New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-12
THE WINDOW JUST OVER THE STREET
BY ALICE CARY.

SIT in my sorrow a-weary, aone
have nothing sweet to hope or remember,
For the Spring o. tn year and OF NE has h0wn
iIIs the widest night o. the wild December,
And dark in my spirit and dark in my chamber.
I sit and list to the steps in the street,
Gong and coming. and coming ana gong,
And me wind, at my shutter they blow and beat
Tls the middle Of night aud the clouds are showing;
And the winds are bitterly beating ana DOwinK
list 70 the steps IA they come and co.
And list to the winds that are beating and blowing
And my heart sinks down so low, 30 low;
No step Is stayed from me by the showing
Nor stayed by the wind 80 bitterly blowing
think OF the ships that are out at sea.
OF the wheels in tn cold. black waters turning;
Not Of the ships beareth news 10 me,
And my head l. sick, ana my heart Is yeafhlhg,
As think OF the wheels in the black waters turning
or the mother think by her sick baby's bed
Away in her cabin az lonesome and dreary
OF her patience sweet, and her silence so weary,
With cries OF the hungry wolf hid in the prairie
think Of all things in the world that are sad;
or children in hOmesick and comfOrtess places
or prisons. OF dungeons, OF men that are mad
or wicked unwOmanly light in the faces
or women that fortune has wronged with dlsgraces
think Of dear little sun.lighted head.
That came whore no hand OF US all could deliver;
Aud crazed with the cruelest pain went TO bed
Where the sheets were the fOamiretted waves OF the
Poor darling may God in his mercy forgive her.
The footsteps grow faint and moro faint in the snow
/ pat back the curtain In very Departing;
Tho uasts crcak aud Croan as tn winds come and 60;
And the ght in The lighthouse all weirdly is aaring;
But what glory Is this In the gloom OF despalflhg!
see NJ the window Just over the street.
A maid In the lampllght her Oye-letter reading
Her red mouth H. smiling, her news Is 50 sweet;
And the heart my bosom is cured OF its bleeding,
As | look Oh the maiden her loYe-letter reading.
She has finished the letter. and folding it, kisses
Aud hides it-a secret too sacred To know;
And now In the hcarth-light she softly undresses:
vision OF grace IN the rOseate glow,
see her uubinGing the braids OF her tresses.
And now "a she stoops to the ribbon that fastens
Her slipper they tumble DER shoulder and face;
And now, as She patters in bare feet she hastCns
TO gather them up IN a illet OF lace;
And now she r. gone, but tn fancy trace
The avchdcrcd linen updrawn the round arm
Half sunk IN the couutcrp-ue's hrOidcred roses,
Revealing the exquisite outline OF FORM
4 wOwy wonder OF grace that rcpOscs
Beneath the white Counterpart. De'cy with roses.
see the small hand lying over the heart,
Where The passionate dreams are 50 sweet In Their
sally:
The fair little fingers they tremble and part
Is part to tn warm waves the leaves Of the lily,
And they play with her hand like the waves with the
lily.
In white ficccy flowers, the queen o. the Gowersl
what 10 her Us the world with s bad bitter Wcaihcri
VIDE she opens her nrmS-ah. her world Is NOT ours
And now sho has closed them and clasped then
What to her Is our world with its clouds and rough
weather.
Hark midnight! the winds and the SHOWS blow aud
beat:
drop down the curtain and say to my sorrow,
Thank God Tor the window Just over the street;
Thank God there is always llrht whence To borrow,
When darkness IA darkest, and sorrow most sorrow.