• ..■?• 
 
 ^^*- \,** 
 
 •i^. 
 
 
 o « e 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .O"^ .0.-P. -^^ •'* aV 
 
 .* . ^^'\ V 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 *r\ . n *^ - « • • * <^ 
 
 
VIOLILLA'^''^ 
 
 BY 
 
 WILDIE THAYER 
 
 cM 
 
 Cover designed by H. W. Brown 
 
 BOSTON 
 THE MORNING STAR PUBLISHING HOUSE 
 
 457 Shawmut Avenue 
 

 s 
 
 Copyright, 1898. 
 BY WILDIE THAYER. 
 
 T A'C I 
 
 r.c>.LiV 
 
 2nd CO:^V, % V^;^^^ "- 
 189B 
 
VIOLILLA. 
 
 In a green and pleasant valley 
 Where the flowers are ever blooming, 
 Where the sunbeams love to linger 
 And the birds to sing their carols ; 
 Where the purity and beauty 
 Seem akin to God and heaven — 
 Seem to say, '' Here virtue reigneth 
 And all evil is excluded " — 
 In this green and pleasant valley. 
 In this quiet, earthly Eden, 
 Lived a pure and lovely maiden. 
 Lived the childlike Violilla. 
 Beautiful was Violilla, 
 Beautiful beyond description. 
 In her childhood Violilla 
 Had no playmates, no companions ; 
 All alone she roamed the forests. 
 Talked alone with birds and squirrels, 
 Read for books but God and nature. 
 
VIOLILLA. 
 
 Sweeter than the flower's fragrance 
 Was the breath of Violilla ; 
 Brighter than the golden sunbeams 
 Was the smile of Violilla ; 
 More enchanting than birds' carols 
 Was the voice of Violilla ; 
 Purer than the air of heaven 
 Was the soul of Violilla. 
 
 in a large and crowded city, 
 Where the dust is ever flying ; 
 Where the noise, the din and clamor, 
 Seem to say, '' Confusion reigneth, 
 Peacefulness is here forbidden "; 
 Where the moonlight is unnoticed — 
 Where the beauties of sweet nature 
 Are unknown and all unheeded ; 
 In this large and crowded city 
 Lived the gallant Herbert Trevor. 
 He was known as '' handsome Herbert." 
 Nowhere in this wealthy city 
 Was a man more highly honored; 
 
VIOLILLA. 
 
 Moved he in the highest circles ; 
 
 Many ladies smiled upon him. 
 
 One there was who pleased young Herbert 
 
 Pleased him far above all others ; 
 
 She was known as Isabella. 
 
 Radiant was Isabella, 
 
 Dark and passionate in beauty ; 
 
 Those who won her heart's affection 
 
 Knew a friendship everlasting. 
 
 And this lady, Isabella, 
 
 Was the one young Herbert favored 
 
 And he won her love in answer. 
 
 It was summer. In the city 
 
 All the air seemed close and stifling; 
 
 Crowds were rushing to the country, 
 
 Where the air was fresh and healthful . 
 
 Isabella and her lover 
 
 Were among the crowds that journeyed, 
 
 When at last their journey ended, 
 
 Isabella smiled with pleasure 
 
 As she saw the beauty round her ; 
 
VIOLILLA. 
 
 For their summer place of resting 
 Was a green and pleasant valley 
 Where the flowers were ever blooming, 
 Where the sunbeams loved to linger ; 
 'Twas the quiet, peaceful Eden, 
 'Twas the home of Violilla. 
 
 To the castle in the valley 
 
 Where the lady Isabella 
 
 And her lover spent the summer 
 
 Came one day a fortune-teller ; 
 
 Thus addressed the guests assembled : 
 
 *Mn my hands a box 1 carry. 
 
 In the box there is a powder ; 
 
 To the air 1 throw the powder ; 
 
 Instantly a mist arises 
 
 And the powder forms a picture 
 
 Mystical yet clear and perfect. 
 
 From the pictures one may gather 
 
 Of his future fate and fortune." 
 
 Then addressed she handsome Herbert 
 
 ''Cross my poor old hand with silver 
 
VIOLILLA. 
 
