchings of the nettle, in array</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Of feverish stripes, hint vividly to me</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Of woody pathways winding endlessly</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Along the creek, where even yesterday</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>He plunged his shrinking body—gasped and shook—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Yet called the water “warm,” with never lack</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Of joy. And so, half enviously I look</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Upon this graceless barefoot and his track,—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>His toe stubbed—ay, his big toe-nail knocked back</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Like unto the clasp of an old pocket-book.</i></div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_135"></a>[135]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_YOUTHFUL_PATRIOT">THE YOUTHFUL PATRIOT</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">O what did the little boy do</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’At nobody wanted him to?</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Didn’t do nothin’ but romp an’ run,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ whoop an’ holler an’ bang his gun</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ bu’st fire-crackers, an’ ist have fun—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">An’ <em>’at’s</em> all the little boy done!</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_136"></a>[136]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="PONCHUS_PILUT">PONCHUS PILUT</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Ponchus Pilut <em>ust</em> to be</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ist a <em>Slave</em>, an’ now he’s <em>free</em>.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Slaves wuz on’y ist before</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The War wuz—an’ <em>ain’t</em> no more.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">He works on our place fer us,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ comes here—<em>sometimes</em> he does.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He shocks corn an’ shucks it.—An’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He makes hominy “by han’!”—</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Wunst he bringed us some, one trip,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Tied up in a piller-slip:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Pa says, when Ma cooked it, “<em class="smcap">My!</em></div> - <div class="verse indent0">This-here’s gooder’n you <em>buy</em>!”</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Ponchus <em>pats</em> fer me an’ sings;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ he says <em>funny</em> things!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ponchus calls a dish a “<em>deesh</em>”—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Yes, an’ <em>he</em> calls fishes “<em>feesh</em>”!</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_137"></a>[137]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">When Ma want him eat wiv us</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He says, “’Skuse me—’deed you mus’!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ponchus know’ good manners, Miss.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He ain’ eat wher’ White-folks is!”</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">’Lindy takes <em>his</em> dinner out</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wher’ he’s workin’—roun’ about.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wunst he et his dinner spread</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In our ole wheelborry-bed.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><em>Ponchus Pilut</em> says “<em>’at’s</em> not</div> - <div class="verse indent0">His <em>right</em> name,—an’ done fergot</div> - <div class="verse indent0">What his <em>sho’-’nuff</em> name is now—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ don’ matter none <em>no</em>how!”</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Yes, an’ Ponchus he’ps Pa, too,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">When our <em>butcherin’s</em> to do,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ scalds hogs—an’ says, “Take care</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Bout it, er you’ll <em>set the hair</em>!”</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Yes, an’ out in our back-yard</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He he’ps ’Lindy rendur lard;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’, wite in the fire there, he</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Roast’ a pigtail wunst fer me.—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_138"></a>[138]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ ist nen th’ole tavurn-bell</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Rung, down-town, an’ he says, “Well!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Hear dat! <em>Lan’ o’ Caanan</em>, Son,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ain’t dat bell say ‘<em>Pigtail done!</em>’</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent10">—‘<i>Pigtail done!</i></div> - <div class="verse indent10"><i>Go call Son!—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent12"><i>Tell dat</i></div> - <div class="verse indent12"><i>Chile dat</i></div> - <div class="verse indent10"><i>Pigtail done!</i>’”</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_139"></a>[139]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="A_TWINTORETTE">A TWINTORETTE</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Ho! my little maiden</div> - <div class="verse indent4">With the glossy tresses,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Come thou and dance with me</div> - <div class="verse indent4">A measure all divine;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Let my breast be laden</div> - <div class="verse indent4">With but thy caresses—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Come thou and glancingly</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Mate thy face with mine.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Thou shalt trill a rondel,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">While my lips are purling</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Some dainty twitterings</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Sweeter than the birds’;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And, with arms that fondle</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Each as we go twirling,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">We will kiss, with titterings,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Lisps and loving words.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_140"></a>[140]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="SLUMBER-SONG">SLUMBER-SONG</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Sleep, little one! The Twilight folds her gloom</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Full tenderly about the drowsy Day,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And all his tinselled hours of light and bloom</div> - <div class="verse indent12">Like toys are laid away.