The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-07-22
THE Elf OF IHE WOODS.
FOR TUE SUNDAY HERALD,


turned my steps towards the emerald woods'
while the morning skies sh one fair
The brookles were ripping merry song, out
ON the ambient air.
gusn ofmeody Hooded the world, In happy
waves Of song,
For the birds were singing their sweetest lril's'
I'm the woods the whole day long
The grasses bent meath the gllstenug dew ike |
heart that was burdened with care
While the breezcs sighed on the lowercrowned |
hills, az soft as whispered prayer.
smilngly out OF the blue-domcd sky, the great
throbblng sun loo led down,
Tingng the world with Tos-ato glow and
shimmerIng golden crown.
Into the forests sylvan shades turn my wan
derIng feet,
Drunk with the breath Of the odorous flowers
dittlllng their nectar sweet.
And. as pausei meath the whispering leaves.
my heart with rapture was filled,
All, have found Eden at last sighed, Will e
softly my pulses thrilled,
Thrilled to the touch of the Masters hand, as 1t
sw. pit ON life's trembling Tyre,
Aud tuned my heart TO II sweeter song, ard
freed II nom base desire.
1 sighed oh, tins woodland world is sweet, no
sorrow entereth here.
The world is false, but fair nature is true, aud
full Of happy cheer.
For there's mover broken hcarh.stone here
never tone that is wrong,
And never wave Of sorrow TO drown this
happy rhythmloal song.
Then q misty hand crept over my eyes, aud oUt
of the forest dim,
Came a weird little figure bent and old
smrlngly gesturod him,
Whence contest thou, my strange little man
with Thy cap Ofemorald greer2
where did you find that queer little coat, with
It's beautiful shimmehng sheen?
Then bis voice lrembled forth like the sigh OF
the winds as It drifts through the sombre
lpines.
Or walls round the caves on wntry MI ht or
sweeps through the tangled vines.
~ once was little acorn" he said, tina
danced on the bough o'erhead;
But the soft south wind swept across my cheek,
woolng me to II bHdal'bed-
or oft green MOSES beneath your feet then
left me alone to die.
The rain king heard my sorrowful moan, and
came dripping down fiom the sky.
And said I will thrill you to life again, with u
dowy lifegying kiss,
And then sank to sleep In the ground 10
waken again In bliss.
For felt life, current thrilling once more.
through every pulsIng vein
Called into play b. the suas sweet smile, and
the dewy kiss of the rain,
The years by, and proudly stood, giant
of strength and might
The sun still smiled, the rain stl dropped, and
days were long and bright
Hut my heart forgot To be loyal and true 10 those
| who had loved me long;
For up to my heart there was creeping vino,
whose voice was sweet rs song.
Closer aud closer II twined round my limbs with
Its sensuous, passionate grasp,
TN the sun aud the rain were forgotten at last
MS | yielded myself to It's clasp.
The sun cIcpt under cloud that ay the rain
dropped nearly down,
And Il sob Crept out of the chilly north, my
leaves grew shriyeled and brown.
wlthersd In tho clasp OF the poisonous vine,
and hated Its hot warm breath,
But closer aud closer It chung all the while, TIL
read my doom Of death
Rad my doom, yet could not escape from the
clasp of the sensuous arms
o. how | hated It's fresh green leaves, and
subsle swaylng charms
Then woodman came with his gllttering axe,
and said, You are dying old tree
The cause Of your death is this soft-cllngng
vine, | think will set you free
Ito stood for "a moment lost In deep thought,
then said, You both must fall
For the vine has twincd round the tree so long,
canno' oislodge 1t all
And SO he barred his great brOwny arm, and
lifted his glIteriug steel
Said the ollngng vine, 'Tllnot loosen my clasp
I'LL the throcs of death we feel
Then | fell, and the shock shook the slumber-
ing world, the forests irembed with pain,
hut felt the thrill of the suns sad smile and
the kiss ofthc sorrowful rain.
Then my spirit crcpt out OF the shattered tree,
and wandering Eli am l..
| Hating the vines and the soft south Winds" the
l. lin did reply.
Then Il sorrownl moan through tho forest
swept the green leaves trombled with pain.
And the Ell crcpt otIn the dark dim woods, and
| was alone again
| rubbed my eyes In half dazCd way, Have
| been asleep" said,
TO the fealhory ferns, as they softly sway;
they gracefully nodded their heads.
Well, belt SO thoughtfuly sigh, I've learned
this lesson to-day
Tis better to cling to the hearts we have proved,
aud put the sweet tempter away.
MARY STRArToN lIrwEIr.