Chips, fragments and vestiges by Gail Hamilton collected and arranged by H. Augusta Dodge |
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THE MYSTERIOUS MAIDEN |
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 | Chips, fragments and vestiges by Gail Hamilton |  |
THE MYSTERIOUS MAIDEN
In a valley, with the shepherds,
At the bloom of each young year,
When the larks their spring notes warbled,
Walked a maiden wondrous fair.
At the bloom of each young year,
When the larks their spring notes warbled,
Walked a maiden wondrous fair.
Born without the quiet valley,
Never knew they whence she came;
Often though they gave her greeting,
None could tell the maiden's name.
Never knew they whence she came;
Often though they gave her greeting,
None could tell the maiden's name.
88
Yet her parting footfall ever
O'er their hearts a shadow threw;
Tones of more than mortal sweetness.
Bore the maiden's fond adieu.
O'er their hearts a shadow threw;
Tones of more than mortal sweetness.
Bore the maiden's fond adieu.
Blessing-breathing was her presence
At the hush of twilight hour;
Tottering age or gold-tressed childhood
Felt alike her gentle power.
At the hush of twilight hour;
Tottering age or gold-tressed childhood
Felt alike her gentle power.
Yet a sweet and solemn sadness
On her fair young face they saw,
And her fragile form invested
With a strange unwonted awe.
On her fair young face they saw,
And her fragile form invested
With a strange unwonted awe.
Flowers and fruits she ever carried
Ripened in another land,
By the warmth of other sunbeams
From a kinder Nature's hand.
Ripened in another land,
By the warmth of other sunbeams
From a kinder Nature's hand.
Lavishly her gifts bestowing
None were passed unnoticed o'er,
Flowers or fruits to man and maiden,
All partook her bounteous store.
None were passed unnoticed o'er,
Flowers or fruits to man and maiden,
All partook her bounteous store.
Welcome every guest was to her,
But for any loving pair
Were her choicest gifts selected,
Richest fruits and flowers most fair.
But for any loving pair
Were her choicest gifts selected,
Richest fruits and flowers most fair.
1853.
| Chips, fragments and vestiges by Gail Hamilton | |