I REMEMBER.

REMEMBER, I remember,

In years long pass'd away,

A little maid and I would meet
Beside the stream to play ;

We used to watch the sun go down
Upon the golden tide,

And count the ships that glided by

To reach the ocean wide.

I remember, I remember,
A sailor-lad to be,

I left the little maid behind,

And cross'd the distant sea:

But when the ship came back again And touch'd the golden shore,

I found the little maid and I

Would meet on earth no more.

For ever, ah! for ever,

Those days have pass'd away;

I REMEMBER.

And now no more beside the stream

As children shall we play : But still I know in future years,

When life's dark voyage is o'er,

That little maid and I shall meet

Upon the golden shore.

27

A LITTLE WHILE.

LITTLE while and all was green,

The summer birds were singing, The butterflies, in robes of sheen, Their flowerward course were winging; But now the leaves fall from the trees, The streams are overflowing,

With clouds and rain the autumn breeze Across the moor is blowing.

A little while, and you and I
As children play'd together,
No cloud that sail'd across the sky
Brought us dull autumn weather;
The skylark sang his happy song
Above the scented meadow;
Life seem'd to be one summer day,
That pass'd without a shadow.

But now, alas! those times are changed,

And age on all is creeping;

A LITTLE WHILE.

Old friends, from us long since estranged,

Within their graves are sleeping :

And when I think how you and I

As children play'd together,

I feel the summer has gone by,

And it is autumn weather.

29

Maiden with the gipsy face,
If thou canst not tell me all,
Tell me thus much, of thy grace,
Should I climb, or fear to fall?
Should I dare, or dread to dare?

Should I speak, or silent be?
Maiden with the gipsy hair,

Read my riddle unto me!

Maiden with the gipsy hair,
Deep into thy mirror look,