 | From Sunset Ridge |  |
76
THE UNWELCOME MESSAGE
A dismal Postman passes by,—
I fear his sullen knock:
'T will strike a shiver through the door,
And paralyze the lock.
I fear his sullen knock:
'T will strike a shiver through the door,
And paralyze the lock.
“Plague not this unoffending house;
It owes no shameful debt;
Nor guilty chamber doth it hide
Where evil guests are met.
It owes no shameful debt;
Nor guilty chamber doth it hide
Where evil guests are met.
“Here gentle heart and gentle blood
Their life-surroundings bless;
And days glide by with happy toil,
And measured thankfulness.
Their life-surroundings bless;
And days glide by with happy toil,
And measured thankfulness.
“The messengers who enter here
Are glad and bright of eye,
Freighted with precious words that stir
Responsive minstrelsy.”
Are glad and bright of eye,
Freighted with precious words that stir
Responsive minstrelsy.”
“The note is brief, the seal is sharp,
The characters are pale:
I cannot err in their address;
My letters never fail.
The characters are pale:
77
My letters never fail.
If you the door will not unbar,
The window answers well,
Less lofty than the turret where
I touch the passing bell.
The window answers well,
Less lofty than the turret where
I touch the passing bell.
When you have read, the feast may speed,
The business, as you list:
But, somehow, where my foot has stept,
The joy of joys is missed;
The business, as you list:
But, somehow, where my foot has stept,
The joy of joys is missed;
And on the heart of working week
A Sabbath falls of rest,
Unwished; yet He who sends me here
Declares his errand blest.”
A Sabbath falls of rest,
Unwished; yet He who sends me here
Declares his errand blest.”
| From Sunset Ridge | |