 While I show to you your future." 
 Herbert laughingly obeyed her ; 
 To the air she threw the powder ; 
 Gradually there was forming 
 in the air a mist, and gathering 
 In the powder-cloud before him 
 Was a picture, clear and perfect. 
 It was of a lovely fairy ; 
 She was tripping, lightly tripping 
 On a precipice the brink of. 
 He was trying to overtake her, 
 Warn her of her awful danger ; 
 Saw not that his situation 
 Was as perilous as hers, or 
 That behind him came a lady, 
 Came a dark, a radiant lady. 
 Soon this lady hurried past him, 
 Seized the fairy by the shoulders. 
 Cast her on the stones below her. 
 Laughing only at her groaning. 
 Quickly then the vision faded. 
 Once more spoke the fortune-teller, 
 " Cross again my hand with silver, 
 
VIOLILLA. 
 
 I will show you yet another." 
 
 Then there rose from clouds of beauty 
 
 Such a quiet, peaceful picture — 
 
 Herbert, standing at an altar, 
 
 Was about to wed the fairy. 
 
 Slowly then this vision faded ; 
 
 Suddenly appeared another : 
 
 On the gallows he saw hanging 
 
 Her who hurled the tiny fairy 
 
 From her place of fearful danger. 
 
 Herbert trembled as he saw it. 
 
 Still appeared another picture — 
 
 He was lying in a forest, 
 
 Weak and bleeding, slowly dying. 
 
 When at last this vision faded, 
 
 Lo, the fortune-teller vanished ! 
 
 " Tell me now," said Isabella, 
 
 '* Of the views she spread before you.' 
 
 Herbert told her of the pictures 
 
 Which his eyes alone had witnessed. 
 
 ** Tell me, Herbert, tell me truly, 
 
 Did you ever see the lady. 
 
 See the one you saw suspended 
 
VIOLILLA. 
 
 On the gallows in your vision ? 
 
 If so, tell me what her name is." 
 
 Hesitating, Herbert answered, 
 
 "It was you, you, Isabella." 
 
 Whispered Isabella, earnest, 
 
 " Should you ever see the fairy, 
 
 See the fairy of your vision. 
 
 And should dare to learn to love her, 
 
 If she stole from me your heart's love, 
 
 I believe that I would kill her — 
 
 Hurl her to the world below us ! " 
 
 *' Hush, my darling," Herbert whispered, 
 
 'M am true to you as life is ; 
 
 You are true to me as life is ; 
 
 Nothing in this world shall part us. 
 
 Only death can separate us." 
 
 It was evening. In the valley 
 Sweet and holy was the stillness ; 
 Brightly shone the stars and planets ; 
 Perfect was the silver moonlight. 
 Handsome Herbert, nature-loving. 
 
VIOLILLA, 
 
 In the house was not contented. 
 He must stroll out in the moonlight, 
 See the valley by the moonlight. 
 Suddenly he stopped in wonder ; 
 Surely heard he some one singing. 
 Then he laughed . "An idle fancy, 
 It was but a bird," he muttered, 
 '' But a bird that I heard singing." 
 Once again the voice rose clearly, 
 More enchanting than birds' carols ; 
 Herbert quickly looked around him. 
 Looked around to fmd the singer. 
 Boundless was his admiration ; 
 "Surely," said he, "birds could never 
 Sing with such amazing sweetness." 
 Then he saw her, saw the singer. 
 'Neath a huge tree she was standing 
 Gazing at the stars above her, 
 Singing to the stillness round her. 
 Herbert gazed, gazed bound in wonder 
 At the beauty of the picture. 
 Slowly he approached the singer. 
 Suddenly she stopped her singing 
 
VIOLILLA. 
 
 As she saw him coming toward her. 
 Handsome Herbert bowed before her, 
 Saying, "Tell me, beauteous maiden, 
 Who you are, and what your name is. 
 Never have 1 heard such singing. 
 Never have 1 setn such beauty ! " 
 Glorious violet eyes were lifted 
 Fearlessly to meet the stranger's ; 
 Answered then the lovely maiden, 
 Tossing back her curls of sunshine 
 With a laugh as light as childhood, 
 '* Sir, my name is Violilla." 
 With a smile she turned and left him, 
 Vanished quickly as a vision. 
 
 To her home went Violilla, 
 Tripping lightly through the flowers. 
 Thinking of the handsome stranger ; 
 Thinking thus was Violilla : 
 *' No one e'er has praised my beauty, 
 No one e'er has praised my singing, 
 No one but this handsome stranger." 
 
