LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. @|ap. dopijrigjtt If o. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. <5 J%*-S-£iS^&^ [ARP OF HESPER SONGS AND POKMS. • I'.V MARY E. BUTTERS Hesper^ thy "lance hath touched with fire My Harp's lone strings, to -wake in song, to soar, aspire. * AUTHOR'S KDITION. BUFFALO CHARLES WELLS MOULTON 1 89 1 J P6 COPYRIGHT, 1891. MARY E. BUTTERS. CONTENTS. PAGE. Winter, i The First Snow, 2 Snow- Flakes, 3 January, 4 Doivn to Rest, 4 Thy Laurels, 5 Lonesome, 5 No Spot Like Home, 6 7 Would not Stay, 6 Snow on the Panes, 8 Tinkling Sleigh- Bells, 9 77^ Blizzard, 10 77*\ ; Aside from years gone by, in Heaven we put our trust, That never purest pleasures be marred by false alloy. TO-DAY AND TO- MORROW. To-day is but a Meeting breath, The morrow is our own ; Bui nOW we're Stunted down and dwarfed. And then we shall have «>ro\\ n. Here passing as a sleeping babe, In embrio that lav ; Beyond, tin- purple hands of flesh And the pale fiend Decay. And flying swifter than the will, Sure-fading as a flower, Bui all the morrow will he still, And time shall lose its power. To-day we gather in our spoils, Some hitter, some are sweet, But then they'll all he sorted out, Down by our Master's feet! SONGS AND POEMS. L9 To-day Time brings us fitful things, And storms tli;ii black our way; Beyond us, God's own sunlighl brings Willi joy the perfecl day. VVCrc we l>ui children wiser grown, To-day might perfecl fall; In thoughts full flower, <>f mind o'erstrewn With pearls, Heaven's love gives all, 20 HARP OF HESPER. FEBRUARY. Hastening on away, thy trailing steps break, tripping By lairs and dens of animals lying still asleep — Unwinding webs of gray, with silv'ry eyes, watch dripping, Awakening them, or stilling them in slumber vet more deep! A FEBRUARY FLY. A fine bright day this is! said I, When, brushing 'round in haste, I chanced to spy a little fly, As though 'twer bound in paste. £oor little fly ! I nursed it up, And gave't of sweet to sip, But it seemed to laugh at my paper cup, And tossed it away from his lip. Then I raised the window warily To breathe the morning air, When my little friend flew airily Away in the sunshine fair! SONGS AND /'OEMS. 21 O, I seemed to sec his wings so bright, And his fluttering body go, And J knew not where he would alight, Hut it might be in the snow. Ah, little fly! that scarce could know How helpless wintry days Have held beneath their weights of snow Some life and love always. Some little things to passing eyes, Lying so lowly down, Heaven kisses sweet with rainless skies When wintry days have Mown! BLIND BOON. Once a blind little boy, he went wand'ring round the streets, With tin-whistle and mouth-organ in his hand, Till his body beat with music, as the rolling drum that beats, And his head it went a-bobbing to music through the land; A-bobbing, a-bobbing, to music through the land; A-bobbing, a-bobbing, till his head it went a-bobbing to music through the land! 22 HARP OF HESPER. One day he found a friend, who was very good and kind, And he sent this funny fellow off to school; But arithmetic and grammar he did not seem to mind, And his head it went a-nodding to music that would rule; A-nodding, a-nodding, to music that would rule; A-nodding, a-nodding, and his head it went a-nodding to music that would rule! At last 'twas seen 'twas in him, the music that would beat. He was sent off where they taught it to the blind; And now the world is hearing how this blind boy from the street Is beating out the music that goes drumming in his mind, A-drumming, a-drumming — goes drumming in his mind ; A-drumming, a-drumming; is beating out the music that goes drumming in his mind! SOFT O'ER THE HILLS. Soft o'er the hills the twilight skies are fading; The sun erewhile, through banks of gold and purple laden, Has sunk to rest. SONGS AND POEMS. 