Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-02-09
LORD RONALD'S WIFE,


Last night tossed upon my bed.
Because knew that she was dead:
The curtains were white, the pane was blue,
The moon peeped through,
"1 would that my love e" were awaken I said.
And over the rushes slightly crcpt'
Crept to the door and opened 1t,
And AT 4 entered the room where my lady slept
ana the censer threw glamour gray
Over the bed on which she lay,
And sparkled on her golden hair,
And | shuddered because she looked so fair.
For the curtains were white. and the pane wa,
And the moon looked through.
And its eye was red.
Il Will hold her hand, and think ~ I said.
And at first could not think Mt all,
Because her hand was SO thin and cold;
The nnS gray Light dhicksring i S along The WALL
l look ed in her face and could not weep;
l hated the sound ofmy own deep breath,
That seemed too sweet and mild for ford Death.
l heard the far-off clock intone,
So oSlOwly-Slowly-
Afar across the courts of stone
the black hound shook his chain with moan
And the village clock chimed slowly-slowly
prayed that she might rise in bed,
long to see her eyes, said,
never sinned against thee, Sweet!
And yet last night when none could see
knew not-but from head to feet,
seemed one scar of Infamy;
Perhaps because the fingers light,
held, had grown so wan and white;
Perhaps because you looked so fair.
With the thin gray light in your golden hair.
v.
You were warm and was cold
Yet you loved me, little one, I know
could not tritie-I was old
was wiser, carefuler than you:
l M liked my horse, liked by hound.
liked to hear the trumpet sound ..s.
Over my wine liked to chat,
But soberly, for had "a mind,
fou wanted that, and only that;
You were as light as is the wind,
At times, know, 1t fretted me,
To chide the mildly, now and then
No fault OF mine-no blame to thee
Women are women, men are men,
AZ nrst you smiled to see me frown,
And. laughing. leapt upon my knee,
And kissed the chiding shadow down.
And smoothed my great beard merrily.
But then q change came DER you. sweet!
@ Yon walked about with pensive head;
Patted your small, impatient feet;
She Is wiser now:' smiling said
And ere doubted, you Were dead.
E.. VI.
All this came back upon my brain,
While / sat alone at your white bedside
And remembered in my pain,
Those words you spoke before you died
For around my neck your arms you flung.
And smiled so sweet though death was near
was so foolish and SD young!
And vet loved thee! kiss me dear!"
l put aside your golden hair,
And when l saw that death was there
My grief was cold, could not weep;
And !, q, late last night when you were dead.
FOR the u curtains were white, and the pane was
And the moon looked through
And it's eye was red
" How coldly she lies!' said.
VII.
Then loud, SO loud, before knew,
The gray and black cock screamed and crew,
and heard the far.of bells intone,
so slowly-so slowly
The black hound barlzed and rose with a
As the M village bells chimed slowly-slowly-
dropped the hand so cold and thin.
gazed, and your face seemed still and wise.
ANA saw the damp, duh dawn stare in,
Like dm-drowned face with oozy eyes.
Ana opened the lattice quietly,
! no the cold. wet air came ia on me,
Ana plucked two roses, a white and n red
stole again to the side of your bed.
r, Dropped the roses upon your breast,
'gSefen 1hat ndne anem =, up iI IN the balmy cold,
Ana out at the castle gate crept,
INTO the woods, and then I wept!
But To-day they carried you from here
Ana l followed your coffin with fearless
cheek #
They know not about the roses, dear!
would not have them think me weak
VIII.
And am weary on my bed
Because know you are cold and dead;
Ana see you lie in darkness, Sweet!
With y, the roses under your winding sheet.
he days and nights are dreary and cold
And am foolish, and weak, and old