12 VIOLILLA. 
 
 Turning quickly Vioiilla 
 
 Saw a figure standing near her. 
 
 By the almost-daylight moonlight 
 
 Vioiilla saw the features 
 
 (And she trembled as she saw them) 
 
 Of the strange old fortune-teller. 
 
 " Fear me not," a low voice murmured, 
 
 "Maiden, lovely maiden, hear me; 
 
 1 have left my forest cabin. 
 
 Come to give you words of warning ; 
 
 1 have watched you e'en from childhood ; 
 
 You are now in fearful danger. 
 
 Listen not to love's soft whisper, 
 
 Shun this handsome, low-voiced stranger ; 
 
 Maiden, heed my words of warning." 
 
 Vioiilla would have answered, 
 
 But the creature strange had vanished. 
 
 To her home went Vioiilla, 
 
 Not a word she told her parents 
 
 Of the stranger who had praised her, 
 
 Not a word she told her parents 
 
 Of the strange old fortune-teller ; 
 
 'Twas a weird, delightful secret, 
 
VIOLILLA. 
 
 And she harbored it with pleasure. 
 Daily she grew silent, dreamy, 
 And her mother greatly wondered 
 What had changed her darling's manner. 
 And one day she asked her, saying, 
 ''What has changed you, Violilla, 
 That you are so absent-minded ?" 
 From her seat sprang Violilla, 
 Threw her arms around her mother, 
 Pressed a kiss upon her forehead, 
 Quickly then ran from the cottage 
 For a ramble through the forests ; 
 Left her mother standing puzzled, 
 Puzzled at her wayward action. 
 Saying, '* What has changed my darling.? 
 What has changed my Violilla ?" 
 
 Back again went handsome Herbert 
 To the castle in the valley. 
 Thinking of the singing fairy. 
 Daily he grew silent, dreamy; 
 Distant seemed to Isabella. 
 
14 VIOLILLA. 
 
 Everywhere he saw the features 
 And fair form of Violilla; 
 Ever near him was her presence. 
 Thus he in his mind decided : 
 "I will love this Violilla, 
 1 will teach the child to love me, 
 But will keep the matter secret ; 
 Isabella must not know it.*' 
 Thus it was that he decided. 
 
 O the brightness of that summer ! 
 O the darkness of that summer, 
 Of that summer in the valley! 
 With his whispered words of sweetness 
 Herbert wooed sweet Violilla. 
 And the fairy, lovely maiden, 
 Dainty, childlike Violilla, 
 Yielded all her sweet affection. 
 Yielded all her heart's devotion 
 To the care of handsome Herbert. 
 And one bright, one moonlight evening, 
 In the stillness of the valley, 
 
VIOLILLA. 15 
 
 Violilla gave her pure life 
 
 To the care of handsome Herbert. 
 
 ** Violilla," Herbert whispered, 
 
 *' We must keep our marriage secret." 
 
 Violilla, wondering, answered, 
 
 "As you bid me, I obey you, 
 
 Yet 1 wonder at your reasons. 
 
 At your reasons for concealment." 
 
 Gently chided handsome Herbert, 
 
 "As you love me, trust me fully." 
 
 Softly whispered Violilla, 
 
 " Know my lips are sealed with silence. 
 
 Isabella's servant told her 
 
 That as she was idly roaming 
 
 In the stillness of the evening 
 
 She had seen her master Herbert 
 
 Strolling slowly in the moonlight 
 
 With a maiden of the valley. 
 
 All that long night Isabella 
 
 Paced her room in raging anger. 
 
 Wroth that Herbert should deceive her — 
 
VIOLILLA. 
 
 Dare to ramble with another 
 
 In the beauty of the moonlight. 
 
 She had wondered at his manner, 
 
 At his absent-minded manner ; 
 
 Now she understood it plainly, 
 
 He was thinking of another. 
 
 Clearly now she saw the reason 
 
 Of his frequent evening rambles. 
 
 Of his rambles in the moonlight ; 
 
 He was roaming with another. 
 
 With a maiden of the valley. 
 
 Flashed her eyes with sudden fire. 
 