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Sleep! sleep! The noon-sky’s airy cloud of white</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Has deepened wide o’er all the azure plain;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And, trailing through the leaves, the skirts of Night</div> - <div class="verse indent12">Are wet with dews as rain.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">But rest thou sweetly, smiling in thy dreams,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">With round fists tossed like roses o’er thy head,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And thy tranc’d lips and eyelids kissed with gleams</div> - <div class="verse indent12">Of rapture perfected.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_141"></a>[141]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_CIRCUS_PARADE">THE CIRCUS PARADE</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The Circus!—The Circus!—The throb of the drums,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the blare of the horns, as the Band-wagon comes;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The clash and the clang of the cymbals that beat,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As the glittering pageant winds down the long street!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">In the Circus parade there is glory clean down</div> - <div class="verse indent0">From the first spangled horse to the mule of the Clown,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With the gleam and the glint and the glamour and glare</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of the days of enchantment all glimmering there!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And there are the banners of silvery fold</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Caressing the winds with their fringes of gold,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And their high-lifted standards, with spear-tips aglow,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the helmeted knights that go riding below.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">There’s the Chariot, wrought of some marvellous shell</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The Sea gave to Neptune, first washing it well</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With its fabulous waters of gold, till it gleams</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Like the galleon rare of an Argonaut’s dreams.</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_142"></a>[142]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And the Elephant, too, (with his undulant stride</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That rocks the high throne of a king in his pride,)</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That in jungles of India shook from his flanks</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The tigers that leapt from the Jujubee-banks.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Here’s the long, ever-changing, mysterious line</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of the Cages, with hints of their glories divine</div> - <div class="verse indent0">From the barred little windows, cut high in the rear,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Where the close-hidden animals’ noses appear.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Here’s the Pyramid-car, with its splendor and flash,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the Goddess on high, in a hot-scarlet sash</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And a pen-wiper skirt!—O the rarest of sights</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Is this “Queen of the Air” in cerulean tights!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Then the far-away clash of the cymbals, and then</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The swoon of the tune ere it wakens again</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With the capering tones of the gallant cornet</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That go dancing away in a mad minuet.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The Circus!—The Circus!—The throb of the drums,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the blare of the horns, as the Band-wagon comes;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The clash and the clang of the cymbals that beat,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As the glittering pageant winds down the long street.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_143"></a>[143]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="FOLKS_AT_LONESOMEVILLE">FOLKS AT LONESOMEVILLE</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Pore-folks lives at Lonesomeville—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Lawzy! but they’re pore!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Houses with no winders in,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And hardly any door:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Chimbly all tore down, and no</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Smoke in that at all—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ist a stovepipe through a hole</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In the kitchen-wall!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Pump ’at’s got no handle on;</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And no woodshed—And, <em>wooh!</em>—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Mighty cold there, choppin’ wood,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Like pore-folks has to do!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Winter-time, and snow and sleet</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Ist fairly fit to kill!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Hope to goodness <em>Santy Claus</em></div> - <div class="verse indent2">Goes to Lonesomeville!</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_144"></a>[144]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_THREE_JOLLY_HUNTERS">THE THREE JOLLY HUNTERS</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">O there were three jolly hunters;</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And a-hunting they did go,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With a spaniel-dog, and a pointer-dog,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And a setter-dog also.</div> - <div class="verse indent24">Looky there!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And they hunted and they hal-looed;</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And the first thing they did find</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Was a dingling-dangling hornet’s-nest</div> - <div class="verse indent2">A-swinging in the wind.</div> - <div class="verse indent24">Looky there!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And the first one said—“What is it?”</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Said the next, “We’ll punch and see”:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the next one said, a mile from there,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">“I wish we’d let it be!”