This song that I sing-- It is not of a spring, Nor yet of a silvery stream-- But of a vision bright Which came last night In the garb of a blissful dream-- When I thought, as I lay,...
In the attic, unused, there they put it away; The old oaken frame has begun to decay; What iron's about it is eaten with rust, And upon and around it are cobwebs and dust;...
O what memories sweet entwine Around each word and faded line! Yellow and dim with the touch of years, And soiled with the marks of tears-- A sacred treasure of the heart...
I'm just in my glory when the cat I can tease, Or I'm hunting for bird nests up in the trees, And I wear out my pants in the seat and the knees; I'm the pride of my daddy, my mammy's own joy--...
The years have passed in ceaseless round Since first they laid her here to rest In dreamless sleep beneath the silent mound, With folded hands upon her gentle breast.
In reel, in waltz, in lancer's maze, She moved with pretty air of grace, And all the ball-room's brilliant blaze Seemed borrowed brightness from her face! O, winsome maid, demure and sweet!...
There's the rose and the lily, the daisy and pink, And many rare flowers which others may think Are the fairest and best, the sweetest that blow, With delicious perfume, and colors that glow--...
O others may boast of their pleasures galore-- The miser with rapture may count o'er his store, And some may imagine great happiness there In the gay shining beam of Society's glare;...
The sun has sunk in the crimson west, And "around the languid eyes of day" The Twilight's dreamy shadows rest And light and shade alternate play; The winds are hushed, nor leaf nor flower...
Some sing of the lily, some sing of the rose, Some sing of each flower in beauty that blows; But sing me a song that shall render its meed To the fragrance and aroma found in a weed,...
You may boast about the landscapes fair so far across the sea Of castled Rhine, and southern France, and favored Italy-- But have you seen, when Springtime flings the scented blossoms down,...
Sweetly to sleep beneath the fresh green turf They laid the loved and lost away; A chair is vacant by the household hearth, And shadow-vested Sorrow's there to-day.
Dear little one with eyes so blue, And silken ringlets of flaxen hair! Oh, may life have in store for you Something better than anguish and care! Oh, may thy footsteps guided be...
Bright visions of childhood! How dear to the heart Are the scenes which from memory can never depart! Undimmed by the sorrows, the grief and the tears Which have shadowed the pathway of life's later years,...