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Now that my restless legion Of hopes and fears is fled； Reading is joy
and comfort 。 。 。 。 。 。This very day I read； Oh； such a strange returning Of
one whom all thought dead！
Not that _I_ dream or fancy； You know all that is past； Earth has no
hope to give me； And yet：… Time flies so fast That all but the impossible
Might be brought back at last。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： IN THE WOOD
In the wood where shadows are deepest From the branches overhead；
Where the wild wood…strawberries cluster And the softest moss is spread； I
met to…day with a fairy； And I followed her where she led。
Some magical words she uttered； I alone could understand； For the sky
grew bluer and brighter； While there rose on either hand The cloudy walls
of a palace That was built in Fairy…land。
And I stood in a strange enchantment； I had known it all before： In my
heart of hearts was the magic Of days that will come no more； The manic
of joy departed； That Time can never restore。
That never； ah； never； never； Never again can be：… Shall I tell you what
powerful fairy Built up this palace for me？ It was only a little white Violet
I found at the root of a tree。
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VERSE： TWO WORLDS
God's world is bathed in beauty； God's world is steeped in light； It is
the self…same glory That makes the day so bright； Which thrills the earth
with music； Or hangs the stars in night。
Hid in earth's mines of silver； Floating on clouds above； … Ringing in
Autumn's tempest； Murmured by every dove； One thought fills God's
creation … His own great name of Love！
In God's world Strength is lovely； And so is Beauty strong； And Light…
…God's glorious shadow … To both great gifts belong； And they all melt into
sweetness； And fill the earth with Song。
Above God's world bends Heaven； With day's kiss pure and bright； Or
folds her still more fondly In the tender shade of night； And she casts back
Heaven's sweetness； In fragrant love and light。
God's world has one great echo； Whether calm blue mists are curled；
Or lingering dew…drops quiver； Or red storms are unfurled； The same deep
love is throbbing Through the great heart of God's world。
Man's world is black and blighted； Steeped through with self and sin；
And should his feeble purpose Some feeble good begin； The work is
marred and tainted By Leprosy within。
Man's world is bleak and bitter； Wherever he has trod He spoils the
tender beauty That blossoms on the sod； And blasts the loving Heaven Of
the great； good world of God。
There Strength on coward weakness In cruel might will roll； Beauty
and Joy are cankers That eat away the soul； And LoveOh God； avenge it
… The plague…spot of the whole。
Man's world is Pain and Terror； He found it pure and fair； And wove in
nets of sorrow The golden summer air。 Black； hideous； cold； and dreary；
Man's curse； not God's； is there。
And yet God's world is speaking： Man will not hear it call； But listens
where the echoes Of his own discords fall； Then clamours back to Heaven
That God has done it all。
Oh God； man's heart is darkened； He will not understand！ Show him
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
Thy cloud and fire； And； with Thine own right hand Then lead him
through his desert； Back to Thy Holy Land！
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VERSE： A NEW MOTHER
I was with my lady when she died： I it was who guided her weak hand
For a blessing on each little head； Laid her baby by her on the bed； Heard
the words they could not understand。
And I drew them round my knee that night； Hushed their childish glee；
and made them say They would keep her words with loving tears； They
would not forget her dying fears Lest the thought of her should fade away。
I； who guessed what her last dread had been； Made a promise to that
still； cold face； That her children's hearts； at any cost； Should be with the
mother they had lost； When a stranger came to take her place。
And I knew so much！ for I had lived With my lady since her childhood：
known What her young and happy days had been； And the grief no other
eyes had seen I had watched and sorrowed for alone。
Ah！ she once had such a happy smile！ I had known how sorely she
was tried： Six short years before； her eyes were bright As her little blue…
eyed May's that night； When she stood by her dead mother's side。
NoI will not say he was unkind； But she had been used to love and
praise。 He was somewhat graveperhaps； in truth； Could not weave her
joyous； smiling youth； Into all his stern and serious ways。
She； who should have reigned a blooming flower； First in pride and
honour； as in grace； … She； whose will had once ruled all around； Queen
and darling of us allshe found Change indeed in that cold； stately place。
Yet she would not blame him； even to me； Though she often sat and
wept alone； But she could not hide it near her death； When she said with
her last struggling breath； 〃Let my babies still remain my own！〃
I it was who drew the sheet aside； When he saw his dead wife's face。
That test Seemed to strike right to his heart。 He said； In a strange； low
whisper； to the dead； 〃God knows； love； I did it for the best！〃
And he weptOh yes； I will be just … When I brought the children to
him there … Wondering sorrow in their baby eyes； And he soothed them
with his fond replies； Bidding me give double love and care。
Ah； I loved them well for her dear sake： Little Arthur； with his serious
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air； May； with all her mother's pretty ways； Blushing； and at any word of
praise Shaking out her sunny golden hair。
And the little one of allpoor child！ She had cost that dear and
precious life。 Once Sir Arthur spoke my lady's name； When the baby's
gloomy christening came； And he called her 〃Olgalike my wife！〃
Save that time； he never spoke of her； He grew graver； sterner； every
day； And the children felt it； for they dropped Low their voices； and their
laughter stopped While he stood and watched them at their play。