The Old Canoe

When the r ' ■ ■ ■■■■ ! t is" shore la teep, And the vra.tag ! 'M íbok da ck and dce, Wlicrc the rugged pint in it lonejy pridOj gloomily over the murky Wáo; WnerR thi-re and rushts are long mtI rank, ,!:■: ■ ■ baos Xxr ■■ toe wkole daj üxrough, Lies at it-i nioui Dg the olí cano'e. Theu ■ are dly 'ro ped, !.,!,'■ n nea-bira'fl wing rhat the storm has Ioppod, Ai d cross 'I un the railiug, i ie è'ei ' n , ï Ike tbe Mded hnnd.n wben tti ork ia done, Wbilt i.uisily b&ck tiy torth betwe#flj AihI the :■ lemp owl, withhia dall "too hoo," down on theside of the old canoe, tlf EÁmk In the glimj wave, KotR flnwly-away in it li?ing grare. An.l the green moss creepfl o'et tí dull Oecaj', the mouldering dust awa? , rike the han 1 tlii t plant? o'er the torob a ílower, Or the ivy Iii;i1 nun'lcs tln fallino: tower ; Wiule manj a I hue Bpringa un o'er 1he iterq of the old canoe. The currt ntlcfll tffttera aro iloiul ard stil! - Kul the ligflit wind playa ith the boat at will, And l:izil in a&fl out agnin, Ii Soati the lei gtli of ís rnsty chafa, LUte Uie wearj march of the hands oí tino, Thai meel and part at the noontide chime, And the pfadre is kisnecl nt eaoh turn niiew, By the dripping bow of Ihe oldc;inue, O.many ■ 1irm. wiili a careless liaml, I h:wc puRhed il away (rom tbe pebbly itraaá ; And paddled il down wbere the itreano runs quick - Where tbe whiria ar ? wild and the eddie r3 Üuok, And laughed as I leaned o'er the roekig aide, And looked bftlottf in the broken tido, 'i'o seo that tbc Dices an i boa te were two, Tbat wcrc mirrprcd bck ('rum the old c;moe. Ent now as I lean o'er the crtimbling side, And look batow In tbe sluggish tide, ■T!u' facetha Iee tbereia grarer grown, Ad the lanjrii th.it I bear bas a sobeitaj ton, iöd that lont to the ligh,1 RkÉfl wingS, Have grown ('arailiiir wlth siciner things. But I love to thiuk of the hours that lor As I rockeo wbeze the wïiirla thair white spray threw, Ere the blossoiua waved, or the green grasa grew O'er the mouldpring stern of the oU fianoe.