MAIDENHOOD. 27 O suffering, sad humanity! Patient, though sorely tried ! I pledge you in this cup of grief, Then sleep we side by side. Seest thou shadows sailing by, Hearest thou voices on the shore, 0, thou child of many prayers ! Life hath quicksands, — Life hath snares, Care and age come unawares ! Like the swell of some sweet tune, Childhood is the bough, where slumbered Gather, then, each flower that grows, Bear a lily in thy hand ; Bear through sorrow, wrong, and ruth, 0, that dew, like balm, shall steal Into wounds, that cannot heal, Even as sleep our eyes doth seal ; And that smile, like sunshine, dart THE 'HE shades of night were falling fast, As through an Alpine village passed Excelsior ! His brow was sad ; his eye beneath, Excelsior! In happy homes he saw the light Excelsior! Try not the Pass !” the old man said ; “Dark lowers the tempest overhead, The roaring torrent is deep and wide!” And loud that clarion voice replied, Excelsior! “O stay,” the maiden said, “and rest Excelsior! “ Beware the pine-tree's withered branch! Excelsior! At break of day, as heavenward Excelsior! A traveller, by the faithful hound, Excelsior! There in the twilight cold and gray, Excelsior! A GLEAM OF SUNSHINE. 31 A GLEAM OF SUNSHINE. HIS is the place. Stand still, my steed, Let me review the scene, The forms that once have been. T The Past and Present here unite Beneath Time's flowing tide, Like footprints hidden by a brook, But seen on either side. Here runs the highway to the town; There the green lane descends, O gentlest of my friends! The shadow of the linden-trees, Lay moving on the grass ; A shadow, thou didst pass. Thy dress was like the lilies, And thy heart as pure as they : One of God's holy messengers Did walk with me that day. I saw the branches of the trees Bend down thy touch to meet, The clover-blossoms in the grass Rise up to kiss thy feet. Sleep, sleep to-day, tormenting cares, Of earth and folly born!” Solemnly sang the village choir On that sweet Sabbath morn. |