THE GIDDY GIRL
[This recitation is intended to be given with an accompaniment of waltz music, introducing dance-steps at the refrain "With one, two, three,"
etc.]
A giddy young maiden with nimble feet, Heigh-ho! alack and alas!
Declared she would far rather dance than eat, And the truth of it came to pa.s.s.
For she danced all day and she danced all night; She danced till the green earth faded white; She danced ten partners out of breath; She danced the eleventh one quite to death; And still she redowaed up and down-- The giddiest girl in town.
With one, two, three; one, two, three; one, two, three--kick; Cha.s.see back, cha.s.see back, whirl around quick.
The name of this damsel ended with E-- Heigh-ho; alack and a-day!
And she was as fair as a maiden need be, Till she danced her beauty away.
She danced her big toes out of joint; She danced her other toes all to a point; She danced out slipper and boot and shoe; She danced till the bones of her feet came through.
And still she redowaed, waltzed, and whirled-- The giddiest girl in the world.
With one, two, three; one, two, three; one, two, three--kick; Cha.s.see back, cha.s.see back, whirl around quick.
Now the end of my story is sad to relate-- Heigh-ho! and away we go!
For this beautiful maiden"s final fate Is shrouded in gloom and woe.
She danced herself into a patent top; She whirled and whirled till she could not stop; She danced and bounded and sprang so far, That she stuck at last on a pointed star; And there she must dance till the Judgment Day, And after it, too, for she danced away Her soul, you see, so she has no place anywhere out of s.p.a.ce, With her one, two, three; one, two, three; one, two, three--kick; Cha.s.see back, cha.s.see back, whirl about quick.
A GIRL"S AUTUMN REVERIE
We plucked a red rose, you and I, All in the summer weather; Sweet its perfume and rare its bloom, Enjoyed by us together.
The rose is dead, the summer fled, And bleak winds are complaining; We dwell apart, but in each heart We find the thorn remaining.
We sipped a sweet wine, you and I, All in the summer weather.
The beaded draught we lightly quaffed, And filled the gla.s.s together.
Together we watched its rosy glow, And saw its bubbles glitter; Apart, alone we only know The lees are very bitter.
We walked in sunshine, you and I, All in the summer weather: The very night seemed noonday bright, When we two were together.
I wonder why with our good-bye O"er hill and vale and meadow There fell such shade, our paths seemed laid For evermore in shadow.
We dreamed a sweet dream, you and I, All in the summer weather, Where rose and wine and warm sunshine Were mingled in together.
We dreamed that June was with us yet, We woke to find December.
We dreamed that we two could forget, We woke but to remember.
HIS YOUTH
"Dying? I am not dying? Are you mad?
You think I need to ask for heavenly grace?
_I_ think _you_ are a fiend, who would be glad To see me struggle in death"s cold embrace.
"But, man, you lie! for I am strong--in truth Stronger than I have been in years; and soon I shall feel young again as in my youth, My glorious youth--life"s one great priceless boon.
"O youth, youth, youth! O G.o.d! that golden time, When proud and glad I laughed the hours away.
Why, there"s no sacrifice (perhaps no crime) I"d pause at, could it make me young to-day.
"But I"m not _old_! I grew--just ill, somehow; Grew stiff of limb, and weak, and dim of sight.
It was but sickness. I am better now, Oh, vastly better, ever since last night.
"And I could weep warm floods of happy tears To think my strength is coming back at last, For I have dreamed of such an hour for years, As I lay thinking of my glorious past.
"You shake your head? Why, man, if you were sane I"d strike you to my feet, I would, in truth.
How dare you tell me that my hopes are vain?
How dare you say I have outlived my youth?
""In heaven I may regain it"? Oh, be still!
I want no heaven but what my glad youth gave.
Its long, bright hours, its rapture and its thrill-- O youth, youth, youth! it is my _youth_ I crave.
"There is no heaven! There"s nothing but a deep And yawning grave from which I shrink in fear.
I am not sure of even rest or sleep; Perhaps we lie and _think_ as I have here.
"Think, think, think, think, as we lie there and rot, And hear the young above us laugh in glee.
How dare you say I"m dying! _I am not_.
I would curse G.o.d if such a thing could be.
"Why, see me stand! why, hear this strong, full breath-- Dare you repeat that silly, base untruth?"
A cry--a fall--the silence known as death Hushed his wild words. Well, has he found his youth?
UNDER THE SHEET
What a terrible night! Does the Night, I wonder-- The Night, with her black veil down to her feet Like an ordained nun, know what lies under That awful, motionless, snow-white sheet?
The winds seem crazed, and, wildly howling, Over the sad earth blindly go.
Do they and the dark clouds over them scowling, Do they dream or know?
Why, here in the room, not a week or over-- Tho" it must be a week, not more than one-- (I cannot recken of late or discover When one day is ended or one begun), But here in this room we were laughing lightly, And glad was the measure our two hearts beat; And the royal face that was smiling so brightly Lies under that sheet.
I know not why--it is strange and fearful, But I am afraid of her, lying there; She who was always so gay and cheerful, Lying so still with that stony stare: She who was so like some grand sultana, Fond of colour and glow and heat, To lie there clothed in that awful manner In a stark white sheet.
She who was made out of summer blisses, Tropical, beautiful, gracious, fair, To lie and stare at my fondest kisses-- G.o.d! no wonder it whitens my hair Shriek, O wind! for the world is lonely; Trail cloud-veil to the nun Night"s feet!
For all that I prize in life is only A shape and a sheet.