The Song Is The Dark

li oíd a litt'e b'nl ging out one raoming, U'i.i.e yet tl. e darknsea overspread the sky, Aun not ;'i üagla Btreak of roso gavu warninjj Tüftt day was nigh ; It sang with such a Bweet oud joyful clearnes, 'im ulence piorciitg with a note so üwe, I Btaited, thtüled with suelden sonso oí nearness ïo love divine. " O, waary heart," it seenis to utter, " liearken ! oruü send a message to you in niy Bong : The day ia coming, though the ahadoWB darkcn, And iiiht is long. " God sees your eyclids heavy - not with slumher ; The soiTowïul tears that mako tlieir Dngntnesa dim,. And all y.mr patiënt praycrs (uo mail can oombar) Are kuown to him. '; The day shall come, your darkuess dispossessmg: "- And while the bird sang, on my eyelids prest A weight ol Bleep, the weury bruin caressing Tu happy rest. I slepf as children sloep, tired out with crying; God knows, nol 1. when 1 had slept beton ! I waked, to önd the graokrai sunshme lying Aioug the floor. And in ita blesaed light to sce rettirning The face of that was the world to me; Tl.o face my heart, with bütur grief and yearnii'g. IIaí ached to seo. The day liad come, indeed ! O sweetest singer, The soug j-ou sung me iu the dark was true, And would that I could be so swiit a brinytr Of joy to youl "ïur nest should rock in greenest branches, truly, And there your shy brown mate and dowry brood Should chirp to you, and spread their winglets duly, Nor lïick for food. }o :rucl sportsman ever should beset you, Xo sudden tempest ever cause atïrifiht, Xor any ill that bird are air to fret you, By day or night. Vain wish, alas ! and valueless completely ; For whether it wo-s blackbird, wren, or lark, Or silvev-throated thrush, that ail eo sweetly Sang in the dark. I never knew- you never more carne uear me ; But I can trust you, cle;irly, to lüs cara Wliose tender pity sent your soug to oheer me In my despair.