</div> - <div class="verse indent24">Looky there!</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_145"></a>[145]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And they hunted and they hal-looed;</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And the next thing they did raise</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Was a bobbin’ bunny cottontail</div> - <div class="verse indent2">That vanished from their gaze.</div> - <div class="verse indent24">Looky there!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">One said it was a hot base-ball,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Zipped through the brambly thatch,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But the others said ’twas a note by post,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Or a telegraph-dispatch.</div> - <div class="verse indent24">Looky there!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">So they hunted and they hal-looed;</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And the next thing they did sight</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Was a great big bulldog chasing them,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And a farmer, hollerin’ “Skite!”</div> - <div class="verse indent24">Looky there!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And the first one said, “Hi-jinktum!”</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And the next, “Hi-jinktum-jee!”</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the last one said, “Them very words</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Had just occurred to me!”</div> - <div class="verse indent24">Looky there!</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_146"></a>[146]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_LITTLE_DOG-WOGGY">THE LITTLE DOG-WOGGY</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent4">A Little Dog-Woggy</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Once walked round the World:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">So he shut up his house; and, forgetting</div> - <div class="verse indent4">His two puppy-children</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Locked in there, he curled</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Up his tail in pink bombazine netting,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">And set out</div> - <div class="verse indent4">To walk round</div> - <div class="verse indent6">The World.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent4">He walked to Chicago,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And heard of the Fair—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Walked on to New York, where he <em>never</em>,—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">In fact, he discovered</div> - <div class="verse indent2">That many folks there</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Thought less of Chicago than ever,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">As he musing-</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Ly walked round</div> - <div class="verse indent6">The World.</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_147"></a>[147]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent4">He walked on to Boston,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And round Bunker Hill,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Bow-wowed, but no citizen heerd him—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Till he ordered his baggage</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And called for his bill,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And then, bless their souls! how they cheered him,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">As he gladly</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Walked on round</div> - <div class="verse indent6">The World.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent4">He walked and walked on</div> - <div class="verse indent2">For a year and a day—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Dropped down at his own door and panted,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Till a teamster came driving</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Along the highway</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And told him that house there was ha’nted</div> - <div class="verse indent4">By the two starve-</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Dest pups in</div> - <div class="verse indent6">The World.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_148"></a>[148]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHARMS">CHARMS</h2> - -</div> - -<h3>I<br /> -FOR CORNS AND THINGS</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Prune your corn in the gray of the morn</div> - <div class="verse indent2">With a blade that’s shaved the dead,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And barefoot go and hide it so</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The rain will rust it red:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Dip your foot in the dew and put</div> - <div class="verse indent2">A print of it on the floor,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And stew the fat of a brindle cat,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And say this o’er and o’er:—</div> - <div class="verse indent6">Corny! morny! blady! dead!</div> - <div class="verse indent6">Gory! sory! rusty! red!</div> - <div class="verse indent6">Footsy! putsy! floory! stew!</div> - <div class="verse indent6">Fatsy! catsy!</div> - <div class="verse indent14">Mew!</div> - <div class="verse indent14">Mew!</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Come grease my corn</div> - <div class="verse indent8">In the gray of the morn!</div> - <div class="verse indent10">Mew! Mew! Mew!</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_149"></a>[149]</span></p> - -<h3>II<br /> -TO REMOVE FRECKLES—SCOTCH ONES</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Gae the mirkest night an’ stan’</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Twixt twa graves, ane either han’;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wi’ the right han’ fumblin’ ken</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wha the deid mon’s name’s ance be’n,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wi’ the ither han’ sae read</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wha’s neist neebor o’ the deid;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An it be or wife or lass,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Smoor tha twa han’s i’ the grass,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Weshin’ either wi’ the ither,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Then tha faice wi’ baith thegither;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Syne ye’ll seeket at cockcraw—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ilka freeckle’s gang awa!</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_150"></a>[150]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="A_FEW_OF_THE_BIRD-FAMILY">A FEW OF THE BIRD-FAMILY</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The Old Bob-white, and Chipbird;</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The Flicker, and Chewink,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And little hopty-skip bird</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Along the river-brink.