 Flamed her cheeks with vivid crimson ; 
 
 All her proud and jealous nature 
 
 Rose to help her vent her fury, 
 
 Vent her fury on the lover 
 
 Who had dared thus to despise her ; 
 
 Vent her fury on the maiden 
 
 Who had dared to learn to love him ; 
 
 And she cursed the childish beauty 
 
 Of the gentle Violilla, 
 
 While the evening's shadowy curtains 
 
 Fell in beauty o'er the valley. 
 
VIOLILLA. 17 
 
 Gradually handsome Herbert 
 
 Wearied of sweet Violilla ; 
 
 Slowly Herbert learned the lesson 
 
 Which, once learned, will ever linger. 
 
 Cupid oft the fancy visits. 
 
 Yet but once the heart he blesses. 
 
 He had fancied Violilla, 
 
 He had never loved her truly. 
 
 But his love for Isabella 
 
 Was a deep and mighty current. 
 
 When he thought of Isabella, 
 
 Queenly, radiant Isabella, 
 
 All his soul to her responded. 
 
 Isabella, proudly jealous, 
 
 Accused Herbert of deception. 
 
 ** Listen to me, Herbert Trevor, 
 
 As you are my promised husband, 
 
 As my life is promised to you, 
 
 I command you ne'er again to 
 
 Meet this maiden of the valley." 
 
 Herbert answered, slightly smiling, 
 
 ** Willingly I will obey you ; 
 
 Grant me pardon, Isabella." 
 
VIOLILLA. 
 
 Then the gracious Isabella 
 Granted pardon to her lover, 
 Saying, " I forgive you, Herbert; 
 I again will love and trust you. 
 And forget you ever met this 
 Simple maiden of the valley." 
 
 Violilfa wondered greatly 
 
 What had changed her husband's manner; 
 
 Seldom now she saw her husband. 
 
 In the silence of her chamber 
 
 She would weep in bitter sorrow. 
 
 One day Herbert wrote a missive. 
 Wrote a note to Violilla : 
 " Do not fail to meet me early 
 'Neath the old tree at the corner. 
 Meet me, darling, in the evening." 
 
 Violilla met the servant 
 At the gateway of the cottage. 
 Took the tiny note he gave her. 
 Pressed her loving lips upon it. 
 
VIOLILLA. 19 
 
 Well she knew who sent the missive 
 Though no name was signed upon it. 
 " Surely, surely I will meet you, 
 Will not fail to meet you early." 
 
 It was evening. Peals of thunder 
 Jarred the stillness of the valley. 
 Peals of thunder, lightning flashes, 
 Mingled with the rain descending; 
 O the darkness of that evening I 
 Isabella, pale and frightened. 
 Locked herself within her chamber. 
 "Surely," murmured handsome Herbert, 
 "Violilla will not venture 
 Out this wild and stormy evening ; 
 'Twould be folly to expect her ; 
 I'll not venture in the tempest." 
 Ah, he little knew the faithful, 
 Loving heart of Violilla. 
 
 Timidly stood Violilla 
 
 At the window of her chamber, 
 
 Peering out into the darkness. 
 
20 VIOLILLA. 
 
 Murmuring low, " 1 must not foil him, 
 Should he be there, he must find me 
 Waiting for him, watching for him.'-' 
 Noiselessly she left her chamber, 
 Softly she the stairs descended. 
 Tremblingly the door she opened, 
 Secretly she left the cottage. 
 
 "Ah, 'tis a delightful tempest," 
 Said the weird old fortune-teller. 
 *' Very cheerful is the darkness ! 
 How melodious the thunder ! 
 Charmingly the wind is howling ! 
 1 cannot resist the calling 
 Of the elements of nature, 
 1 must go and join the chorus. 
 Hark, I hear the trembling accents 
 Of the lovely Violilla ; 
 1 must hasten, 1 must save her. 
 Though I send a fiend to claim her, 
 I must take her from his presence 
 Ere her gentle heart is broken." 
 
VIOLILLA. 21 
 
 At the tree stood Violilla 
 Waiting for her husband's coming. 
 Fiercely fell the rain upon her, 
 Terrible the darkness round her. 
 O the rumble of the thunder ! 
 How she trembled as she listened ! 
 On the ground fell Violilla, 
 Shivering in her frightened weakness. 
 Hark ! She hears some one approaching 
 Now she rises, stands, and listens. 
 See, a vivid flash of lightning 
 Seems to split the very heavens ! 
 For an instant in the darkness 
 Gleams a dagger, then, O horror ! 
 Violilla falls unconscious. 
 
