Volume I Part 75 (2/2)
Austin Dobson [1840-1921]
”CHAMBER SCENE”
An Exquisite Picture In The Studio Of A Young Artist At Rome
She rose from her untroubled sleep, And put away her soft brown hair, And, in a tone as low and deep As love's first whisper, breathed a prayer-- Her snow-white hands together pressed, Her blue eyes sheltered in the lid, The folded linen on her breast, Just swelling with the charms it hid; And from her long and flowing dress Escaped a bare and slender foot, Whose shape upon the earth did press Like a new snow-flake, white and ”mute”; And there, from slumber pure and warm, Like a young spirit fresh from heaven, She bowed her slight and graceful form, And humbly prayed to be forgiven.
Oh G.o.d! if souls unsoiled as these Need daily mercy from Thy throne; If she upon her bended knees, Our loveliest and our purest one,-- She, with a face so clear and bright, We deem her some stray child of light;-- If she, with those soft eyes in tears, Day after day in her first years, Must kneel and pray for grace from Thee, What far, far deeper need have we!
How hardly, if she win not heaven, Will our wild errors be forgiven!
Nathaniel Parker Willis [1806-1867]
”AH, BE NOT FALSE”
Ah, be not false, sweet Splendor!
Be true, be good; Be wise as thou art tender; Be all that Beauty should.
Not lightly be thy citadel subdued; Not ign.o.bly, not untimely, Take praise in solemn mood; Take love sublimely.
Richard Watson Gilder [1844-1909]
A LIFE-LESSON
There! little girl, don't cry!
They have broken your doll, I know; And your tea-set blue, And your play-house, too, Are things of the long ago; But childish troubles will soon pa.s.s by.-- There! little girl, don't cry!
There! little girl, don't cry!
They have broken your slate, I know; And the glad, wild ways Of your school-girl days Are things of the long ago; But life and love will soon come by.-- There! little girl, don't cry!
There! little girl, don't cry!
They have broken your heart, I know; And the rainbow gleams Of your youthful dreams Are things of the long ago; But Heaven holds all for which you sigh.-- There! little girl, don't cry!
James Whitcomb Riley [1849-1916]
THE MAN
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