A little book of tribune verse A number of hitherto uncollected poems, grave and gay |
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THE SMILE AND BIRD. |
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 | A little book of tribune verse |  |
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THE SMILE AND BIRD.
Once on a time St. Peter wept—
And Peter's tears are tears of worth—
Because while he awearied slept,
A smile slipped out from Heaven to earth.
And Peter's tears are tears of worth—
Because while he awearied slept,
A smile slipped out from Heaven to earth.
Moreover, had a heavenly bird—
Of all the birds in realms on high
The sweetest songster ever heard—
Eluded Peter's dozing eye.
Of all the birds in realms on high
The sweetest songster ever heard—
Eluded Peter's dozing eye.
“Alas, alas!” St. Peter cried
In tones that spoke his anguish sore,
“Where have my precious treasures hied
That I enjoy their sweets no more?”
In tones that spoke his anguish sore,
“Where have my precious treasures hied
That I enjoy their sweets no more?”
Hush blessed Saint! They're with us here—
That heavenly smile is Abbott's face,
And with its influences near,
We'll feel and own its heavenly grace.
That heavenly smile is Abbott's face,
And with its influences near,
We'll feel and own its heavenly grace.
And that dear bird, which, loved the best,
Made angels joyous with its note,
Hath found a home and built a nest
In charming Abbott's beauteous throat.
Made angels joyous with its note,
Hath found a home and built a nest
In charming Abbott's beauteous throat.
Smile on, O smile! Sing on, O bird!
We know—we feel thy heavenly worth!
The smile that's seen and song that's heard
Make second heaven of our earth.
We know—we feel thy heavenly worth!
The smile that's seen and song that's heard
Make second heaven of our earth.
September 8th, 1881.
| A little book of tribune verse | |