 Morning came, the sun shone brightly, 
 Still more lovely was the valley 
 For the rain which had descended. 
 Careless nature, ever thoughtless, 
 Smiled in all her radiant beauty; 
 Did not mourn for Violilla. 
 
VIOLILLA. 
 
 Soon the news sprend 'round the valley 
 That the dainty Violilla, 
 Who was loved by all who knew her, 
 Had upon that stormy evening 
 Disappeared from every presence. 
 Not a living trace remaining, 
 Nothing by which one could trace her. 
 Only this — a gleaming dagger 
 'Neath an old tree in the valley, 
 And upon the ground a ribbon 
 Which was \s'orn b}' Violilla. 
 Could it be that she was murdtred ? 
 Much the people wondered, asking 
 Who the crime could have committed, 
 Everyone loved Violilla ! 
 Handsome Herbert heard the tidings 
 And he bowed his head in sorrow. 
 For he knew that Violilla 
 Faithfully had come to meet him. 
 Then a thought exultant, cruel — 
 He was free, his bonds were broken. 
 Now he could wed Isabella, 
 Stately, queenly Isabella. 
 
VIOLILLA. 23 
 
 Quickly then a dark suspicion 
 Flashed across his mind an instant, 
 '* Could it be that Isabella 
 Took the life of Violilla? " 
 
 In a log hut in the forest, 
 On the border of the valley, 
 Lived the strange old fortune-teller, 
 With her was a dainty lady, 
 Was a lady pale and fragile. 
 On one dark and stormy evening 
 She had found her weak and bleeding, 
 Found her lying 'neath an old tree. 
 Weak and bleeding, almost dying, 
 And had brought her here to nurse her. 
 In this old hut in the forest ; 
 It is she, our Violilla — 
 Changed indeed, ah, sadly altered. 
 No one ever sees her smiling. 
 No one ever hears her singing. 
 Saddened is her heart within her, 
 For she thinks her husband Herbert 
 
24 VIOLILLA. 
 
 Had that evening tried to kill her. 
 Oft she whispers low and earnest, 
 "He shall never know I'm living. '* 
 Spake she to the fortune-teller, 
 '* You have taken me and brought me 
 Back to life, but had you left me 
 I had perished in the tempest. 
 Why, O why did you not leave me ? 
 Death is sweeter far than life is. 
 But you saved me ; now 1 beg you 
 Let me stay with you forever. 
 Do not teil the world Tm living. 
 Let me stay here in concealment." 
 Answered then the fortune-teller, 
 "You are -safe, my pretty lady, 
 Stay with me and be as 1 am — 
 Dead to all the world thoucrh livincr.*' 
 
 Great excitement filled the city. 
 Crowded was the city court-house. 
 For the belle, the renowned beauty. 
 Betrothed wife of Herbert Trevor, 
 
VIOLILLA. 25 
 
 Was this day to have her trial, 
 
 Have her trial for the murder 
 
 Of a little country maiden. 
 
 Silent sat the lovely prisoner 
 
 As the witnesses were summoned 
 
 And she heard their testimonies. 
 
 Witnessed one, an aged pastor, 
 
 That one bright and moonlight evening 
 
 He had joined in matrimony 
 
 The fair, lovely, murdered maiden 
 
 To the lover of the prisoner. 
 
 Quickly then proud Isabella 
 
 Raised her veil and looked at Herbert, 
 
 Flashed one angry glance upon him. 
 
 Herbert felt that glance of anger, 
 
 Yet he did not look upon her. 
 
 All the testimony given 
 
 Was against proud Isabella. 
 
 On the evening of the murder 
 
 No one saw her at the castle, 
 
 But a small lad testified that 
 
 On the evening of the tempest 
 
 He had seen a dark-haired woman 
 
26 VIOLILLA. 
 
 Roaming wildly round the valley. 
 
 Other witnesses were summoned — 
 
 Violilla's loving parents ; 
 
 And the gallant, handsome Herbert ; 
 
 Then the servant of the prisoner. 
 
 But their simple, truthful stories 
 
 Only strengthened the appearance 
 
 Of the guilt of Isabella. 
 
