Book.>li^l4- 
 
 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 
 
LOUISA PALMIER MYERS 
 
 ILLUSTRATED 
 
 Fresh dewdrops clinging to a rose, 
 That in some fragrant garden grows, 
 Are not more passing fair to see, 
 In their transparent purity, 
 Than tender hearts that fondly cling, 
 To love, in youth's ambrosial Spring. 
 
 F. TENNYSON NEELY CO. 
 
 LONDON 
 
THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 CONGRESS, 
 Two Cortta Received 
 
 AUG. 5 1901 
 
 CLASS A'XXc. No. 
 COPY B. 
 
 76 3^^^ 
 
 Copyright, 1901, 
 
 by 
 
 LOUISA PALMIER MYERS. 
 
 in th« 
 
 Unitea States 
 
 and 
 
 Great Brit.iin. 
 
 Entered at Stationers Hall, London. 
 
 ^ ^ ^Ij Rights Reserved. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Preludi; • 
 
 The Meeting 3 
 
 The Flirtation » " 
 
 Love's Enchantment • 16 
 
 Parting Scenes. • - • 24 
 
 L'Envoi 40 
 
AN IDYL OF THE RHINE. 
 
 CI)« Prelude, 
 
 'Tis of a summers sweet 
 
 romance 
 I cing. Plan as we may mere 
 
 chance 
 Will sometimes change our lives and 
 
 bring 
 Unlookcd for happiness. I 
 
 sing 
 Of love in its divinest 
 
 form, — ■ 
 The love of youth, intensely 
 
 warm 
 Yet innocent and pure as 
 
 snow; 
 Of tender, throbbing hearts 
 
 aglow 
 
 % 
 
An Idyl of the Rliine. 
 
 .With passion's first enkindled 
 
 flame, 
 I Bing; and how two strangers 
 
 came 
 To meet in an unusual 
 
 way: 
 'A simple maiden, I will 
 
 Bay, 
 And daring youth of high 
 
 degree. 
 Of classic shores beyond the 
 
 sea, 
 Where mountains rear their heads so 
 
 high 
 As, seemingly, to touch the 
 
 sky; 
 Of ruined castles on the 
 
 Rhine, 
 Where grape and ivy 
 
 intertwine ; 
 Of summer days there idly 
 
 spent 
 'Mid pleasures gay, while fancy 
 
 lent 
 A tender charm to 
 
 everything, 
 I faithfully and fondly 
 
 sing. 
 
 2 
 
The Meeting:. 
 
 CDe n?eetitig. 
 
 At Bingen, in the month of 
 
 May, 
 I chanced to be one gala 
 
 day, 
 Amid a gay and festive 
 
 scene 
 Enlivening a garden 
 
 green. 
 Loud strains of music filled the 
 
 air 
 And wine flowed freely 
 
 everywhere ; 
 And brimming mugs of foaming 
 
 beer 
 Dispensed their effervescent 
 
 cheer. 
 The portly dames and damsels 
 
 fair, 
 With heads of shining golden 
 
 hair, 
 
 3 
 
An Idyl of the Rhine. 
 
 The gay gallants and martial 
 
 air 
 Of uniforms assembled 
 
 there. 
 The drinking and the 
 
 revelry. 
 All, all were strangely new to 
 
 me. 
 My chaperone — indulgent 
 
 dame, 
 I ne'er shall cease to bless her 
 
 name — • 
 Grew weary soon, and let me 
 
 stray 
 At will 'mid that assembly 
 
 gay. 
 
 Entranced, I wandered here and 
 
 there, 
 Ecgardlcss of remark or 
 
 stare. 
 At length I joined a moving 
 
 throng 
 Of people. As I pressed 
 
 along 
 Beside a crowded, festal 
 
 board. 
 Where clink of glass and clank of 
 
 sword 
 
 4 
 
c 
 
 FELIX. 
 
The Meeting. 
 
 Proclaimed the merry 
 
 revelry 
 Of some of Deutschland's 
 
 chivalry, 
 A silken fringe about ray 
 
 gown 
 Became entangled. With a 
 
 frown 
 I tried to jerk the meshes 
 
 looso 
 But only tighter drew the 
 
 noose 
 Which held me fast; for, strange to 
 
 tell, 
 A button on a gay 
 
 lapel 
 Had truly been lassoed while 
 
 I 
 So heedlessly was passing 
 
 by; 
 And, instantly, to my 
 
 surprise, 
 I saw a Black Hussar 
 
 arise, 
 His face abeam with 
 
 merriment 
 O'er this unlooked for 
 
 accident. 
 
