Evening star., 1949-06-01
Readers Clearing House
sz4----
THE HAUNTED HOUSE"

THE HAUNTED HOUSE"
from Mrs. r. r. r.. WashtngtonJ J
Dear Mrs. L. W.: Inclosed Ia q
poem entitled The Haunted
HOUSE" which may or may not
be She one you want. However
/ hope 1t win serve the purpose
/. too. would like to nnd O copy
Of ''Moo-Cow-Moo."
Like you. I enjoy the poem.
and hope many more will be pub
lished. There Is one called 'Heigh-
no Babyhood. that ! used TO en-
Joy. but don't know where car
find II now.
THE HAUNTED HOUSE"
Some dreams y. hare are nsinsns els
Unnatural ane fnA Of consrs6ieticr.
While oshefsa like cur mosi ronant4s
Ar. sonethins more than Action.
Il ma, have been the substance Of {
Or MAYBE BY = thogshts sxp.ns.on.
But in the spirit Q; the feSh. found
An OLD. deserted mansion
A residence for . woman, child and nan
4 DWELLING place. and yet no a.casas sion
OF Accommodation.
Unhinged, the iron Gates half open hung
Jared 6y the rusty gales OF man,
That from lis erunbled pedestal had nuns
One marble globe In spiintsrs
No tos vas st the threshold. great e'
No pigeon on the roof. no hoasehole
No cat demursis doains on the val.
Not one domestic creature.
No human nsure stirred 10 90 or come.
No face locked forth from shut or open
No chimney smoked; there was no slsr
Prom parapet to basement.
With shattered panes the srassy eoar'
vas starred;
The sins-.ern coping stone had sun'
And through the raised roof the SKY
By naked beam and raftsr.
Ger all there hung q shadow and . fear
which s1 aid q as % pisin q. vi Whisper IN the ear
The place s haunted"
The flower grew Wild and rankiy ~ ths
Roses with .hls.lss .srussl.s for ..pi.l
Had overgrovn the dial.
But. gay or Gioomy. steadfast. or innrm.
No heart was there to heed the hours
All times and md tides are list in on. iens
OF stasnant desolation.
The wren had built her nest within thu
IT'S ouiet Loneliness % sure and thor.
while on the lawn within its turfy mount
The rabbit made its burrow.
The wary erow. the pheasant from thu
Lull.d 81 tn. stm and .v.ri...in.
Close to the mansion. like domestic broods
Fed with . shocking tameness.
The coot was swimming on the reedy pons
And In the reedy moat the heron. fond
OF solitude, alighted.
The moping heron, motionless and stin
That on n s.enr. as silently snd stfiiS
Stood. an apparent sentinel, as II
To guard the water lily.
No sound was heard. except from far ava,
The ,ringins Of the whitwail's shrili,
Or; now :nd then: the chatter % of q '.'
That echo murmured after.
But echo never Knocked the human
Some mishty crime that heaven eouis
1na s:sFsi Il: suss ss 's.. s.rden saa
The beds were all untouched b. hand oi
tool,
No footsteps marked the damp ant
mossy gravel.
The walks, as green as is the msntlet
For want Of human travel
The pear and ounce lay spoilins on tn.
The mold Was purple with unheedet
showers.
OF bloomy piums. q wilderness 1t vas
OF fruits. and weeds and flowers
The marisold amidst the nettles blue.
The gourd embraced the roseoush in III
The thistle and the stock together srew.
The hollyhock and brambles.
The fountain was a-dry; neglected tim.
Had msrred the work OF artisan ans
And sfts and eroaking frogs besot Of slim,
Sprawled in the ruined basin.
On every side the aspect was the same,
All ruined, desolate, forlorn and savage
No hand or foot within the precinct cam'
To rectffy or ravage.
Der all there hung . shadow and . fear
A sense Of mystery and spirit daunfet
which said, as plain as whisper In ths
The place Is haunted"