VI.

I did not hear the dog howl, mother, or the death-watch

beat,

There came a sweeter token when the night and morning

meet:

But sit beside my bed, mother, and put your hand in

mine,

And Effie on the other side, and I will tell the sign.

VII.

All in the wild March-morning I heard the angels call; It was when the moon was setting, and the dark was over all;

The trees began to whisper, and the wind began to roll, And in the wild March-morning I heard them call my soul.

VIII.

For lying broad awake I thought of you and Effie

dear;

I saw you sitting in the house, and I no longer here; With all my strength I prayed for both, and so I felt

resigned,

And up the valley came a swell of music on the wind.

IX.

I thought that it was fancy, and I listened in my bed, And then did something speak to me-I know not what was said;

For great delight and shuddering took hold of all my

mind,

And up the valley came again the music on the wind.

X.

But you were sleeping; and I said, "It's not for them: it's mine."

And if it comes three times, I thought, I take it for a

sign.

And once again it came, and close beside the window

bars,

Then seemed to go right up to Heaven and die among

the stars.

XI.

So now I think my time is near. I trust it is. I know The blessed music went that way my soul will have

to go.

And for myself, indeed, I care not if I go to-day,

But, Effie, you must comfort her when I am past away.

And say

XII.

to Robin a kind word, and tell him not to fret; There's many worthier than I would make him happy

yet.

If I had lived

I cannot tell- I might have been his

wife;

But all these things have ceased to be, with my desire of life.

XIII.

O look! the sun begins to rise, the heavens are in a

glow;

He shines upon a hundred fields, and all of them I know. And there I move no longer now, and there his light

may shine

Wild flowers in the valley for other hands than mine.

XIV.

O sweet and strange it seems to me, that ere this day is

done

The voice that now is speaking may be beyond the sun-
Forever and forever with those just souls and true
And what is life, that we should moan? why make we

such ado?

XV.

Forever and forever, all in a blessed home

And there to wait a little while till you and Effie

come

To lie within the light of God, as I lie upon your

And the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary

are at rest.

THE LOTOS-EATERS.

I.

"COURAGE!" he said, and pointed toward the land;
"This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon."
In the afternoon they came unto a land,
In which it seemed always afternoon.

All round the coast the languid air did swoon,
Breathing like one that hath a weary dream.
Full-faced above the valley stood the moon;
And like a downward smoke, the slender stream
Along the cliff to fall and pause and fall did seem.

II.

A land of streams! some, like a downward smoke, Slow-dropping veils of thinnest lawn, did go;

And some through wavering lights and shadows broke Rolling a slumbrous sheet of foam below.

They saw the gleaming river seaward flow

From the inner land: far off, three mountain-tops,