A Voice Jeannette Should Hear.
I.
Jeannette, by man though rarely seen; Is a friend of Running Water, To the Mountain, fairest daughter, To the forest, stateliest queen. She hears mystic voices whisper As a spirit to his sister. Songs you and I have never known. The trees speak of coming showers, Earth creatures of twilight hours; The owl tells secrets of the night, The robin sings of dawn's delight, The lark of harvest and ripe moon; But when love whispers I'll call soon, She's thinking of the distant moon.
II.
Jeannette, think you your paradise Will always remain quite this nice, Unless real love shall come as guest? Fair one, think you the summer sun Will last until your life is done And spirit love not flit away; Nor sun sink low in golden west, Nor night come round at end of day? Do you not fear those long, black nights, Which come with winter's storm and rain, And put an end to life's delights, Giving voice to trouble and pain? Then whisper to love the password, And he will enter, having heard.
III.
Sentiment may own yesterday, But love today has right of way; Hope builds castles for tomorrow, Of warm sunbeams, not of sorrow; Memories drape life with sadness; Love walks hand in hand with gladness. To the past we dedicate tears, Love owns today and coming years; Take his warm hand and walk with me; Let life be what the future be, I wish it spent, Jeannette, with thee; And when old age delves in the past, May love say, "I have held full sway, For memories fair crown each day."
----
Then, for more than an hour, an angel without the bower, kept strangersaway and enjoined silence. He did not stand with flaming sword, but withfinger on his lips.
----
They walked down to the old field below the Rock House. Near its centerwas an old dead tree; and on the tip of the topmost snag a lark sang.
"Listen, do you hear what he says."
"No, he's whistling like any other meadow lark."
"Translate."
"I do not know the language."
"I do; 'Love, thou art safe! art safe! I watch for thee! for thee!'"
They led the old mule to the barn, and gave him ten ears of corn and twobundles of oats. Sandy got up at daylight the next morning and repeatedthe dose; the old mule knew something was up. Then Sandy came to thehouse and put on some clothes that had been sent up from Red Bird.Jeannette came to breakfast a little late; she had on a short-skirtedriding habit. Simeon and his wife tried not to show their surprise. Shekept still; he exercised less restraint or exhibited more curiosity thanhis wife--they say men have more. "What's up, Sandy? Why have you put onyour Sunday clothes, this is Saturday?"
And Sandy answered: "Jeannette and I are going to Hyden to be married."
"Well, I'll be d----d! How're you going?"
"She'll ride the old mule; I'll walk and lead the beast."
"Why it's fifteen miles; it'll take all day."
"That's all right."
"You better take my horse."
"No, Jeannette wants to ride the old mule and wants me to lead him.She's boss until tomorrow."
"Well, I'll be d----d!"
----
It was nearly midnight when they came home again. After feeding the oldmule, they sat down on the door-step.
"My Captain, will you get your violin and play some real music?"
"Jeannette, how did that old mule ever manage to travel to Hyden andback with such a load of sweetness?"
"By dint of placing one foot before the other, Sandy. We were onlysixteen hours on the road; we made nearly two miles an hour. I do notthink I would care to hear 'The Arkansaw Traveler' after that journey;but suppose you end the day, it must be merging into the morrow, byplaying 'Turkey in the Straw.'"
The old familiar tune awoke Simeon and he awoke his wife. "Listen,Mandy! those crazy things are back. Hear Sandy, he's playing 'Turkey inthe Straw;' that boy will never settle down." He called out: "Go to bedand give other people a chance to sleep; or else keep still and startbreakfast."
In a little while the house was very still. There was no sound exceptthe chirping of the cricket of the hearth. You who dwell in cities andknow nothing of firesides, may not appreciate his simple song.
Voices; Birth-Marks; The Man and the Elephant Page 5