“The grass is sweeter than the ground: 
  Can love be better than its flowers? 
  Oh sometime—­sometime—­in the round
  Of coming years, this board of ours
  I hope may blossom and abound

  With shining curls, and laughing eyes,
  And pleasant jests and merry words,
  And questions full of life’s surprise,
  And light and music, when the birds
  Have left us to our gloomy skies.

  “Now mount with me the old oak stair! 
  This is your chamber—­pink and blue! 
  They asked the color of your hair,
  And draped and fitted all for you,
  My fine brunette, with tasteful care.

  “The linen is as white as snow;
  The flowers are set on every sconce;
  And e’en the cushioned pin-heads show
  Your formal “welcome,” for the nonce,
  To the sweet home their hands bestow.

  “Declining to the river’s marge,
  See, from this window, how the turf
  Runs with a thousand flowers in charge
  To meet the silver feet of surf
  That fly from every passing barge!

  “Along that reach of liquid light
  Flies Commerce with her countless keels;
  There the chained Titan in his might
  Turns slowly round the groaning wheels
  That drag her burdens, day and night.

  “And now the red sun flings his kiss
  Across its waves from finger-tips
  That pause, and grudgingly dismiss
  The one he loves to closer lips,
  And Moonlight’s quiet hour of bliss.

  “And here comes Dinah with the steam
  Of evening cups and evening food,
  And coal-red berries quenched with cream,
  And ministry of homely good
  That proves, my dear, we do not dream.”

  III.

  He heard the long-drawn organ-peal
  Within his chapel call to prayer;
  And, answering with ready zeal,
  He breathed o’er Mildred’s weary chair
  These words, and sealed them with a seal: 

  “Only an hour:  but comfort take;—­
  This home and I are wholly yours;
  And many bosoms fondly ache
  To tell you, that while life endures,
  You shall be cherished for my sake.

  “So throw your heart’s door open wide,
  And take in mine as well as me;
  Let no poor creature be denied
  The grace of tender courtesy
  And kindness from the pastor’s bride.”

  IV.

  The moon came up the summer sky: 
  “Oh happy moon!” the lady said;
  “Men love thee for thyself, but I
  Am loved because my life is wed
  To one whose message, pure and high,

  Has spread the world’s evangel far,
  And thrown such radiance through the dark
  That men behold him as a star,
  And in his gracious coming mark
  How beautiful his footsteps are.

  “Oh Moon! dost thou take all thy light
  From the great sun so lately gone? 
  Are there not shapes upon thy white,
  That mould and make his sheen thy own,
  And charms that soften to the sight