 | Forest buds, from the woods of Maine |  |
143
LET ME IN.
When the summer evening's shadows
Veiled the earth's calm bosom o'er,
Came a young child, faint and weary,
Tapping at a cottage door;
“Wandering through the winding wood-paths
My worn feet too long have been;
Let me in, oh, gentle mother,
Let me in!”
Veiled the earth's calm bosom o'er,
Came a young child, faint and weary,
Tapping at a cottage door;
“Wandering through the winding wood-paths
My worn feet too long have been;
Let me in, oh, gentle mother,
Let me in!”
Years passed on; his eager spirit
Gladly watched the flying hours;
“I am tired of childish trifling,
I am tired of birds and flowers;
I will seek the bands of pleasure,
I will join their merry din;
Let me in to joy and gladness,
Let me in!”
Gladly watched the flying hours;
“I am tired of childish trifling,
I am tired of birds and flowers;
I will seek the bands of pleasure,
I will join their merry din;
Let me in to joy and gladness,
Let me in!”
Years sped on; yet vainly yearning
Murmured still the restless heart;
“I am tired of heartless folly,
Let the glittering cheat depart;
I have found in worldly pleasure
Nought to happiness akin;
Let me in to love's warm presence,
Let me in!”
Murmured still the restless heart;
“I am tired of heartless folly,
Let the glittering cheat depart;
144
Nought to happiness akin;
Let me in to love's warm presence,
Let me in!”
Years flew on; a youth no longer
Still he owned the restless heart;
“I am tired of love's soft durance,
Sweet-voiced charmer, we must part!
I will gain a laurel chaplet,
And a world's applause will win;
Let me in to fame and glory,
Let me in!”
Still he owned the restless heart;
“I am tired of love's soft durance,
Sweet-voiced charmer, we must part!
I will gain a laurel chaplet,
And a world's applause will win;
Let me in to fame and glory,
Let me in!”
Years fled on; the restless spirit
Never found the bliss it sought;
Answered hopes and granted blessings
Only new aspirings brought;
“I am tired of earth's vain glory,
I am tired of grief and sin;
Let me in to rest eternal,
Let me in!”
Never found the bliss it sought;
Answered hopes and granted blessings
Only new aspirings brought;
“I am tired of earth's vain glory,
I am tired of grief and sin;
Let me in to rest eternal,
Let me in!”
Thus the unquiet yearning spirit,
Haunted by a vague unrest,
Knocks and calls at every gateway,
In a vain and endless quest;
Ever striving some new blessing
Some new happiness to win,—
At some portal ever saying,
“Let me in!”
Haunted by a vague unrest,
Knocks and calls at every gateway,
In a vain and endless quest;
Ever striving some new blessing
Some new happiness to win,—
At some portal ever saying,
“Let me in!”
| Forest buds, from the woods of Maine | |