PS - 6tr »S 1764 ,G65 ^opy 1 ■cc: c r C c - ^ ^? V .<• (^ ^e cr l'] <:c ^■' , -Cjc, ■- 1. i^- -^^A <^^< < -W^^l -■«-.• CCon the .sandy shore.'" "And," interposed I, "did .she return?" "She did return; but, friend, it was to find them gone." And here the trav'ler paused and heaved a sigh ; But presently resumed: "One April eve, As elK)n Night was fast enshrouding all, A poor lone wanderer did halt before my door. Begging shelter for the night, and was taken in, 32 EDNA LANE. Erelong, she ask'd if Wilfred lyane still lived,. Saying she was his child; that she Had follow'd across the sea a sailor-lad, Leaving for his sake parents, homestead, all, But had now deserted him ; Fortune on them had Frowned, else she had long since returned. On being told her parents both were dead, This penitent did vent a flood of tears, And ask'd that I would on the morrow mora, Attend her steps to where the lone hut stood. "So, when the first gray streaks of dawn appear'd, Forth from m}^ humble cottage hied we two; And, hast'ning now along the water's edge. Now up and up the rugged mountain's side. At length we stood by two green graves, Two lowly graves, o'er which the daisies peep'd. And there parted we; for, with a meaning motion Of her hand, she bade me go. But, passing On the eve of that same day the hut, I saw her ling' ring still upon the graves. And closer drawing, found her mute in death. "I consigned her, near her mother, to those cold Confines of clay, and oft, as to the sea I list, There will recur to me, to me there will recur Her life entire." The storm was o'er; The moon shone out; and, the embers dead upon the hearth, 33 EDNA LANE. My traveler, his story told, dashing from his cheek A tear aside, his way resumed; while A sadness long-enduring filled my soul. 34 RIP VAN WINKLE. K,IF V^^KT WI3SrK:i_.E. Unto the Kaatskills, heaven-high, An ancient village nestles nigh. Here there resided j-ears agone Rip Van Winkle, wideh' known. A mild, obliging mortal he — A termagant his partner she; — Fond of his cups, not so of real work, All kinds of which Rip was wont to shirk. The village urchins told he tales ghostly, Pla3''d marbles with them, taught them kites to fly. But many a quiet summer's day, Rip, with Wolf, would wend his way Some stream unto, a lengthy rod His hand within ; there sit and nod The day entire, though not a bite He should get from morn till night. For weary hours would he tramp Thro' tangled wood and gloomy swamp, To .shoot a .squirrel here and there; Wolf, half-fami.shed, ever near. But Madame Winkle, we have .said, Was termagant; and o'er the head 35 RIP VAN WINKLE. Of Rip and Wolf to pieces went Many a broomstick. — Termagant! Then down to the tavern h e would go , Thus him consoling in his woe, Tales telling with the sages there; Wet daj^s, within; in weather fair, The door beside, a bench upon; Nick Vedder moving with the sun, To keep within the scant}- shade A stunted weeping willow made. Sometimes a paper chanc'd to fall Into their hands, when silent all, Their mouths agape, would lean to hear Van Bummel read, the school-teacher; How sage would the)- deliberate For six months on events of state! But from the tavern Rip at length Was routed by the termagant. Then he would seek the solitude Of the thick surrounding wood. In such a ramble, one autumnal day. Rip had gained, all uncon.sciously, A dazzling height; somber shades lycngthening within the glades. Some time he lay upon a knoll of green, Casting around, and musing on the scene. 36 RIP VAN WINKLE. At length he rose and turned about ; When he heard a mortal shout. He cast around, but nothing saw Except a solitary crow. But "Rip Van Winkle!" once again With echoes filled the gloomy glen. Wolf gave a growl; and Rip began to fear, But a mortal seeing, to the same drew near. From Holland's shore the stranger he had come, Thickset and stout, and bore a keg of rum. Thick bushy hair, a grizzled beard had he; Buttons both sides, and buckles at the knee. He motioned Rip assist him with his load, Who helped him bear it up th' rugged road. As they ascended, ever}^ now and then Long rolling peals issued from a glen. Peals thunder-like, deep, low-muttering. People at length they came upon playing Nine-pins. All were quaint-clothed: A high-crowned hat had each upon his head; Short laced doublets had on they, Likewise breeches bagging at the knee; Red stockings had each, also high-heel'd shoes; Small piggish eyes, an enormous nose. They play in silence, never doth a smile Their broad red faces overspread the while. 