 Then the prisoner was called for. 
 *' Guilty, or not.?" came the question. 
 Then rose stately Isabella, 
 I.ooked upon the crowd of faces, 
 Fearlessly she looked upon them, 
 Proudly, bravely then she answered, 
 ''As high heaven is above me, 
 As a true God reigneth o'er me, 
 I did not commit this murder ; 
 Of this crime 1 am not guilty ! " 
 Sudden silence filled the courthouse. 
 Slowly then withdrew the jury. 
 
 ** Silence," said the judge, ''and listen. 
 You have heard the prisoner's story. 
 
VIOLILLA. 27 
 
 You have heard the testimony, 
 
 And the jury have decided 
 
 That the prisoner is guilty. 
 
 Sentenced to a year in prison, 
 
 Then to hang upon the gallows 
 
 By the neck, till life is ended." 
 
 Isabella bowed in silence, 
 
 Then was led to serve her sentence 
 
 \i\ a dark and gloomy prison. 
 
 Handsome Herbert heard the verdict. 
 
 Heard the judge pronounce the sentence. 
 
 And saw queenly Isabella 
 
 Led in silence to the prison. 
 
 Then he knew not what possessed him, 
 
 But some unknown spirit led him. 
 
 Suddenly his horse he mounted, 
 
 Hastily dashed from the city. 
 
 Knew not whither he was going ; 
 
 Cared not whither he was going, 
 
 Till at last, thrown from his saddle, 
 
 He was lying 'neath an old tree. 
 
 Weak and bleeding, almost dying ; 
 
 But he saw between the branches, 
 
28 VIOLILLA. 
 
 Nestling in the lonely forest, 
 An old hut, a log hut standing. 
 Barely could he move for weakness, 
 ''Yet," he murmured, "I will try to 
 Make my way into this cabin ; 
 It may be some kind soul lives there 
 Who will guide me from this forest. 
 What strange spirit led me hither ?" 
 
 On a bed lay handsome Herbert 
 in a stupor, half-unconscious. 
 Did his wife, his Violilla, 
 Stand beside him, gazing at him. 
 With her large blue eyes so loving? 
 Did she stoop and gently kiss him ? 
 Was it real, or was he dreaming ^ 
 "Violilla, are you living?" 
 "Yes, my husband, I am living. 
 On that dark night when I met you, 
 Though you came and tried to kill me, 
 Yet I live, I am here living. 
 No, 1 will not e'er reproach you, 
 
VIOLILLA. 29 
 
 Willingly I would die for you ; 
 Always shall I be, for your sake, 
 Dead to all the world though living." 
 Handsome Herbert answered firmly, 
 *'As I live, and as God liveth, 
 Never did 1 try to kill you. 
 O believe me, Violilla !" 
 
 All alone sat Isabella 
 
 In a dark and gloomy prison. 
 
 Mocking seemed the peeping sunbeams. 
 
 Fiendish gleamed the twinkling starlight, 
 
 And in agony she whispered, 
 
 ''Am I mad, or am I dreaming.? 
 
 O for death to give me freedom." 
 
 Hark, the prison door is opened. 
 
 And a figure slowly enters. 
 
 It approaches Isabella. 
 
 Is it real, or but a spirit.? 
 
 Gliding, spirit-like, it nears her. 
 
 " Fear not, lady Isabella, 
 
 Know that I am Violilla ; 
 
30 VIOLFLLA. 
 
 That I am not dead, but living. 
 
 I have come to give you freedom, 
 
 And to prove that you are guiltless." 
 
 "God be praised/' said Isabella. 
 
 Then with head bowed low, she murmuredj 
 
 "Though I live, my heart is broken." 
 
 Violilla caught the murmur, 
 
 Sadly whispered she in answer, 
 
 "Sorrow not, for Herbert loves you." 
 
 Like a spirit then she vanished. 
 
 Quickly spread the welcome tidings 
 
 Through the city, through the nation. 
 
 That the maiden Violilla 
 
 Was not murdered, but was living; 
 
 That the lady Isabella 
 
 Now was free and was not guilty. 
 
 In the costly, stately mansion, 
 In the home of handsome Herbert, 
 Sadness reigned and gloom was present. 
 
VIOLILLA. 
 
