Willie Winkie and Other Songs and Poems By William Miller: Edited, with an Introduction by Robert Ford |
 |
 | Willie Winkie and Other Songs and Poems |  |
79
EPILOGUE. Willie Winkie's Visit to Heaven.
By Wm. Freeland.
A sad Man and a cheery Boy
Toiled up a lonely way
That surely led, all good folk said,
To lands abloom with May,
And blythe with many a joy
And glory of everlasting day.
Toiled up a lonely way
That surely led, all good folk said,
To lands abloom with May,
And blythe with many a joy
And glory of everlasting day.
“Turn, Willie, dear, the way is long,
Where wild beasts roar and race;”
But that gay child looked up and smiled
Upon the wrinkled face,
And trilled a merry song,
Strong with a young heroic grace.
Where wild beasts roar and race;”
But that gay child looked up and smiled
Upon the wrinkled face,
And trilled a merry song,
Strong with a young heroic grace.
A new light touched the old man's eyes
That curious tune to hear,
For it did seem an early theme
That cheered him many a year
When clouded were the skies
And life was all unkind and drear.
That curious tune to hear,
For it did seem an early theme
That cheered him many a year
When clouded were the skies
And life was all unkind and drear.
80
Now came they to a lion's den
Alive with growl and glare;
But they were charmed in heart, and armed
In soul against despair;
For the Boy sang again
And stilled the loud and angry air.
Alive with growl and glare;
But they were charmed in heart, and armed
In soul against despair;
For the Boy sang again
And stilled the loud and angry air.
The Youngling at a bubbling spring
Bathed the old pilgrim's feet;
And far on high they heard a cry—
A lamblike voice and sweet,
That made their pulses sing
A happy psalm in every beat.
Bathed the old pilgrim's feet;
And far on high they heard a cry—
A lamblike voice and sweet,
That made their pulses sing
A happy psalm in every beat.
Then stood they up and climbed the height,
Less weary every mile;
Led by a star that gleamed afar,
And cheered them with its smile,
Pouring divine delight
Ever upon their skyward toil.
Less weary every mile;
Led by a star that gleamed afar,
And cheered them with its smile,
Pouring divine delight
Ever upon their skyward toil.
Ah, then a lovely form upsprang,
And wiled their hearts to rest;
But bravely they held on their way,
Keen on their starry quest:
And as the Youngster sang
Vanished the phantom-fiend unblest.
And wiled their hearts to rest;
But bravely they held on their way,
Keen on their starry quest:
And as the Youngster sang
Vanished the phantom-fiend unblest.
81
At length they won the welcome gate
Where sat an ancient Wight—
Saint Peter, he who keeps the key,
And watches day and night;
True warder of the state,
Bars out the wrong, takes in the right.
Where sat an ancient Wight—
Saint Peter, he who keeps the key,
And watches day and night;
True warder of the state,
Bars out the wrong, takes in the right.
Sharply he queried, “Who are you,
Gray Man and rosy Boy?
Speak, let me hear; do you appear
To please or to annoy?
Bold wanderers, are you true?
Come you in sorrow or in joy?”
Gray Man and rosy Boy?
Speak, let me hear; do you appear
To please or to annoy?
Bold wanderers, are you true?
Come you in sorrow or in joy?”
Both answered, and the Saint, heart-driven—
“Wee Winkie! Poet Sire!
Come, by my hood, but this is good!
Welcome from Lanarkshire,—
Welcome by Heaven to Heaven,—
Sing all ye angels till you tire!”
“Wee Winkie! Poet Sire!
Come, by my hood, but this is good!
Welcome from Lanarkshire,—
Welcome by Heaven to Heaven,—
Sing all ye angels till you tire!”
He called, and quick there came along,
A host of girls and boys,
Who rushed without with dance and shout,
Remembering earthly ploys
And one heart-shaking song,
That made them even in Heaven rejoice.
A host of girls and boys,
Who rushed without with dance and shout,
Remembering earthly ploys
And one heart-shaking song,
That made them even in Heaven rejoice.
82
They took wee Willie to their heart
And kissed him o'er and o'er;
How kind! how sweet! it made him greet
As ne'er he grat before;
For tears were not his art,
But freak and fun at every door.
And kissed him o'er and o'er;
How kind! how sweet! it made him greet
As ne'er he grat before;
For tears were not his art,
But freak and fun at every door.
They led the winsome Willies in,
And set them by the hearth:
A clean fireside, both warm and wide,
Of wholesome food no dearth;
Such joy, but without din,
Was surely never seen on earth!
And set them by the hearth:
A clean fireside, both warm and wide,
Of wholesome food no dearth;
Such joy, but without din,
Was surely never seen on earth!
For many minstrels, crowding round,
Sang, O how sweet and clear!
And in a style made Willie smile,
And Father Willie cheer,—
In spite of holy ground,
Undaunted by a doubt or fear.
Sang, O how sweet and clear!
And in a style made Willie smile,
And Father Willie cheer,—
In spite of holy ground,
Undaunted by a doubt or fear.
Then Peter, with a tender face,
Called Winkie forth in rhyme,
And said, “My dear, your joyance here
Is ended for the time:
Heaven's love is yours, and grace
Who brought your Song-Sire to our clime.”
Called Winkie forth in rhyme,
And said, “My dear, your joyance here
Is ended for the time:
Heaven's love is yours, and grace
Who brought your Song-Sire to our clime.”
83
The good Saint led him by the hand,
While came a rosy choir,
To see him wend, their darling friend,
Back to his Heart's Desire,—
His dear old Fatherland:
The sang him out with souls of fire!
While came a rosy choir,
To see him wend, their darling friend,
Back to his Heart's Desire,—
His dear old Fatherland:
The sang him out with souls of fire!
“Winkie, farewell,” said Sire to Son;
“Farewell, but not for long;
The time is nigh when you and I
Shall mingle in one throng;
The Saint says we have won
Salvation by our single song.
“Farewell, but not for long;
The time is nigh when you and I
Shall mingle in one throng;
The Saint says we have won
Salvation by our single song.
So Willie Winkie wandered down,
Eager his home to find;
And when day broke, and he awoke,
Right glad to see his kind,
Light was to him a crown,
For lo, all Heaven was in his mind!
Eager his home to find;
And when day broke, and he awoke,
Right glad to see his kind,
Light was to him a crown,
For lo, all Heaven was in his mind!
| Willie Winkie and Other Songs and Poems | |