37 RIP VAN WINKLE. Cup-bearer is he; and to his lip, No one looking, the thirsty Rip The liquid lifts, it splendid finds; The draught repeats, — his head declines. At last he woke. He rubbed his eyes: Birds hopped about; beneath the skies An eagle soared; but were gone Those playing as the sun went down. "Surely," said the yawning wight, ' 'Sure I have not slept all night. ' ' His gun with rust was covered o'er: Rising, he found his joints were sore. Whistles he; time and again. Shouts .for Wolf: but all in vain. With heavy heart, he homeward turns. Of strange changes many learns. At length he reached his natal town, All stare at him, he knows no one. Urchins follow, pointing at his beard; On ev'ry .side a snarling dog is heard. The very garments that the people wore. From any differed, he had .seen before. Long rows of houses he had never seen. Stood where old familiar haunts had been. "Yon flows th' Huason, lordly, silver stream: — " To Rip Van Winkle all is as a dream . 3S SIGNS OF SUMMER. Was it with, effort that he found the way His house unto, falhng 'to decay; Approaching he in silent awe the door; But still that tongue would be for evermore. The inn were gone and the willow-tree; / And we had gained our liberty. Twenty years had past and gone, -/ Since lay he in the Kaatskills down: Some time he talks of things of yoi'e, At last, lav down to rise no more. SIGNS OF SUMMER. Wen the buckeye is a-bloomin', an' the grass is gettin' green, Wen' the merc'ry is aspirin ','nn' housewives growin' mean, ■ ■■ -. '■ ■ Wen woodchuck, with a "chee-ouk!" doth seek the cherrj'-tree. Wen "Silas'' goes a-crawin', sleeves rol^'d up to the knee. Wen banks of white clouds slowly drift across the vault' d sky, Look out, my lads, for summer! sweet' sum- mer dravveth nigh. 39 SIGNS OF SUMMER. Wen humble-bee is hummin' a low an* drowsy tune, Wen lovers 'gin to linger 'neatli a threat.' - nin' moon, Wen tater-bug fully large as any half -quart cup, Waits serene upon a clod for tater to come up, Wen your mouth egzactly set is for green apple-pie, lyook out, my lads, for summer! sweet sum- mer draweth nigh. Wen from shaken carpets clouds of dust arise, Fillin' your foamin' mouth with mud> an* puttin' out both eyes. Wen hurricane in urchin-form doth rend the old peach-tree. Wen I feel about as lazy as I very well could be, Wen turkey-buzzards fully are immense enough to fry, Look out, my lads, for summer I sweet sum- mer draweth nigh. 40 AD PUERXJM. AD PUERUM. FROM HORACE. I hate the pomp of Persian, boj^; Bark-bound chaplets me anno}-: Give over searching where the rose Defy the snows. A simple myrtle- wreath provide, Naught prepare thou this beside: It doth become both me and mine. Beneath the vine. EPIGRAM. [on hendrick friend, a dude.] I can't conceive why Mother Earth In mortal so devoid of worth As Hend, Should be b}' Death compelled to take That much interest as to make Of him a bosom-Friend ! 41 RETURN OF SPRING. RETURN OF SPRING. *' However critics may take offense. A double meaning has a double senst. '— Pope. I wrote a poem once. It was about — Three feet long and ' ' Smiling Spring. ' ' Conscious I was I had not written In equally charming st^de With the author of " Idyls of the King, ' ' But all the while, I couldn't doubt But the editor would be smitten! I scarce could 'wait the coming check; Unto the Office daily hied, Certain of riches now, and fame. Soon I'd buy a Nancy Hanks! But, one day making wreck Of an envelope bearing my name, I read, stupefied, " Returned with thanks! " 42 A NIGHT IN MARCH. A NIGHT IN MARCH. Sparrows beat against the pane, Seeking refuge from the rain; I hear the cattle in the lane Loud lowing. Wildly toss the sombre pines; Madly rustling are the vines; White grow the Sleeper's clay confines; 'Tis snowing. Dying low the embers are ; Twinkling faintly from afar, His persistent light a star Is showing. 43 BENEATH THE WAVES. BENEATH THE WAVES. How dear to this heart is the girl of my boyhood. When fond recollection presents her to view! The parlor, the buggy, the deep-tangled wild wood. And every loved spot which m^^ infancy knew; The wide-spreading table, or, rather, that on it, The bridge and the rock where the cataract fell; The lake of her father, the dairy-house nigh it, And e'en the new " derby " I knocked in the well! That moss-covered derby I hail as a treasure; P'or often, at eve, when returned from the field, I found it the source of an exquisite pleasure. The purest and .sweetest that castors can yield. How ardent I seized it, with hands that were glowing! And quick to the white, pebbly summit it fell! Then soon with the gush of boyhood o'erflowing, I hastened me out in quest of the — well ! How sweet from her bonnet blue to receive it. As, poised on the curb, I inclined to her lips! Not a full blushing goblet could tempt me to leave it. Though filled with the nectar that Jupiter sips. And now, far removed from the loved situation. The tear of regret will intrusively swell. As fancy reverts to her father's plantation. And sighs for the derby she knocked in the well; The shining new derby, the silken-bound derby. The four-dollar derby she knocked in the well ! 