Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/elfingladeOOwils PS 3339 .M235 E5 Copy 1 _ 1/ w^ corv««GMT. ^^>S^ i 4? ^ / ^ (; JUL 1 6 1392 X Ct]C /(£lfm (Slabc. f\ REVBRIB. TH£ ELpIH ©LAtSE. f\ RBVBKIE. 2l'LL hie me to the Elfiu Glade, Where flows the Fishing Kiver, Aud there beneath the Elm trees shade The cares of life will sever. The toil and din of city life, ril banish for a season, And once forget the wiles and strife That warps the trader's reason. The stories of my childhood days Around my brain will hover, While Ariel sprites through fancy's maize Will backward bring my lover. With joy I'll pace the sylvan dell, Where the snake-like rootless climb, And o'er again my love tales tell. As back in my youth's young prime. The fairy rings by rootlets formed. Will chain my mind forever, Aud e'en forget how fortune stormed When she our loves did sever. 'Twas neath such stately Elms as these My love's first hopes were spoken. And backward now my memory flees, E'en tho' her vows were broken. 4> With rope-lUve stems and trellis'd strands With weird fantastic twinings, Beseems the work of fairy hands, And elfin king's designings. Oh, that the human heart was true As are the Elm branch twinings, The love of years would e'er be new, Bereft of sorrow's pinings. Though time hath clothed my wrinkled brow With whitened locks dishevell'd, 1 feign would seek that valley now, Wliere in my youth I re veil 'd. That cannot be — but 1 will seek Missouri's wond'rous stream, Where one and all alike bespeak The home of our life's young dream. The ancient sire and aged dame. Or earth's fair sons and daughters. May life prolong and health reclaim Through Regent's magic waters. From out a shady winding dell These won'drous Springs are welling, No pen can write nor tongue can tell How hearts with joy are swelling. Disease in all its varied forms. Presaging death and sorrow, Must yield to Regent waters' charms And joy and peace will follow. ^^mm LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS ■nn 015 873 178 2 I^ISIT ...... THE ELMS AT EXCELSIOR SPRINGS AND DRINK REGENT WATER.