And there I found the foolish mother hen Brooding her chickens underneath a tree, An easy prey for foxes. "Chick-a-dee," Quoth I, while reaching for the downy things That, chirping, peeped from out the mother-wings, "How very human is your folly! When There waits a haven, pleasant, bright, and warm, And one to lead you thither from the storm And lurking dangers, yet you turn away, And, thinking to be your own protector, stray Into the open jaws of death: for, see!
An owl is sitting in this very tree You thought safe shelter. Go now to your pen."
And, followed by the clucking, clamorous hen, So like the human mother here again, Moaning because a strong, protecting arm Would shield her little ones from cold and harm, I carried back my garden hat brimful Of chirping chickens, like white balls of wool And snugly housed them.
And just then I heard A sound like gentle winds among the trees, Or pleasant waters in the summer, stirred And set in motion by a passing breeze.
'Twas Helen singing: and, as I drew near, Another voice, a tenor full and clear, Mingled with hers, as murmuring streams unite, And flow on stronger in their wedded might.
It was a way of Helen's, not to sing The songs that other people sang. She took Sometimes an extract from an ancient book; Again some floating, fragmentary thing.
And such she fitted to old melodies, Or else composed the music. One of these She sang that night; and Vivian caught the strain, And joined her in the chorus, or refrain, SONG.
Oh thou, mine other, stronger part!
Whom yet I cannot hear, or see, Come thou, and take this loving heart, That longs to yield its all to thee, I call mine own--oh, come to me!
Love, answer back, I come to thee, I come to thee.
This hungry heart, so warm, so large, Is far too great a care for me.
I have grown weary of the charge I keep so sacredly for thee.
Come thou, and take my heart from me.
Love, answer back, I come to thee, I come to thee.
I am a-weary, waiting here For one who tarries long from me.
Oh! art thou far, or art thou near?
And must I still be sad for thee?
Or wilt thou straightway come to me?
Love, answer, I am near to thee, I come to thee.
The melody, so full of plaintive chords, Sobbed into silence--echoing down the strings Like voice of one who walks from us, and sings.
Vivian had leaned upon the instrument The while they sang. But, as he spoke those words, "Love, I am near to thee, I come to thee,"
He turned his grand head slowly round, and bent His lustrous, soulful, speaking gaze on me.
And my young heart, eager to own its king, Sent to my eyes a great, glad, trustful light Of love and faith, and hung upon my cheek Hope's rose-hued flag. There was no need to speak I crossed the room, and knelt by Helen. "Sing That song you sang a fragment of one night Out on the porch, beginning, 'Praise me not,'" I whispered: and her sweet and plaintive tone Rose, low and tender, as if she had caught From some sad passing breeze, and made her own, The echo of the wind-harp's sighing strain, Or the soft music of the falling rain.
SONG.
O praise me not with your lips, dear one!
Though your tender words I prize.
But dearer by far is the soulful gaze Of your eyes, your beautiful eyes, Your tender, loving eyes.
O chide me not with your lips, dear one!
Though I cause your bosom sighs.
You can make repentance deeper far By your sad, reproving eyes, Your sorrowful, troubled eyes.
Words, at the best, are but hollow sounds; Above, in the beaming skies, The constant stars say never a word, But only smile with their eyes - Smile on with their lustrous eyes.
Then breathe no vow with your lips, dear one; On the winged wind speech flies.
But I read the truth of your noble heart In your soulful, speaking eyes - In your deep and beautiful eyes.
The twilight darkened, round us, in the room, While Helen sang; and, in the gathering gloom, Vivian reached out, and took my hand in his, And held it so; while Helen made the air Languid with music. Then a step drew near, And voice of Aunt Ruth broke the spell:
"Dear! dear!
Why, Maurie, Helen, children! how is this?
I hear you, but you have no light in there.
Your room is dark as Egypt. What a way For folks to visit! Maurie, go, I pray, And order lamps."
And so there came a light, And all the sweet dreams hovering around The twilight shadows flitted in affright:
And e'en the music had a harsher sound.
In pleasant converse passed an hour away:
And Vivian planned a picnic for next day - A drive the next, and rambles without end, That he might help me entertain my friend.
And then he rose, bowed low, and passed from sight, Like some great star that drops out from the night;
And Helen watched him through the shadows go, And turned and said, her voice subdued and low, "How tall he is! in all my life, Maurine, A grander man I never yet have seen."