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A haunted Chamber：… long ago I closed it； and I cast the key Where
deep and bitter waters flow； Into a vast and silent sea。
Dear； it is haunted。 All the rest Is yours； but I have shut that door For
ever now。 'Tis even best That I should enter it no more。
No more。 It is not well to stay With ghosts； their very look would
scare Your joyous； loving smile away … So never try to enter there。
Check； if you love me； all regret That this one thought remains apart：…
Now let us smile； dear； and forget The haunted Chamber in my Heart。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： LIGHT AND SHADE
Thou hast done well to kneel and say； 〃Since He who gave can take
away； And bid me suffer； I obey。〃
And also well to tell thy heart That good lies in the bitterest part； And
thou wilt profit by her smart。
But bitter hours come to all： When even truths like these will pall； Sick
hearts for humbler comfort call。
Then I would have thee strive to see That good and evil come to thee；
As one of a great family。
And as material life is planned； That even the loneliest one must stand
Dependent on his brother's hand；
So links more subtle and more fine Bind every other soul to thine In
one great brotherhood divine。
Nor with thy share of work be vexed； Though incomplete； and even
perplex； It fits exactly to the next。
What seems so dark to thy dim sight May be a shadow； seen aright；
Making some brightness doubly bright。
The flash that struck thy tree；no more To shelter thee；lets Heaven's
blue floor Shine where it never shone before。
Thy life that has been dropped aside Into Time's stream； may stir the
tide； In rippled circles spreading wide。
The cry wrung from thy spirit's pain May echo on some far…off plain；
And guide a wanderer home again。
Failyet rejoice； because no less The failure that makes thy distress
May teach another full success。
It may be that in some great need Thy life's poor fragments are decreed
To help build up a lofty deed。
Thy heart should throb in vast content； Thus knowing that it was but
meant As chord in one great instrument；
That even the discord in thy soul May make completer music roll
From out the great harmonious whole。
It may be； that when all is light； Deep set within that deep delight Will
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
be to know WHY all was right；
To hear life's perfect music rise； And while it floods the happy skies；
Thy feeble voice to recognise。
Then strive more gladly to fulfil Thy little part。 This darkness still Is
light to every loving will。
And trust；as if already plain； How just thy share of loss and pain Is
for another fuller gain。
I dare not limit time or place Touched by thy life： nor dare I trace Its
far vibrations into space。
ONE only knows。 Yet if the fret Of thy weak heart； in weak regret
Needs a more tender comfort yet：
Then thou mayst take thy loneliest fears； The bitterest drops of all thy
tears； The dreariest hours of all thy years；
And through thy anguish there outspread； May ask that God's great
love would shed Blessings on one beloved head。
And thus thy soul shall learn to draw Sweetness from out that loving
law That sees no failure and no flaw；
Where all is good。 And life is good； Were the one lesson understood
Of its most sacred brotherhood。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： A CHANGELING
A little changeling spirit Crept to my arms one day： I had no heart or
courage To drive the child away。
So all day long I soothed her； And hushed her on my breast； And all
night long her wailing Would never let me rest。
I dug a grave to hold her； A grave both dark and deep； I covered her
with violets； And laid her there to sleep。
I used to go and watch there； Both night and morning too：… It was my
tears； I fancy； That kept the violets blue。
I took her up： and once more I felt the clinging hold； And heard the
ceaseless wailing That wearied me of old。
I wandered； and I wandered； With my burden on my breast； Till I saw
a church…door open； And entered in to rest。
In the dim； dying daylight； Set in a flowery shrine； I saw the Virgin
Mother Holding her Child divine。
I knelt down there in silence； And on the Altar…stone I laid my wailing
burden； And came awayalone。
And now that little spirit； That sobbed so all day long； Is grown a
shining Angel； With wines both wide and strong。
She watches me from Heaven； With loving； tender care； And one day
she has promised That I shall find her there。
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VERSE： DISCOURAGED
Where the little babbling streamlet First springs forth to light；
Trickling through soft velvet mosses； Almost hid from sight； Vowed I with
delight； … 〃River； I will follow thee； Through thy wanderings to the Sea！〃
Gleaming 'mid the purple heather； Downward then it sped； Glancing
through the mountain gorges； Like a silver thread； As it quicker fled；
Louder music in its flow； Dashing to the Vale below。
Then its voice grew lower； gentler； And its pace less fleet； Just as
though it loved to linger Round the rushes' feet； As they stooped to meet
Their clear images below； Broken by the ripples' flow。
Purple Willow…herb bent over To her shadow fair； Meadow…sweet； in
feathery clusters； Perfumed all the air； Silver…weed was there； And in one
calm； grassy spot； Starry； blue Forget…me…not。
Tangled weeds； below the waters； Still seemed drawn away； Yet the
current； floating onward； Was less strong than they； … Sunbeams watched
their play； With a flickering light and shade； Through the screen the Alders
made。
Broader grew the flowing River； To its grassy brink Slowly； in the
slanting sun…rays； Cattle trooped to drink： The blue sky； I think； Was no
bluer than that stream； Slipping onward； like a dream。
Quicker； deeper then it hurried； Rushing fierce and free； But I said； 〃It
should grow calmer Ere it meets the Sea； The wide purple Sea； Which I
weary for in vain； Wasting all my toil and