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The Blackbird, and Snowbird,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The Chicken-hawk, and Crane;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The glossy old black Crow-bird,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And Buzzard down the lane.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The Yellowbird, and Redbird,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The Tomtit, and the Cat;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The Thrush, and that Red<em>head</em>-bird</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The rests all pickin’ at!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The Jay-bird, and the Bluebird,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The Sapsuck, and the Wren—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The Cockadoodle-doo-bird,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And our old Settin’-hen!</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_151"></a>[151]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THROUGH_SLEEPY-LAND">THROUGH SLEEPY-LAND</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Where do you go when you go to sleep,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Little Boy! Little Boy! where?</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Way—’way in where’s Little Bo-Peep,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And Little Boy Blue, and the Cows and Sheep</div> - <div class="verse indent2">A-wandering ’way in there—in there—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">A-wandering ’way in there!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And what do you see when lost in dreams,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Little Boy, ’way in there?</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Firefly-glimmers and glow-worm gleams,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And silvery, low, slow-sliding streams,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And mermaids, smiling out—’way in where</div> - <div class="verse indent4">They’re a-hiding—’way in there!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Where do you go when the Fairies call,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Little Boy! Little Boy! where?</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wade through the dews of the grasses tall,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Hearing the weir and the waterfall</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And the Wee Folk—’way in there—in there—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">And the Kelpies—’way in there!</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_152"></a>[152]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">And what do you do when you wake at dawn,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Little Boy! Little Boy! what?</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Hug my Mommy and kiss her on</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Her smiling eyelids, sweet and wan,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And tell her everything I’ve forgot,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">A-wandering ’way in there—in there—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Through the blind-world ’way in there!</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_153"></a>[153]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_TRESTLE_AND_THE_BUCK-SAW">THE TRESTLE AND THE BUCK-SAW</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The Trestle and the Buck-Saw</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Went out a-walking once,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And staid away and staid away</div> - <div class="verse indent2">For days and weeks and months:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And when they got back home again,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of all that had occurred,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The neighbors said the gossips said</div> - <div class="verse indent2">They never said a word.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_154"></a>[154]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_KING_OF_OO-RINKTUM-JING">THE KING OF OO-RINKTUM-JING</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Dainty Baby Austin!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Your Daddy’s gone to Boston</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To see the King</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of Oo-Rinktum-Jing</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the whale he rode acrost on!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Boston Town’s a city:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But O it’s such a pity!—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">They’ll greet the King</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of Oo-Rinktum-Jing</div> - <div class="verse indent0">With never a nursery ditty!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">But me and you and Mother</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Can stay with Baby-brother,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And sing of the King</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of Oo-Rinktum-Jing</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And laugh at one another!</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_155"></a>[155]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">So what cares Baby Austin</div> - <div class="verse indent0">If Daddy <em>has</em> gone to Boston</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To see the King</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of Oo-Rinktum-Jing</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the whale he rode acrost on?</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_156"></a>[156]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_TOY_PENNY-DOG">THE TOY PENNY-DOG</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Ma put my Penny-Dog</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Safe on the shelf,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ left no one home but him,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Me an’ myself;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">So I clumbed a big chair</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I pushed to the wall—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But the Toy Penny-Dog</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Ain’t there at all!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I went back to Dolly—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ <em>she</em> ’uz gone too,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ little Switch ’uz layin’ there;—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ Ma says “<em>Boo!</em>”—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ there she wuz a-peepin’</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Through the front-room door:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ I ain’t goin’ to be a bad</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Little girl no more!