Ballads | Page 3

to yield your sway.
It is pleasant, is it not,?Sitting here beneath the trees,?While the restless wind above?Ripples over leafy seas?
Often, when the twilight falls,?In the shadow, quite alone,?I have sat till starlight came,?Listening to its monotone.?Yet not always quite alone,--?Brother, let me take the place?Just behind you now the moon?Shines no longer in my face.
It is near two months ago?Since I met him, as I think,?By God's mercy, when my horse?Trembled on the river's brink.?I had fallen, but his arm?Firmly seized the bridle-rein,?And, with one decided grasp,?Drew me back to life again.?I was grateful and essayed?Fitting words my thanks to speak.?Arthur, when the heart feels most,?Words, I think, are oftenest weak.
So I stammered and I fear,?What I said had little grace?But I knew he understood,?By the smile upon his face.?There are faces--his was such--?That are sealed when in repose;?Only when a smile floods out,?All the soul in beauty glows.?With that smile I grew content,?And my heart grew strangely calm,?As with trustful step I walked,?My arm resting on his arm.
Brother, turn your face away,?So, dear, I can tell you best?All that followed; but be sure?You are looking to the west.?Arthur, I have seen him since,?Nearly every day, until?If I lose him, all my life?Would grow wan, and dark, and chill.?Brother, this my love impute?Not to me for maiden-shame;?He has sought me for his wife,?He would crown me with his name.?Only yesterday he said?That my love his life would bless:?Would I grant it? Arthur, dear,?Was I wrong in saying "Yes"?
ROSE IN THE GARDEN.
THIRTY years have come and gone,?Melting away like Southern Snows,?Since, in the light of a summer's night,?I went to the garden to seek my Rose.
Mine! Do you hear it, silver moon,?Flooding my heart with your mellow shine??Mine! Be witness, ye distant stars,?Looking on me with eyes divine!
Tell me, tell me, wandering winds,?Whisper it, if you may not speak--?Did you ever, in all your round,?Fan a lovelier brow or cheek?
Long I nursed in my heart the love,?Love which felt, but dared not tell,?Till, I scarcely know how or when--?It found wild words,- and all was well!
I can hear her sweet voice even now--?It makes my pulses leap and thrill--?"I owe you more than I well can pay;?You may take me, Robert, if you will!"
One pleasant summer night,?the garden walks alone,?Looking about with restless eyes,?Wondering whither my Rose had flown,
Till, from a leafy arbor near,?There came to my ears the sound of speech.?Who can be with Rose to night??Let me hide me under the beach.
It must be one of her female friends,?Talking with her in the gloaming gray;?Perchance--I thought--they may speak of me;?Let me listen to what they say.
This I said with a careless smile,?And a joyous heart that was free from fears;?Little I dreamed that the words I heard?Would weigh on my heavy heart for years.
"Rose, my Rose! for your heart is mine,"?I heard in a low voice, passion-fraught,?"In the sight of Heaven we are truly one;?Why will you cast me away for naught?
"Will you give your hand where your heart goes not?To a man who is grave and stern and old;?And whose love compared with my passion-heat,?As the snow of the frozen North, is cold?"
And Rose--I could feel her cheek grow pale--?Her voice was tremulous, then grew strong--?"Richard," she said, "your words are wild,?And you do my guardian bitter wrong.
"Did you never hear how, years gone by," --?She spoke in a tremulous undertone--?"Bereft of friends, o'er the world's highways,?I wandered forth as a child alone?
"He opened to me his home and heart--?He whom you call so stern and cold--?And my grateful heart I may well bestow?On him for his kindness manifold."
"Rose," he said, in a saddened tone,?"I thank him for all he has done for thee;?He has acted nobly--I did him wrong--?But is there no voice in your heart for me?"
And Rose--she trembled--I felt it all;?I heard her quick breath come and go;?Her voice was broken; she only said,?"Have pity, Richard, and let me go!"
And then--Heaven gave me strength, I think--?I stood before them calm and still;?You might have thought my tranquil breast?Had never known one passion-thrill.
And they alternate flushed and paled;?Rose tottered, and I feared would fall;?I caught her in supporting arms,?And whispered, "Rose, I heard it all.
"I had a dream, but it is passed,?That we might journey, hand in hand?Along the rugged steeps of life,?Until we reached God's promised land.
"This was my dream; -- 'tis over now;--?Thank Heaven, it is not yet too late!?I pray no selfish act of mine?May keep two young hearts separate."
I placed her passive hand in hisWith?how much pain God only knows--?And blessing him for her sweet sake,?I left him standing with my Rose!
PHOEBE'S WOOING.
"PHOEBE! Phoebe! Where is the chit??When I want her most she's out of the way.?Child, you're running a long account?Up, to be squared on Judgment-day.
"Where have you been? and what