Left Behind

We starled oquul in the r-ice - nay. more, We started hand in hand- how good seemed life! How shone the little waves upon the shore Wheve flrst we wandered; when he called me Wiïf, I could not se2 the shrvdow's awesome birth, For sunshine flooded all the fair young earth. How has it fiidedi Love that was so true In those ürst days has lost its early grace. Soft drifting olouda guther below the blue That seemod to be fair heavens unclouded face, That shone above us as we turned to leave A life of dreams- that love alone did weave. Yet home was there; for that flrst home of oure We did not scorn the voice that called us there ! Our home should e'er be bright as Eden's bower, Our love should wax with time more sweet, more fivir. Work olatmed us ; life stood no more idly by. Teaching the happy hours how to fly. And so we entered where work held the reins, Nor shirked the future with its heavy load; At evening there were wanderings in the lanes; Love's lamp lit up the gloom in our abode. Yetwho could watch the swallow's eager quest With tired eyes that only longed for rest? He had nis dreams to dream, just as of old, His fancies fiew above on happy wings; Escaping all that was so dully told- The weary march of useful common things. I could not rise ; when quite worn out with pain, Or chüdren's cries, I longed for sleep again. I slipped aside unwitting; but in dreams Isaw alone once more that happy time, Ere work could separate, or blur the gleams The sun had lent us, turning prose to rhyme. He rose yet higher, and I loosed the band; I would not drag him down from fairy-laad. For he t happy, and his life is sweet. Nor reeks he that so far I lag behind. Perchance beyond life's mists once more we'll meet. And in one strand our lives shall then ba twined: One strand so strong, it shall hare powtr to draw Our hearts together- being one, once more.