</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_157"></a>[157]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="JARGON-JINGLE">JARGON-JINGLE</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Tawdery!—faddery! Feathers and fuss!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Mummery!—flummery! wusser and wuss!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">All o’ Humanity—Vanity Fair!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Heaven for nothin’, and—nobody there!</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_158"></a>[158]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_GREAT_EXPLORER">THE GREAT EXPLORER</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">He sailed o’er the weltery watery miles</div> - <div class="verse indent2">For a tabular year-and-a-day,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To the kindless, kinkable Cannibal Isles</div> - <div class="verse indent2">He sailed and he sailed away!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He captured a loon in a wild lagoon,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And a yak that weeps and smiles,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And a bustard-bird, and a blue baboon,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In the kindless Cannibal Isles</div> - <div class="verse indent4">And wilds</div> - <div class="verse indent6">Of the kinkable Cannibal Isles.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">He swiped in bats with his butterfly-net,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In the kinkable Cannibal Isles,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And got short-waisted and over-het</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In the haunts of the crocodiles;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And nine or ten little Pygmy Men</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of the quaintest shapes and styles</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He shipped back home to his old Aunt Jenn,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">From the kindless Cannibal Isles</div> - <div class="verse indent4">And wilds</div> - <div class="verse indent6">Of the kinkable Cannibal Isles.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_159"></a>[159]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_SCHOOL-BOYS_FAVORITE">THE SCHOOL-BOY’S FAVORITE</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>“Over the river and through the wood</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Now Grandmother’s cap I spy:</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Hurrah for the fun!—Is the pudding done?</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Hurrah for the pumpkin-pie!”</i></div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">School Reader.</span></div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Fer any boy ’at’s little as me,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Er any little girl,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That-un’s the goodest poetry-piece</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In any book in the worl’!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ ef grown-peoples wuz little ag’in</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I bet they’d say so, too,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ef <em>they’d</em> go see <em>their</em> ole Gran’ma,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Like our Pa lets <em>us</em> do!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Over the river an’ through the wood</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Now Gran’mother’s cap I spy:</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Hurrah fer the fun!—Is the puddin’ done?—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Hurrah fer the punkin-pie!</i></div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_160"></a>[160]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ ’ll tell you <em>why</em> ’at’s the goodest piece:—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">’Cause it’s ist like <em>we</em> go</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To <em>our</em> Gran’ma’s, a-visitun there,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">When our Pa he says so;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ Ma she fixes my little cape-coat</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ little fuzz-cap; an’ Pa</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He tucks me away—an’ yells “<em>Hoo-ray!</em>”—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ whacks Ole Gray, an’ drives the sleigh</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Fastest you ever saw!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Over the river an’ through the wood</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Now Gran’mother’s cap I spy:</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Hurrah fer the fun!—Is the puddin’ done?—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Hurrah fer the punkin-pie!</i></div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ Pa ist snuggles me ’tween his knees—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ I he’p hold the lines,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ peek out over the buffalo-robe;—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ the wind ist <em>blows</em>!—an’ the snow ist <em>snows</em>!—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ the sun ist shines! an’ shines!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ th’ ole horse tosses his head an’ coughs</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The frost back in our face.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ I ruther go to my Gran’ma’s</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Than any other place!</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_161"></a>[161]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Over the river an’ through the wood</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Now Gran’mother’s cap I spy:</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Hurrah fer the fun!—Is the puddin’ done?—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Hurrah fer the punkin-pie!</i></div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ all the peoples they is in town</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Watches us whizzin’ past</div> - <div class="verse indent0">To go a-visitun <em>our</em> Gran’ma’s,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Like we all went there last;—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But <em>they</em> can’t go, like ist <em>our</em> folks</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ Johnny an’ Lotty, an’ three</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Er four neighber-childerns, an’ Rober-ut Volney,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ Charley an’ Maggy an’ me!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Over the river an’ through the wood</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Now Gran’mother’s cap I spy:</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Hurrah fer the fun!—Is the puddin’ done?—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Hurrah fer the punkin-pie!