When hearts are trumps | Page 2

true heart speak?From far-off lands; and like a mountain-peak?That loses in one avalanche its cloy?Of ice and snow, so doth her breast employ?Its hidden store of blushes; and they wreak?Destruction, as they crush my aching heart,--?Destruction, wild, relentless, and as sure?As the poor Alpine hamlet's; and no art?Can hide my agony, no herb can cure?My wound. Her very blush says, "We must part."?Why was it always my fate to endure?
A Rose from her hair.
She gave me a rose from her hair,?And she hid her young heart within it.?I could hardly speak from despair,?Till she gave that rose from her hair,?And leaned out over the stair?With a blush as she stooped to pin it.?She gave me a rose from her hair,?And she hid her young heart within it.
When I told her my Love.
When I told her my love,?She was maidenly shy,?And she bit at her glove.
I gave Cupid a shove;?Yes, I begged him to try,?When I told her my love
What was she thinking of?As she uttered that sigh?And she bit at her glove?
And pray what does it prove?That she stopped there to sigh,?When I told her my love?And she bit at her glove?
My Lady, you Blushed.
My lady, you blushed.?Was my love a surprise??How quickly they hushed!
A curl of yours brushed?All else from my eyes.?My lady, you blushed.
You say that I gushed,?And they all heard my sighs??How quickly they hushed!
Your roses were crushed;?N'importe wherefores and whys.?My lady, you blushed.
The American Slave.
Come, muster your pleasantest smile, my dear,?And put on your prettiest gown.?Forget about Jack for a while, my dear,?His lordship has just come to town.
He's come here to get him a wife, my dear,?And you have been put up for sale?With a marvellous income for life, my dear,?To balance your side of the scale.
His lordship is feeble and old, my dear,--?What odds? All the sooner he'll die.?And he has a sore need of your gold, my dear:?See the good you can do if you'll try.
And then a real lady you'll be, my dear,?Not only by nature but name;?Mamma'll be so proud,--you can see, my dear,?No one thinks it, as you do, a shame.
So bend your proud head. Are you faint, my dear??Keep the tears back, be buoyant and brave.?Keep that pose! Now a portrait we'll paint, my dear,?To be called "The American Slave."
Sell Her,--That's Right.
Sell her,--that's right! She is young, she is fair;?There's the light of the sun in the coils of her hair.?And her soul is as white as the first flakes of snow?That are falling to-night. 'T is a bargain, a "go"?Sell her,--that's right!
Sell her,--that's right! For a bag full of gold.?Put her down in your ledger, and label her "Sold"?She's only a beauty with somebody's name,?And the Church for a pittance will wash out the shame.?Sell her,--that's right!
Time and Place.
Hasten on! The mad moonlight is beaming?On the hatred and love 'twixt us two;?And it beams on the maid who is dreaming,?And the grave made for me or for you.
Time and place,--love and life in the balance,?Fear and hope in the glance of your eye.?Draw your blade! Forget not we are gallants?Who can laugh at our fate as we die.
On your guard! There'll be blood on the metal?Ere she wakes from her innocent dreams;?There's a long list of kisses to settle,?And some love sighs and death sighs, it seems.?Bare your arm! Strike for life and the maiden!?Take that! You are cautious, I fear?Speed the blow,--'tis with happiness laden?For him who does not remain here
That and that! I am wounded,--it's over?Those kisses were destined for you;?But now she is yours and you love her,?Go tell her that I loved her too
Blood on the Rose.
Is it dew on the rose??'T is the same that I gave him?Last night when I chose?To warn him and save him;
That he pinned on his breast?With a smile at his danger,?And a smile, not in jest,?That was sweeter and stranger
Here are footprints of foes!?Oh, my heart!--I can feel?It is blood on the rose?And a sliver of steel.
In Old Madrid.
I strolled the streets in quest of any love,?In old Madrid long centuries ago;?I caught the perfume of a scented glove,?I saw a sweet face in a portico.
She laughed--then paled. She leaned out; whispered, "Fly!" And then I felt the sting of steel, the hiss?Of curses in my ear, and knew that I?Had forfeited my life--and lost a kiss.
The Duel.
Ten paces--one, two, three, and fire!?Two gallants have their heart's desire.
One of them dies, the other laughs;?The seconds smile, the doctor chaffs.
A woman, smiling, dreams she's wed?To--hush, to the very one that's dead.
The Shroud.
The snow came softly, silently, down?Into the streets of the dark old town;?And lo! by the wind it was swept and piled?On the sleeping form of a beggar-child.
It kissed her cheek, and it filled her hair?With crystals that looked like diamonds there;?And she dreamed that she was