44 EPITAPH. EPITAPH. Here lies John Jones: All, all his bones Did the steed of the muses shiver. Ne'er was his spirit forced to glide At the shrunken body's side, Or adown the Stj'gian river; For the Public came and just, Above the bod 3% heaped the dust, In joy extreme. That at last, Jones had past Into the Lethean stream. 45 AD MAECENATEM. AD MAECENATEM. (from HORACE.) Maecenas, born of regal line, My pation and sweet glct}- mine, Some there are it cloth delight Olympian goal to graze in flight; This, if Romans, fickle race. Ample honors on him place; That, if bins his own contain Northern Afric's golden grain. A third delights to till the fields His father left: not Mysia yields The wealth, into the waters dark Would tempt him launch a Cyprian bark. Long as he dreads the rolling seas, The merchant lauds his city's ease; Soon again his ships are fraught, He poverty to endure untaught. Some neither spurn old Massic wine. Nor bowls defer till time to dine. Now stretch 'd where Phoebus fails to gleam, Now on the bank of sacred stream. Many the camp delights; and war, Which maid and matron both abhor. 46 BK IDLING PEGASUvS. The hunter tarries 'neath cold Jove, Unmindful of his tender love, If faithful dogs have seen a hind. Or splendid net boar-broken find. Me the mead of learned brows, ivy, Mingle with the gods above; me The cool grove and Nymphs that bide Therein, do from the common herd divide, If neither Euterpe doth refuse her fire. Nor Polyhymnia to touch th' Lesbian lyre. But if b}' thee with lyric bards classed, I shall strike the stars with exalted head. BRIDLING PEGASUS. You stinkin', stubborn, sulky beast. Ope, ope the mouth! receive the bit! Else once astride your back I am , You'll find I'll make you pay for it. I'll visit twenty dewy dells, An hundred visits pay the moon, A thousand times Wniona sing;— You won't, my lad, forget it soon! 47 SINE QUA NON. Medusa-sprung, wide-winged steed, The mouth ope up ! receive the bit ! Else once astride your back I am, You'll find I'll make 3'ou pay for it! SINE QUA NON. It was the first of April. Fingers in his hair, The editor sat at his desk, Spring poems everywhere. He failed to note the double rap Upon the " sanctum " door. That busy was he at the time Exploring Labrador I In speech instructed of the wife. In stepped a maiden mild: " Your spouse submits a poem " — " Poem " signifying " child. " The editor he then looked up; 'N' falling into a fit Of abstraction, to the maid: " Do stamps accompany it ? " 48 WELCOME APRIL. WELCOME, APRIL! Welcome, month of bloom! Dispel the winter's gloom, Thus cheer these hearts of ours: Full long the snows have lain O'er woodland, hill and plain; — Resurrect the flowers! Full long the winds are mad; Mj' heart has long been sad; I long to be set free. Come! cause the stream to flow The drooping grass to grow, I beg of thee. 49 AFTERNOON IN FEBRUARY AFTERNOON IN FEBRUARY. ■■ Arma vlrnmquc oaiio. " —Virgil. ( 'nira piiciniiiKiue cano. The. lesson is ending, The rod is descending. His heart is frozen, My extremities dead; Through clouds like ashes The red rod flashes On trouser-legs, That glimmer red. Old Flogger recommences, The buried fences Mark no longer The road o'er the plain; While through the meadows. Like fearful shadows, I imagine A funeral train. The bell is pealing, — Yes, every feeling Within me suggests Me the dismal knell ; 50 THE POLITICIAN. Shadows are trailing, My heart is bewailing My trousers when I meet Cousin Belle! THE POLITICIAN. " ruiuslibot ri'i simulator at NOTE. 330, The pensive soul of god-like Pclidcs. 331. Tremhliiig and silent the hidden stand, 333, But Achilles swift within liis trouhled mind. 337. Before me hlameless hoth you mortals are, £45. Patroclus then his comrade dear oheyed, 346, And from the tent the captive maiden led: 348. A-weeping she treads the Ixirren coast. 349. Achilles apart ii-om his martial train, 350. Tearful a-gadng out ov^er the main. 355. But now, alas! Ix'fore my eyes, the son 360. Achilles to tlie comely goddess hied 361. (Mist-like she rose from the watery waste); 362. Why weeps my child? (she liim addrest) 416, Tear chasing tear adown her ruddy cheeks: 423. Here sitting by the moaning main, 477. But wlien began Aurora's clKck to tiush. 478- Down they tlien into the vessel rusli: 491. The nymph again fron:i the sounding sea 492. Rose, mindful still of her pr< )geny. 507. Let now the Trojans lieap the plain 508. With bodies of Achaeans slain, 535. Thus down he sat on the golden throne, 560. Thou wilt upon Pelides honor heap, 599. And as they saw Hephaistos minist'ring, 600. They cause with mirth the lieavens higli to ring. 604. 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