</i></div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_162"></a>[162]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="ALBUMANIA">ALBUMANIA</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Some certain misty yet tenable signs</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Of the oracular Raggedy Man,</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Happily found in these fugitive lines</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Culled from the album of ’Lizabuth Ann.</i></div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<h3>FRIENDSHIP</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">O Friendship, when I muse on you,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As thoughtful minds, O Friendship, do,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I muse, O Friendship, o’er and o’er,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">O Friendship—as I said before.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<h3>LIFE</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“What is Life?” If the <em>Dead</em> might say,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">’Spect they’d answer, under breath,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Sorry-like yet a-laughin’:—A</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Poor pale yesterday of Death!</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_163"></a>[163]</span></p> - -<h3>LIFE’S HAPPIEST HOURS</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent8">Best, I guess,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Was the old “<em>Recess</em>.”—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Way back there’s where I’d love to be—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Shet of each lesson and hateful rule,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">When the whole round World was as sweet to me</div> - <div class="verse indent2">As the big ripe apple I brung to School.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<h3>MARION-COUNTY MAN HOMESICK ABROAD</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">I, who had hobnobbed with the shades of kings,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And canvassed grasses from old masters’ graves,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And in cathedrals stood and looked at things</div> - <div class="verse indent2">In niches, crypts and naves;—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">My heavy heart was sagging with its woe,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Nor Hope to prop it up, nor Promise, nor</div> - <div class="verse indent0">One woman’s hands—and O I wanted so</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To be felt sorry for!</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<h3>BIRDY! BIRDY!</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The Redbreast loves the blooming bough—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The Bluebird loves it same as he;—</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_164"></a>[164]</span> - <div class="verse indent0">And as they sit and sing there now,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">So do I sing to thee—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Only, dear heart, unlike the birds,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I do not climb a tree</div> - <div class="verse indent4">To sing—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I do not climb a tree.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">When o’er this page, in happy years to come,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Thou jokest on these lines and on my name,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Doubt not my love and say, “Though he lies dumb,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">He’s lying, just the same!”</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_165"></a>[165]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_LITTLE_MOCK-MAN">THE LITTLE MOCK-MAN</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The Little Mock-man on the Stairs—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He mocks the lady’s horse ’at rares</div> - <div class="verse indent2">At bi-sickles an’ things,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He mocks the mens ’at rides ’em, too;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ mocks the Movers, drivin’ through.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ hollers, “Here’s the way <em>you</em> do</div> - <div class="verse indent2">With them-air hitchin’-strings!”</div> - <div class="verse indent4">“Ho! ho!” he’ll say,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Ole Settlers’ Day,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">When they’re all jogglin’ by,—</div> - <div class="verse indent4">“You look like <em>this</em>,”</div> - <div class="verse indent4">He’ll say, an’ twis’</div> - <div class="verse indent2">His mouth an’ squint his eye</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ ’tend-like <em>he</em> wuz beat the bass</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Drum at both ends—an’ toots an’ blares</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ole dinner-horn an’ puffs his face—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The Little Mock-man on the Stairs!</div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_166"></a>[166]</span> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The Little Mock-man on the Stairs</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Mocks all the peoples all he cares</div> - <div class="verse indent2">’At passes up an’ down!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He mocks the chickens round the door,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ mocks the girl ’at scrubs the floor,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">An’ mocks the rich, an’ mocks the pore,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ ever’thing in town!</div> - <div class="verse indent4">“Ho! ho!” says he,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">To you er me;</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ ef we turns an’ looks,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">He’s all cross-eyed</div> - <div class="verse indent4">An’ mouth all wide</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Like Giunts is, in books.—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">“Ho! ho!” he yells, “look here at <em>me</em>,”</div> - <div class="verse indent2">An’ rolls his fat eyes roun’ an’ glares,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">“<em>You</em> look like <em>this</em>!” he says, says he—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The Little Mock-man on the Stairs!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>The Little Mock—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>The Little Mock—</i></div> - <div class="verse indent4"><i>The Little Mock-man on the Stairs,</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>He mocks the music-box an’ clock,</i></div> - <div class="verse indent4"><i>An’ roller-sofy an’ the chairs;</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>He mocks his Pa, an’ specs he wears;</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>He mocks the man ’at picks the pears</i></div><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_167"></a>[167]</span> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>An’ plums an’ peaches on the shares;</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>He mocks the monkeys an’ the bears</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>On picture-bills, an’ rips an’ tears</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>’Em down,—an’ mocks ist all he cares,</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>An’ <em class="smcap">ever</em>’body <em class="smcap">ever</em>’wheres!