A Book of Favourite Modern Ballads

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1860 Excerpt: ... lift the latch, And share my meal, a welcome guest. Around my ivy'd porch shall spring Each fragrant flower that drinks the dew; And Lucy, at her wheel, shall sing, In russet gown and apron blue. The village church, among the trees, Where first our marriage vows were given, With merry peals shall swell the breeze, And point with taper spire to heaven. This is the place. Stand still, my steed; Let me review the scene, And summon from the shadowy Past The forms that once have been. The Past and Present here unite Beneath Time's flowing tide, Like footprints hidden by a brook. Put seen on either side. A OLEAM OF SUNSHINE. Here runs the highway to the town; There the green lane descends, Through which I walk'd to church with thee, O gentlest of my friends! The shadow of the linden-trees Lay moving on the grass; Between them and the moving Ixnighs, A shadow, thou didst pass. Thy dress was like the lilies, And thy heart as pure as they: One of God's holy messengers Did walk with me that day. I saw the branches of the trees Bend down thy touch to meet, The clover-blossoms in the grass Rise up to kiss thy feet. Sleep, sleep to-day, tormenting cares. Of earth and folly born! Solemnly sang the village choir, On that sweet Sabbath morn. Through the closed blinds the golden sun Pour'd in a dusty beam, Like the celestial ladder seen By Jacob in his dream. And ever and anon, the wind, Sweet-scented with the hay, Turn'd o'er the hymn-book's fluttering leaves, That on the window lay. A GLEAM OF SUNSHINE. Long was the good man's sermon, Yet it seem'd not so to me; For he spake of Ruth the beautiful, And still I thought of thee. Long was the prayer he utter'd. Yet it seem'd not so to me; For in my heart I pray'd with him, And still I thought of thee. But now, al...