23 High in the sky come twinkling stars a-shining, And dotting out upon the dim of blue's deep lining, Sky's azure vest. Soft o'er the hills the mantling haze is falling, And, loitering in the field, the low-dipped sun is calling To home and rest. WHERE MY LOVE IS. My love is everywhere! My love is in the bee, the wind, the flower, the rain; My love is with the warrior who thunders down the plain; And on the battle-field, my love is with the slain, And in his dying prayer! My love is in the foam — In the sparkling foam of the deeply darkling sea, Where the gallant ships go down, the many wrecked there be! My love is with the widow, and orphans by her knee — Heaven spare their home! My love is in the home, And in the thousand things that Nature bids arise — From worm that crawls the earth to stars that gem the skies, And in the God of Love — the Life that never dies — From whence we come. 24 HARP OF HESPER. My love flies on before; Is with the hardened hands that toil for daily bread, And with the little children who go about half fed; My love is with the living, and my love is with the dead, And up to heaven does soar. My love goes sorrowing! And to the criminal it beats the prison bars, Nor sees within the stains, the unhealthy spots or scars; It only sees the pure white soul, whom even Death not mars Nor stops the boundary of life, that pulses with the stars, Whose dust I do not sing. My prayer of Life's my love. It fills all things so full, to that which breathes or sighs, And thoughts are winged things of life, the unknowing mortal flies, Till Heaven has hushed as babes to rest, our Father not denies The loving prayer for love. My love there's nothing mars. It lives in ceaseless songs and never-dying prayers, And rolls on in the melody of heaven's eternal airs; And every living creature whom God has made it spares, E'en Death my love it bars! SONGS AND POEMS. 25 MARY HILL. When first I met the maiden, sweet, blooming Mary Hill, It was many, many years ago! And now I call to mind, and page of history fill, To sketch the " o'er true tale " that grieved her dear heart so! 'Twas in a quiet town, New England's favored own, And she the daughter was of a wealthy farmer there. The roses just uj)on her lovely cheeks had blown When Louis Baker met her, smiling sweet and fair. He loved her, O, at once, she was so good and dear — So charming and so pretty ever were her ways! But her parents they opposed the young man coming there, And so shut out the sunshine of Mary's happy days. Now, Louis he was worthy, but poor, and struggling up Life's ladder for some learning, and, too, for a name; And hard to leave his Mary, be forced to give her up, While out into the world he went for wealth and fame! But ere he went away he slowly paced before, And at the window saw her white hand rest her head. He struggled with his feelings against the closed door That kept sweet Mary pining, the rose of health now fled. 26 HARP OF HESPER. This note her Louis penned her: " Dear Mary, I have loved you, And cruel is the parting your parents say for aye, And O so hard, my darling, it is that I should leave you, Nor can we have a meeting, to say a last 'good-by.' " No more now could he meet her, so guarded was she kept, Within the rooms to falter, and O to fade away ; So like the gentle being, until at last she stept Across the fettered threshold, no more to grieve the day; No more to grieve the night-time, with tears and heavy sighs, From her so loving heart; but to a sister dear She gave this parting word : " Lizzie, Heaven naught denies To thee, for thou art brave, and time may make appear, That he will come to thee, dear! It is my dying prayer That you should keep his love; to you he will be dear, Then sweet shall be my rest in yonder church-yard there!" And Lizzie kissed her, grieving, with many a falling tear. SONGS AND POEMS. 27 And gently soothed her spirit, till stilled the loving heart And closed the weeping eyes for aye from life away ; From the beautiful of earth all time be shut apart, A victim to the worldliness of parents' cruel sway. Then Louis met with Lizzie; together by her grave They made a solemn promise; the night with dews did weep, As, bending o'er the spot, they to each other gave A seal to that dear friendship sweet Mary bade them keep. And Louis, kneeling down upon the daisied bed, Said to his Lizzie there: "The house is shut from me! But should you come to view the spot where rests her head, Look down beneath this stone, a missive you will see!" They parted thus, and years — a few had rolled away, While Louis studied law, and Lizzie went and came To visit Mary's grave, or through the grasses stray, And read the missive o'er that bore his love and 28 HARP OF HESPER. Shy skipping o'er the