 | The Triangular Society |  |
LITTLE LONESOME.
She was a timid little maid,
Of even harmless things afraid;
A hasty word, a sudden stir,
A playful touch, would startle her;
She feared the lightning, and the rain,
The branch that swept against the pane,
The ocean's roar, the wind's sad moan,
And dreaded to be left alone.
Of even harmless things afraid;
A hasty word, a sudden stir,
A playful touch, would startle her;
She feared the lightning, and the rain,
The branch that swept against the pane,
The ocean's roar, the wind's sad moan,
And dreaded to be left alone.
And often in her bed at night,
She would awake in wild affright,
Entreating with appealing tone,
“Mamma, I cannot stay alone!
The shutters groan and rattle—hark!
I hear a whisper in the dark—
Oh, come and hold me close and near,
Mamma, I am so lonesome here!
She would awake in wild affright,
Entreating with appealing tone,
“Mamma, I cannot stay alone!
The shutters groan and rattle—hark!
I hear a whisper in the dark—
Oh, come and hold me close and near,
Mamma, I am so lonesome here!
170
“The stars peer in and wink at me;
The moon looks ghastly through the tree
And shines by fits across the door;
The shadows move upon the floor
Like living things; the windows creak,—
I feel a cold breath on my cheek;
The chimney howls, the wind is high,
I am so lonesome where I lie!”
The moon looks ghastly through the tree
And shines by fits across the door;
The shadows move upon the floor
Like living things; the windows creak,—
I feel a cold breath on my cheek;
The chimney howls, the wind is high,
I am so lonesome where I lie!”
And then the mother's tender heart
Would take the little sufferer's part;
Would haste, with reassuring kiss,
To soothe her back to quietness;
To clasp her fluttering hands, and still
The shuddering sob, the nervous thrill,
Until her head found happy rest
Upon that kind, protecting breast.
Would take the little sufferer's part;
Would haste, with reassuring kiss,
To soothe her back to quietness;
To clasp her fluttering hands, and still
The shuddering sob, the nervous thrill,
Until her head found happy rest
Upon that kind, protecting breast.
But others blamed her tenderness,
And said, “Indulgence and caress
Will harm the child and do her wrong;
She never will be brave and strong,
If thus you pet her whims and freaks;
You should not heed her when she speaks—
Conquer her folly and your own,
And let her go to sleep alone.”
And said, “Indulgence and caress
Will harm the child and do her wrong;
She never will be brave and strong,
If thus you pet her whims and freaks;
You should not heed her when she speaks—
Conquer her folly and your own,
And let her go to sleep alone.”
And so when next she cried at night,
Calling in tremulous affright,
“Mamma, I hear the watch-dogs bark!
I am so lonesome in the dark!”
The mother heard, with tear-wet face,
But closed her lips and kept her place
Until the child, too tired to weep
Longer, had sobbed herself to sleep.
Calling in tremulous affright,
“Mamma, I hear the watch-dogs bark!
I am so lonesome in the dark!”
The mother heard, with tear-wet face,
But closed her lips and kept her place
Until the child, too tired to weep
Longer, had sobbed herself to sleep.
171
To-night, the eddying snow-flakes whirl
Above the sleeping little girl;
Her room is dark, her bed is cold,
Love cannot warm the frozen mould;
Yet still her mother hears the plaint
Come through the midnight, far and faint,
Half lost amid the tempest's moan,—
“Mamma, I cannot stay alone!
O mamma, come! the wild winds cry,
And I am lonesome where I lie!”
Above the sleeping little girl;
Her room is dark, her bed is cold,
Love cannot warm the frozen mould;
Yet still her mother hears the plaint
Come through the midnight, far and faint,
Half lost amid the tempest's moan,—
“Mamma, I cannot stay alone!
O mamma, come! the wild winds cry,
And I am lonesome where I lie!”
| The Triangular Society | |