EXCELSIOR. BY HENRY W. LONGFELLOW. The shades of night were falling fast, His brow was sad; his eye beneath, And like a silver clarion rung The accents of that unknown tongue, In happy homes he saw the light Of household fires gleam warm and bright; And from his lips escaped a groan, 66 EXCELSIOR. Try not the Pass!" the old man said; "Dark lowers the tempest overhead, The roaring torrent is deep and wide!" "O stay," the maiden said, "and rest "Beware the pine-tree's withered branch! This was the peasant's last Good-night, At break of day, as heavenward A voice cried through the startled air A traveller, by the faithful hound, 87 Still grasping in his hand of ice That banner with the strange device Excelsior! There in the twilight cold and gray, And from the sky, serene and far, TO THE AUTHOR'S WIFE, ABSENT ON A VISIT. BY SEBA SMITH. COME home my dear Elizabeth; If love could not restrain you, Like the dove that found no resting Apart from thee, my bride. Yes, bride I still must call thee, Though sixteen years have fled, Fraught with the ills and joys of life, Since the day that saw us wed. Yes, bride I still must call thee, The morning light unto mine eyes, With gentle words and tone, And all the light, gay world may smile, But still I am alone. The bright bird that you left me, Chirps often through the day, And his music but reminds me That you are far away. For your sake I will feed him With fresh seeds and with flowers, And his morning and his evening song Shall count my weary hours. |