The Old Man's Plaint

BY SUSAK H. BLAISDELL. I'm sitting all alono, darling, Beneath the elm-tree's bliade, Wherein our eliildhood's happy time The livelong day we played ; The river looks the same, darling, As it used to look of old, But the one who sat beside me there Lies uiitler the churchyard niould. Long years have passed since then, darling, And my limbs are bent wíth age ; But still your fairy image lies On inemory's sacred page. You have left the earth before me, And my locks ave gvowing gi'ay ; And there is no one left to cheer The old man's downward way. But yon come to me in dreams, darling, And you wear an angel form ; Your smile is bright as in childhood's time, And the blush on your cheek as warm ; You beckon me on vith your snowy hand, To your glorious dweiling there, But the hour of death hasot yet come, And I bide my time in prayer. I'm sitting all alone, darling, Beneatli the elm-tree's shade, AVhere, in our childhood's blissful time, The livelong day we played ; And all that's left to cheer me now, Are dreams of the days of old, And a hope to rest beside you soon, Beneath the churchyard mould.