ground, she hastened onward home; And tucked the precious letter safely now away, Until again to Mary's lonely grave had come, Her tears upon the stone she wept, as neath her answer lay. But, O, they were discovered, the day might hid for shame, And shut out blushing beauty from every bud and bloom! Her father he was angry, her mother, too, the same — And they imprisoned her within her lonely room. But Love, he ever laughs at locks and bars, 'tis said! The little white-winged missives fluttered airy down; The moon smiled in her beauty, and kissed brave Lizzie's head; And tinted bright her dreams without a shade of frown! And Louis, he contrived to send a message there, Although I never knew exactly how 'twas done; But I do think a fairy flew up the lover's stair, And sealed with secret kisses the threshold for each one! SONGS AND POEMS. 29 For months now Lizzie lived a prisoner in her room, And fed her heart on secret love; on Hope's wings flew In freedom out; as in came billet-doux, shot bloom Upon her cheeks. She mocked with scorn the hands that drew Such strict parental lines; while Louis gifted was in art, To captivate with song, and many a daring tale, And keep astir the lagging of her so lonely part, Until the time should come kind Fortune would prevail! And thus that Louis sang: "I come, my lady, bright and fair; My steed is shod in dusk, with the stillness of down; I speed o'er the valleys, silv'ry- winged on air; And I fetter the glance of the moonbeams down ! " I rein to thy window, thy castle, my love, I turn all the bolts with a magical key, While the stars are twinkling so brightly above, I climb the dim ladder sweet Hope gives to me." The soft-scented wind parts the curtain away By the apple tree's bough, full-budded in blooms, And the robin's nest trembles by the bending spray That nods to the quiet of my lady's lone rooms! 30 HARP OF HESFER. But hush! for thy slumbers are sweet as to child In innocense clasped; thy dreams are of me! I linger in the softened air's sweetness beguiled, And rest in the Presence o'ershadowing thee! I leave thee to sleep in the jeweled night's arms, And dream that dear days, in thy slumbers come nigh, While night like to this so beautifully charms Thy lover to pause. Where the wind's low sigh Calls me on and away; where the lone grasses sweep, Wave-tossed to her grave! O, there will I bend And pour out my soul with the skies that must weep, Sweet Mary, loved Mary! thy unforboded end. Farewell! In the dreams of the one bright and brave Lies a resolute purpose to stem Life's tide; But the dream that is stilled in my Mary's lone grave Is a stainless thought of the pure spirit's bride! Murmur near, ye loved sounds! Ye flowers, kiss in sighs The spot where she slumbers. Bedew with thy tears, O, beautiful night! Shimmer down ye soft skies And rest on the spot sweet memory endears. Nor need of marble stone ; thy name engraved were On mind's uncrumbling scroll! Ye hills low bow, Trees wave and music roll sad anthems where She sleeps, all unheeding my tears' constant flow. SONGS AND POEMS. 31 Farewell! and the world is calling me away, While fame sounds her trumpet my name to enroll, As real in life the thought, sad haunting of the day, Sweet love, thy prison door let 'scape a stainless soul. Farewell! this loved night is an echo of sweet song; My heart is beating back a symphony on bars Of music loved and lost, till it trembles along And is caught in the life of the untra versed stars. Now Lizzie's parents wise, they found the secret out, Of little fluttering missives going up and down, And they forbade it all, and guarded her about So closely by, that fate were wont to cruel frown. But Louis, too, was shrewd, and honest as for love; He made his last chance, count him O so well; And Lizzie played her part so nice the truth could but approve, Nor even did by word or look the secret plan foretell. So yielding she, and good ; nor even once she tried To cross her mother's wishes. Her father then, nothing found Against the girl going out, as many weeks had tied Her so. The neighbors talked ; the time came round, X2 HARP OF HESPER. They took her out to church, and Louis he was there, And published had the bans been, now for weeks, All unbeknown; 'twas slipped behind one snug with care, The notice, and the act was such as