A Masquerade

A llttlc 0I8 womnn before me Went slowly ilown thc street, Walkiog as if aweary Were her fcoble tottering feet. From under thc oíd pokc bonnet I caught a glenm of snow, And bef travlng eap-striog floated, Like a peunou, to and tro. In the folds of her rjsty mantle Suelden her footsteps cmiglit, And I sprang lo keep lier IVoin falling, With a touch as qulck as thouglit. AVhen ander the oíd pokc bonnet, I saiv ;i wlnüOme face, Fiained in with the flaxun ringlct Oí my wee daughter Grace. Mantle and cap togelher Dropped ofl' at my vi iv fect ; And therc stood t lie little fairy, Beautiful, blusblng, swcet! WI11 H be like tliis, I wonder, Wlicn at last wc come to stand On tlio golden, ringiiig pavemeDt Üf thc blessed, blessed land? Losing the rusty gartnents V'i' wore in tlie years of Time, Will our better wlvefl spring b;ickwanl, Serene in a youth BUbllme ? Instead of thc shapos that hld us, And made us old mul gray, Shall we get our cliild hean.s back ugaln With (t brlghtaesa that will stay?