Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ...Thy voice which made me sudden stay, Or Echo's voice which turned me round, To bring surprise another way. No wonder thou art silent now, Since once thou madest thyself heard; Thou knowest she will argue out, And, like her sex, will have last word. OLD TIMES Would I had never strayed from home! So might its changes then have come To imperceptibly take hold. My village hath become a town Seen from the hills, its lights miles down The heavens--a starry world. 0 'twere a pleasure now to see Men who as boys were foes to me, And made anticipation pain! But action, blows prove all true worth, To turn the coward red with wrath, Or braggart hero fear's white stain. A known one came; to him I said--" Thy mother, is she well? " " Nay, dead, And it was never told to thee; And father housed in Bedlam by The drover Drink; since she did die Life hath gone ill with him and me." Another came, his news to tell. 1 questioned him--" Thy people well? " " One here, one there; Tom sailed the main, Was drowned near 'Frisco's golden gate; We all are parted, and 'tis fate No more to meet on earth again." Dear boyhood friend: whate'er was done, Though Innocence might plead for one, Guilt gripped us both--Tom drowned at sea! On children's faces see me pore, Not for themselves I look them o'er, But for their parents, young with me. Give back my fires that burned of old, Their flames had hopes; new fires burn cold, Their blazes have regrets to see. This breaking up old homes in part Is ache and breaking to my heart--New homes keep chilly hearths for me. LOVE ABSENT Where wert thou, love, when from Twm barium turned The moon's face full the way of Alterreen, And from his wood's dark cage the nightingale Drave out clear notes across the open sheen? I stood alone to see...
