A Summer Night

We Bat together, you and I, That evening in the month of Jane, Beneaüi the porch ; the deep blue sky Held the sharp crescent of the moon. So mildly shone her silvery light, On the" smooth lawn it seemed to sleep; Sweet odors Ulied the Summer night From fragrant gardens anklo dcep. The honey-suckle, wet wilh dev, Scatterèd hev perfume on the air Soft gales from spicy woodlands blew, . And toycd each moment witfj your han'. And noiv and then the droivsy hord, From meadow pastures, far and near, Lowed dreamiiy ; the stM-Ued bird ïwittered. the while; and sweet and dear. The mnnirar of the cool, dark stream, ïliat wöo'd witli song the heart of Night; And throug'h thé v;m-s a traant beam Of niooulisht kifsed your neck so white. I held yonr tender hand- we talked Aboiit the future and the past ; Or sometinies down the patch we walked Beueath the liudens- till at last ïlie moon sank in the violet east, Gilding the thin clouds as slie went ; And on the lawn the sliades increased Till all in doubtful dusk we blent. "When suddenly upon the night, Near where the moon had sank to rest, Kindled a strange mysterious light Behind the ragged mountain's crest. And up the glittcring arch of blue, And i'ar ac.ross tho billowy plain, As through tlie air a meteor flew, A ball of fire with streaming mane. How wildly gleamed yonr startlefl eye, How tigiit your flnrer5 clasped my hand, As slov.ly in the westeru sky It faded leaving all the laud To darkness and the silent stars ! That night upon my restless bed, 1 tosscd. 'va dreams of cruel -wars And fields oí' battle strewn with dead.