justice seeks. And Louis took his lady on his arm and walked away, To their astonishment; they did but think a ruse, To brave with public gaze the parents' pride to stay, And with such favored time to make up for abuse. But now the time had come, bravely to have it said; They jumped into a carriage and rode for love away, On to a Squire's house, and soon now were they wed, Where all proclaimed with joy the happy wedding day! Excepting the parents of Lizzie, whom they'd rather kept in prison ; And they stayed for many years from them away, Until now, Louis, by law, to wealth and fame had risen, And blotted out the past of Life's uneven way. "All's well that ends well." Then, the parents were forgiven, And days oft found them speeding to Lizzie's home away ; And drop a tear, thou ! Sweet Mary's grave lost sight of was by heaven Of loving ties on earth, as sheaves, sun-kissed, through golden summer's day. SONUS AND POEMS. 33 SNOW PEARLS. () the pearls, the pearls, My pretty, pretty pearls! I must not brush away That on the door-step lay In little shiny whirls ; No, I must let them stay. Hut naughty, beaming sun Will spoil them every one, My darling little whirls, My pretty, pretty pearls, Thau others I have none! Fate mocks me with its quirls, With all such fairy things, With wealth that nature brings, Ah, who shall say me nay? Not bird by yonder way, That so divinely sings, My own heart does it say. The beaming sun of spring Is melting these I sing, And friends of summer's day, When winter binds the way, Come round us cold and bright Till moved by glowing light ! (3) :tl HARP OF HESPER. A ikI i lius affection may, Melted by tears, docs stay, For who can say the lighl .Shut in the jewel bright, So cold, doth Hash apart, Lives not in Pity's heart ! THE SILV'RY CALL. " Darling, the days go by so slow — The silv'ry bells of time are ringing In cadence clear ; when shall I hear Those other hells My love foretells Shall wake for me the sweetest singing My heart, dear one, can ever know? "Darling, the spring-time surely'll How, The Bowers of love shall swcctlv Mow, And softly fall the silv'ry call As magic of the bluebells springing, When thrush's sky note .Swells from sweet throat, And all the little hrood ate Singing, And thus love's bells call sweet and low. 11 80 NO 8 AND POEMS. 88 Nor COME Willi THEM. When Spring shall come again, sweet smiling spring! And all the birds, : m < I bees, .- n i < I fairy flowers Shall come, and shady singing vales shall ring With pleasanl sounds the long sunshiny hours, Thou cansl n<>i come with them I O, dear, remembered friend, Wh<> left ere spring-time's I >u< Is had bursted fair, Or babbling brook did tell-tale music blend With slumb'rous notes thai charm the sweetly ambienl air, Ne'er more upon the vel vet -bedded lurf ;il morn Shall thy deal - steps so lightly trip away! ( )nl\ as echo, I hear llie softest skip-like faun, Or music of a well-known step, the livelong day. I lay me down at night, thinking thou maysl be nigh, And dream I see thy sweetly saddened eyes Bent down. Grievesl thou my tend'resl breath of sigh? I waken from my angel gone, in sad surprise. And Spring no more can blend again its charms for me, Nor music of the brook I love to hear so well ('an ripple on SO sweet. No more thy face I see Beyond tin- purple, shades of misty fern and fell, II A IIP OF HESPER. The slowly dying day and deepening night, Away beyond the holy, vestal stars of even, Till dawn again a life-time, radiant and bright, When steps across my angel one, the golden bars of GREETING. To Flossie. The bee loves so the bonny flower He kisses, and flies afar away; And sports him in the morning hour Gath'ring sweets for one bright day. Thus I love thee! and roving afar My thoughts to seek, if thou dost know How much. Nor space, nor time can bar The sweet delights thy life doth show. WHERE I WOULD HIE. To Dora. Sang a lady in the twilight fair, With the purple shades upon her hair, And the love-light brightening in her eye As a breath of south winds floated by : SONGS AND POEMS. 