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dly played around The acacia trees VERSE: HUSH "I can scarcely hear," she murmured, "For my heart beats loud and fast, But surely, in the far, far distance, I can hear a sound at last." "It is only the reapers singing, As they carry home their sheaves, And the evening breeze has risen, And rustles the dying leaves." "Listen! there are voices talking." Calmly still she strove to speak, Yet her voice grew faint and trembling, And the red flushed in her cheek. "It is only the children playing Below, now their work is done, And they laugh that their eyes are dazzled By the rays of the setting sun." Fainter grew her voice, and weaker As with anxious eyes she cried, "Down the avenue of chestnuts, I can hear a horseman ride." "It was only the deer that were feeding In a herd on the clover grass, They were startled, and fled to the thicket, As they saw the reapers pass." Now the night arose in silence, Birds lay in their leafy nest, And the deer couched in the forest, And the children were at rest: There was only a sound of weeping From watchers around a bed, But Rest to the weary spirit, Peace to the quiet Dead! VERSE: HOURS When the bright stars came out last night, And the dew lay on the flowers, I had a vision of delight-- A dream of by-gone hours. Those hours that came and fled so fast, Of pleasure or of pain, As phantoms rose from out the past Before my eyes again. With beating heart did I behold A train of joyous hours, Lit with the radiant light of old, And, smiling, crowned with flowers. And some were hours of childish sorrow, A mimicry of pain, That through their tears looked for a morrow They knew must smile again. Those hours of hope that longed for life, And wished their part begun, And ere the summons to the strife, Dreamed that the field was won. I knew the echo of their voice, The starry crowns they wore; The vision made my soul rejoice With the old thrill of yore. I knew the perfume of their flowers; The glorious shining rays Around these happy smiling hours Were lit in by-gone days. Oh stay, I cried--bright visions, stay, And leave me not forlorn! But, smiling still, they passed away, Like shadows of the morn. One spirit still remained, and cried, "Thy soul shall ne'er forget!" He standeth ever by my side-- The phantom called Regret! But still the spirits rose, and there Were weary hours of pain, And anxious hours of fear and
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