The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-04-07
THE OLD STORY.
ny BERNARD BrcsBY.

ny BERNARD BIcsBY.
The hawthorn bent its graceful boughs
And stoop'd to kiss the ripping rush
OF Dannemora's tiny stream
Which leap'd and play'd mid CLINT and CLEAN
or moonlight seen thro' scar and brush.
Twas Just the spot which fairies seek
For elfn sports by glens and rills;
To ring the bluebellss petals gay,
To dance, to sing, to f,irt. to play
Till rosy dawn breaks DER the hills.
To charge the fierce, terrific mouse
With lance Of sturdy bluegrass made;
To swing on stem Of fox glove green
Or crown T.sania tiny queen
OF revels sweet in mystic glade.
And Kathleen stood and held nay hand
AZ soss the flashing rushing brook,
With quiv ring lip and blushing cheek,
Wistful, yet daring not to speak,
Aud moie than half afraid to look.
Her trembling little hand held,
And gently whispered in her ear
The tale of ancient gossips. ken,
OF Dannemora's lonely glen
And lovers VOWS once plighted here.
Hos all the elves of all the hills
List to the words. the Legends saith,
And shower blessings on fond youth
Who pligh, their troih in faith and truth
And keep their VOWS intact till death.
Bu, should the words he lightly breathed,
Then man and maid shall surely rue.
For all the spite OF fairy hate
Shall haunt their steps and mar their fate,
And er their paths dire troubles strcw.
" will YOU. dear Kate" anxious said,
Let now to me your vows be made,
And dare the doom of fairy wroth
BY piedging me your piighted ,roth
In Dannemora's lonely glade.
"You Whisper yes, can but catch
The murmur OF the litile word
Despite your gentle sighs and tears
The sweetest sounds my raptuted ears
From Woman's lips have ever heard.
Then clasp both hands and lie, the Ugh,
OF your bright eyes fall full on mine
Think that the cleaning stars above
Are angels eyes with beaming love
That on our future fortunes shine.
"Say slowly, sweet, these haiiowed lines
In lore Of ancient legend writ.
Let cry word be fresh and clear
To catch each tiny ROSY ear
OF unseen fays Which round Us fit"
IEuuNl( hitcN Hlf Hn aslf ptft.
Nv hands in hers She fondiy took,
And =, y elos ing, loving word
In Danncmora's glrn was heard.
o'cf Danncmora's babbling brook.
'O'cr running water.
ClaSped hand in hand.
With him love
All else above
|. Kathleen. si.p1i
let tlitIes listen,
ltese wof'ls Of NINE,
And dca with me
a shall be
True IL th,s sign
AMI y zen she'd said the dosgrcl sweet
The thrilling lines so full OF bliss,
Closer and closer to my breast
he trembling maid tondly press d.
And sealed them with rapiurous kiss.
The world since then has grown more Wis
And has not time for silly Dreams
There are no fairies nov we know
To work their spells OF veal and woe.
BY Dannemora' purling streams.
Che fGletlag's CLEAN IS never seen,
Nor Hazel Charm is ever tried:
No maiden nsK on Mhiisun Eve
Her cosy couch would care TO leave
To seek her love by bracken's side
There IS no faith in song or lay
No poem fingers IN our lives,
We travel on our prosy ways
Mad sirrplcSs nights and toIling days
Like bees IN human hives
Yo,elg ladiss now bcs,ow no care
Dor Woodland sprites or moonlight elves
With no romance Of glen and grot
They plIch;ed heir tro,h-to keep or not
As picaScih best tkeir owe sweet selves.
Romance = dead and Fancys fed.
BnI &c ~ happier, Kate. than whcH
Ne PIT our faith IN legend old
And that sweet tale 81 love MAS tod
In bAnncmora : wooded glen.
-Tht h!,s{s Eye