37 " Way down south, where the roses bloom, And the air is fragrant with perfume, Where the birds sing sweetly all the day. O, it is there, I would hie away, "Where the orange blooms and birdies sing, Making all the valleys ring ! We in north-lands only hear Their silvery notes half of the year. " Way up north where the icebergs flow! And the sledges dancing in the snow; When the walrus swims mid the shining ice, And the Esquimeau lives so snug and nice; "But there I would not love to hie, When southward all sweet song-birds fly, And jasmine, sweet, perfumes the air, O, I would love to linger there!" SPRING. Spring, I know that thou art coming! For it seems all nature's humming, With the woodland chorus drumming; Over field and over flood, Where so grim the sentries stood, Comes an ever ceaseless humming, For the joyous spring is coming. :w HARP OF HESPER, ( ), the many, many pleasures That are coming with her treasures; Only Time her quick step measures, Bringing balmy air, and sweet, Where the children gaily meet Bonny lads and maidens, singing, For thev know what she is bringing! Soon the crocus will be peeping, Where so long it lias been sleeping — For Bweet spring its beauty keeping; And its downy, purple bell Be the first the tale to tell— With the birds and bees in humming For the joyous spring is comingl Spring must have a garment, fairest, Woven in all Rowers the rarest Lavish Nature nothing sparest! Mantling forms with her be trailing, Shim'ring veil of cloudlets sailing Softly o'er a sea of blue; Magic sunbeams glancing through, Flooding all in light so golden, Comes the fail \ Spring of olden. Little birdling, tlv to meet her; Little brooklet, run to greet her; Brook and birdling sing her praises, Nestled di>w u among the daisies: SONGS AND POEMS. 80 Sing, () starling mid the clover, Lark that soars the mountain over! Sing for maiden, and for lover, Woo the l>almy breath of Spring) Whom doth poel Love to sin^, All your sweetest treasures bringing Fondest heart, to bird a-winging, Where her lightsome step is springing] PARTED. 7h a Lady. Too beautiful to lay away Within the cold earth's sod. Wherever he does roam to day, I know not, hut my God, I trust, will keep him still my own In some diviner clime, Some fair abode — the spirit's home, To meet again some time. Ah hut, dear soul, it is not all The Living for the: dead ; Do let the raining tear-drops fall, I Jut when all hope has (led. Thy own, my friend, may come to thee, But mine can never come Within the walks where 1 shall he The precincts <>i my home. 40 HARP OF HESPER. . His cheerful voice will sound no more, His steps no more be heard, Nor smiles to meet me at the door With the ever welcome word. Ah, no! but in some fairer clime It may be that he dwells; But barred and locked the doors of time, Nor aught the secret tells! But when the sky upon the hills Shall lay the folds of spring, And music gushes from the rills, The birds begin to sing, The robin piping in the tree, The bluebird in the hedge, And little "house-wife" merrily Shall build near by the ledge! The blue-jay scream, the meadow-lark Sing sweetly o'er the way; O, then, my soul, thou canst but hark And list what Nature '11 say! When all her voices sweetly rise Upon the balmy air, Then would I sing her lovely skies, Her valleys teeming fair. Her forests and the rippling streams That bubble on in praise, With notes of bird, and sun's bright beams, To charm the lengthening days! SONGS AND POEMS. 41 Then will I hie to some retreat, Some half-hushed, echoing- spot, And I will list heaven's music beat * With the minor key forgot, Or held so by a master hand, Its notes might sweetly blend, And vibrate with the million band, And up to heaven ascend! And call my loved one back to me ; In spirit thought to rove, In nature's haunts we loved to be, Where all things speak his love; Then shall I feel that Time and Death The mortal dust may sever; And stilled may be the fleeting breath, But Love lives on forever! SYMPHONY. O, man was once an angel, But dropped his shining wings To find the heavenly symphony Of less diviner things! Thus god-like man awakening, Reveals the deeper part, And strikes the eternal harmony Through Nature's beating heart! 