A home! ah me, you could not buy
Another half so precious toy,
With all the other years to come
As that grown-up doll's house--a home.
O wine upon its threshold stone,
And horse-shoes on the lintel of it,
And happy hearts to keep it warm,
And God Himself to love it!
Dear little nest built snug on bough
Within the World-Tree's mighty arms,
I would I knew a spell that charms
Eternal safety from the storm;
To give you always stars above,
And always roses on the bough--
But then the Tree's own root is Love,
Love, love, all love, I vow.
_New Year_ 1893.
SNATCH
From tavern to tavern
Youth passes along,
With an armful of girl
And a heart full of song.
From flower to flower
The butterfly sips,
O passionate limbs
And importunate lips!
From candle to candle
The moth loves to fly,
O sweet, sweet to burn!
And still sweeter to die!
MY MAIDEN VOTE
(TO JOHN FRASER)
There, in my mind's-eye, pure it lay,
My lodger's vote! 'Twas mine to-day.
It seemed a sort of maidenhood,
My little power for public good,--
Oh keep it uncorrupted, pray!
And, when it must be given away,
See it be given with a sense
Of most uncanvassed innocence.
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