</i></div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_168"></a>[168]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="SUMMER-TIME_AND_WINTER-TIME">SUMMER-TIME AND WINTER-TIME</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">In the golden noon-shine,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Or in the pink of dawn;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In the silver moonshine,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Or when the moon is gone;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Open eyes, or drowsy lids,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">’Wake or ’most asleep,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I can hear the katydids,—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">“Cheep! Cheep! Cheep!”</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Only in the winter-time</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Do they ever stop,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In the chip-and-splinter-time,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">When the backlogs pop,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Then it is, the kettle-lids,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">While the sparkles leap,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Lisp like the katydids,—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">“Cheep! Cheep! Cheep!”</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_169"></a>[169]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="HOME-MADE_RIDDLES">HOME-MADE RIDDLES—ALL BUT THE ANSWERS</h2> - -</div> - -<h3>I</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">No one ever saw it</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Till I dug it from the ground;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I found it when I lost it,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And lost it when I found:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I washed it, and dressed it,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And buried it once more—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Dug it up, and loved it then</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Better than before.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I was paid for finding it—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I don’t know why or how,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But I lost, found, and kept it,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And haven’t got it now.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_170"></a>[170]</span></p> - -<h3>II</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Sometimes it’s all alone—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Sometimes in a crowd;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">It says a thousand bright things,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">But never talks aloud.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Everybody loves it,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And likes to have it call,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But if you shouldn’t happen to,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">It wouldn’t care at all.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">First you see or hear of it,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">It’s a-singing,—then</div> - <div class="verse indent0">You may look and listen,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">But it never sings again.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_171"></a>[171]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_LOVELY_CHILD">THE LOVELY CHILD</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Lilies are both pure and fair,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Growing ’midst the roses there—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Roses, too, both red and pink,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Are quite beautiful, I think.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">But of all bright blossoms—best—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Purest—fairest—loveliest,—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Could there be a sweeter thing</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Than a primrose, blossoming?</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_172"></a>[172]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_YELLOWBIRD">THE YELLOWBIRD</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Hey! my little Yellowbird,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">What you doing there?</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Like a flashing sun-ray,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Flitting everywhere:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Dangling down the tall weeds</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And the hollyhocks,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the lordly sunflowers</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Along the garden-walks.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Ho! my gallant Golden-bill,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Pecking ’mongst the weeds,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">You must have for breakfast</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Golden flower-seeds:</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Won’t you tell a little fellow</div> - <div class="verse indent2">What you have for <em>tea</em>?—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Spect a peck o’ yellow, mellow</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Pippin on the tree.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_173"></a>[173]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="ENVOY">ENVOY</h2> - -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">When but a little boy, it seemed</div> - <div class="verse indent2">My dearest rapture ran</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In fancy ever, when I dreamed</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I was a man—a man!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Now—sad perversity!—my theme</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Of rarest, purest joy</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Is when, in fancy blest, I dream</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I am a little boy.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Armazindy, by James Whitcomb Riley - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ARMAZINDY *** - -***** This file should be named 63552-h.htm or 63552-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/5/5/63552/ - -Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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