42 HARP OF HESPER. SILVER WEDDING BELLS. To Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Pearce. The silv'ry bells of Time are ringing With voices clear; And, lo! I hear Those other bells, The wedding bells, Upon the air as echoes singing! They sing of love — fond, true, abiding — When she, a bride, Sat by his side, As with Time's oar They pulled from shore And down Life's blissful seas went gliding. A prosperous breeze the sails unfurling, And brightened skies With love-lit eyes Bespoke a crew Of boys a few, And girls that set the seas a-whirling. So now again the bells are ringing! The silv'ry bells, Sweet love foretells, And girls and boys Their parents' joys Re-echo on, Time's voices singing. SONGS AND POEMS. 43 MARCH. The sun bent o'er and kissed, one day, The earth with glory's melting blue; Soon clouds obscured the sky with gray, And suddenly the wild winds blew! All in a whirligig, O what a mazy jig! Round and round the house it goes; First it storms, and then it blows, And then sifts high, the mocking snows. Heigho! the carnival, Dusting the valleys full, Sweeping the house-tops to the ground, Raves and roars the hill-tops round, Over and over the banks it blows, Whirling them round as on it goes. IDES OF MARCH. The sun comes up the slender slopes Of eastern skies. Where morning opes, Pale gray, with pink, floats through the haze And hints of many-hued, pearly days. 44 HARP OF HESPER. THE CROCUS. Poor little goslings! purple-dyed, And wrapped in downy feathers, That burst upon us open-eyed, Defying wind and weather. There is no flower so peaceful lies Within the ground's cold ashes, And none that ope such merry eyes When Spring doth lift its lashes. They come upon us unaware, With heads so slick and curly, And pop up with a lightsome air, As much's to say, " wer'e early." O little downy, lissome things, Wee birdies coyly rising, If only all you had some wings It would not be surprising. But you would flutter far away, And leave the children cheerless; So you must bide with them to stay, And help them to be fearless; To keep a cheerful, happy face, As snuggling so together, 'Til April's sunny smiles shall chase The wintry winds and weather. SONGS AND POEMS. 45 A SPRING DAY. The sky is soft and blue, The clouds float hazy by, And sweetly to my view Comes Spring's most glorious sky! The distant landscapes change, Where, in the sunshine's glow, A-down the valleys range The silv'ry brooklets flow. The foot-prints Winter leaves Melt slowly in the days That bring the dripping eaves And warm the changing days. A softer breath has birth In these diviner skies, When from the pulsing earth A thousand songs shall rise! CALLING. Come away, come away, out in the air, All is cheerily bright and gay ; All is balmily fresh and fair, Voices are ringing Sweetly, and singing, Full of the springing life everywhere; Now are they calling thee, heed what they say 46 HARP OF HESPER. Coy maiden, shy maiden, let me toss thy lace, Says the balmy breeze. " I'll brush thy hair Over about the pretty, pale face, All the much sweeter And the completer, Will I paint over with witching grace, Over and over, the pale roses there ! " List the call! Come away, come, maiden shy; Young man, come away, come, O come! Old folks come away, young ones fly! Sweet is the thrilling Music that's filling Little throats, big throats, up in the sky ; Spring-time is calling her warblers come home! LIFE IN SONG. The winds blow drearily, The winds blow cheerily All the day long — Just as you cheerily, Or as you drearily Burst into song! The birds sing merrily, The birds sing cheerily, All the day long — Just as you merrily, ( )r as you cheerily Burst into song! SONGS AND POEMS. 47 The days glide merrily, The days glide cheerily All the day long- Just as you cheerily, Or as you merrily Burst into song! THE CHORAL BAND. O list Spring's tripping feet, O catch her voices sweet In the joyous soul of song, Borne the sweet air along; For in the veiled skies Her form concealed lies; Her rhythmic pulses beat In transports, and her eyes Urge on the coursers fleet That bear her through the skies ! Chorus— O soon'll the rose be blooming, And the bee his trumpet booming, All over this fair land ; For I list the songs a humming, And a thousand voices coming To join the Choral Band! 48 HARP OF HESPER. () list the wand'ring wind, I own its voices kind, For it brushes out the skies, Unveils their starry eyes And sweeps out Nature's rooms, To toss her buds and blooms! And in fair lily's cup. It woos with fragrant sighs, To kiss the dewdrops up That sparkle in her eyes! Chorus — O soon'll the rose be blooming And the bee his trumpet boom in