 | Rhymes with reason and without |  |
328
XLI.
HOPE DEFERRED.
I marked an organ-grinder in the street,And how he watched each window, low and high,
With most inquiring and artistic eye,
To catch the wish to hear his music sweet,
Retailed, like cider, from the barrel dark
That from his neck depended by a string,
The hearing which abroad its rapture fling
Would kill all wish again to hear the lark!
And still he walked,—no call from low or high,—
Jeannot from his Jeannette no moment fled,
And all unburied lay Old Uncle Ned,
And poor Susannah did n't deign to cry!
Hope's pedestal that organ-man might grace,
With expectation written on his face.
| Rhymes with reason and without | |