 31 
 
 For the lovely Violilla 
 
 In this mansion now was dying. 
 
 Ah, it was a weary journey 
 
 From the forest to the city ! 
 
 Yet complained she not, nor murm erred. 
 
 To her bleeding heart she whispered, 
 
 "Ah, he loves her, Herbert loves her ; 
 
 Love like mine cannot be blinded. 
 
 1 will save her though I perish/' 
 
 Earthly life was now beneath her. 
 
 Glorious death stood hovering o'er iier. 
 
 By her side sat handsome Herbert, 
 
 Weeping as he looked upon her. 
 
 Faintly then said Violilla, 
 
 "Herbert, husband, I am dying; 
 
 Soon I'll bid farewell to sadness; 
 
 Grieve not, Herbert, that 1 leave you, 
 
 When the heart breaks, heaven is welcome. 
 
 Think of me in heaven, Herbert, 
 
 Waiting for you, watching for you. 
 
 Do not, do not fail to meet me." 
 
 Then the dying Violilla 
 
 Whispered low to Isabella, 
 
VIOLILLA. 
 
 " Earth was meaningless without him, 
 
 Heaven itself will be more glorious 
 
 That I here have learned to love him ; 
 
 Yet, my lady, Vioiilla 
 
 Would not knowingly have wronged you. 
 
 Listen to me, queenly lady, 
 
 Listen to me and forgive him ; 
 
 Herbert cares for Isabella 
 
 As he ne'er loved Vioiilla. 
 
 Then forgive him, O forgive him. 
 
 Let your heart speak its affection." 
 
 Isabella, lowly bending, 
 
 Kissed the brow of Vioiilla ; 
 
 *' Not in vain your life, sweet angel ; 
 
 You have shown us pure affection. 
 
 Sweet, unselfish heart's devotion." 
 
 Thus she murmured low and tender 
 
 While a smile of heavenly beauty 
 
 Glorified the lovely features 
 
 Of the dying Vioiilla. 
 
 *M am happy now," she whispered. 
 
 Then she closed her eyes in slumber, 
 
 Slumber not to be awakened. 
 
VIOLILLA. 33 
 
 Isabella whispered gently 
 
 To the anguished handsome Herbert, 
 
 " Herbert, freely 1 forgive you ; 
 
 'Tis the wish of Violilla." 
 
 Nearer bent her head and whispered, 
 
 " Nothing in this world shall part us, 
 
 Only death can separate us." 
 
 Violilla's loving parents 
 Mourned in anguish for their darling ; 
 Soon they pined away in sorrow ; 
 Side by side in peace they slumber 
 In the churchyard in the valley. 
 
 t is whispered in the valley 
 By the superstitious maidens. 
 That if one should dare to wandtr. 
 Dare to roam the shadowy forests 
 In the beauty of the moonlight. 
 At the lonely hour of midnight, 
 He would hear the sweetest music — 
 Weird, angelic, clear, entrancing. 
 
34 VIOLILLA. 
 
 'Tisthe voice of Violilla. 
 Should he listen, listen fearless, 
 He would see a vision standing 
 Like a lily in the moonlight. 
 Violilla's spirit wanders 
 Lovingly around the valley. 
 
 Still within that quiet valley 
 Are the flowers ever blooming, 
 Still the sunbeams love to linger 
 And the birds to sing their carols. 
 And the mothers in that valley 
 Warningly repeat this story 
 To their daughters in the moonlight. 
 Thus they whisper to their children 
 *' Bid deception flee far from you. 
 When within your heart it nestles. 
 Perfect purity must vanish, 
 E'en as Violilla's presence 
 Left this green and pleasant valley. 
 Yet the dream of Violilla, 
 Of the purity of heaven, 
 
VIOLILLA. 35 
 
 Hovers round the heart forever, 
 Like a magic power restraining 
 Every evil thought and action. 
 Heed this influence of pureness, 
 It will keep you safe in Eden. 
 Heed this tale of Violilla — 
 Give no lover secret hearing ; 
 Let your love shine in the sunlight.' 
 
HI? ^9 < 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
^^^"%. < 
 
 
 
 
 'j>v 
 
 
 CKMAN l±| 
 
 lERY INC. |§| 
 
 ^ DEC 88 
 
 !^ N. MANCHESTER, 
 ^ INDIANA 46962