 5 
 
An Idyl of the Rhine* 
 
 Politely bowing low to 
 
 me. 
 He caught the fringe up 
 
 gracefully. 
 And turned and twisted it 
 
 around — • 
 Wrong way of course — until he 
 
 wound 
 The shank so tight that skillful 
 
 hand 
 Could not undo the knotted 
 
 strand. 
 Confused, I stood and mutely 
 
 gazed, 
 At him, I fear, like some one 
 
 dazed. 
 For never was so fair a 
 
 face 
 United with more manly 
 
 grace. 
 The limpid azure of his 
 
 eyes 
 Outrivaled soft Italian 
 
 skies, 
 And curly locks of golden 
 
 hair 
 Waved o'er a forehead wondrous 
 
 fair ; 
 
The Meeting'. 
 
 The emblem of a crown he 
 
 bore 
 Across the shoulder-straps lie 
 
 wore. 
 For Brunswick claimed his right to 
 
 wield 
 His s^\ord upon the 
 
 battlefield ; 
 Full five feet ten, with princely 
 
 air. 
 He had no martial equal 
 
 there. 
 His jolly comrades laughed 
 
 outright 
 At our unusual helpless 
 
 plight. 
 And gaily joked him till he 
 
 grew 
 Impatient. Without more 
 
 ado 
 He, utt'ring some strange, foreign 
 
 word 
 Withdrew a small, short-bladed 
 
 sword. 
 And with its point, so bright and 
 
 keen. 
 Cut off the button, smooth and 
 
 clean. 
 
 7 
 
An Idyl of the Rhine. 
 
 "You're very kind," I said, but 
 
 he 
 Just smiled and bowed aud gazed at 
 
 me. 
 While thus he stood, a god 
 
 divine, 
 His blue eyes looking into 
 
 mine, 
 His glances flashed a thrill through 
 
 me 
 Surcharged with sweetest 
 
 eestacy. 
 From out tlieir sources in my 
 
 heart, 
 T felt the crimson rivers 
 
 start 
 And through their channels hotly 
 
 flow 
 Beneath that keen, electric 
 
 glow; 
 And, tho' released, a subtler 
 
 snare 
 Than silken meshes held mo 
 
 there 
 Till some one lightly touched mine 
 
 arm. 
 And partially dispelled the 
 
 charm, 
 
 8 
 
The Meeting;. 
 
 By saying : "Mary, don't you 
 
 know 
 'Tis growing late and time to 
 
 go 
 
 ?" 
 
 Becoming fidgety, no 
 
 doubt. 
 My chaperone had sought me 
 
 out 
 And seemed to view with much 
 
 surprise 
 My blushing cheeks and downcast 
 
 eyes. 
 All trembling with sensations 
 
 new 
 At length I stammered forth 
 
 "Adieu." 
 The soldier, sighing, bowed 
 
 again. 
 And answered low : "Auf 
 
 wiederselien." 
 The sleep of youth is like the 
 
 dew 
 Which falls at evening to 
 
 imbrue 
 The drooping plants ; no 
 
 wakefulness 
 Nor troubled dreams to sore 
 
 distress 
 
 9 
 
An Idyl oi the Rhine. 
 
 Its poacefiil shiinber; angels 
 
 keep 
 Kind watches o'er such gentle 
 
 sleep, 
 For pleasing visions drive 
 
 away 
 The small vexations of the 
 
 day 
 And leave the freshened brain 
 
 serene 
 As some awakened valley 
 
 green : 
 So, in my dreams that night, I 
 
 heard 
 The singing of a 
 
 mocking-bird 
 That warbled forth a sweet 
 
 refrain 
 E'er ending thus : "^Im/ 
 
 wiedcrsehen." 
 
 10 
 
The Flirtation. 
 
 Ci)e Fltrtdtton. 
 
 "Fair Biugen !" Old historic 
 
 town 
 Of feudal lords and bold 
 
 renown ! 
 Of vine-clad hills and ruined 
 
 towers ! 
 Of music, mirth and fragrant 
 
 flowers ! 
 How very fair it seemed to 
 
 me 
 With all its martial 
 
 gaiety 
 And glowing, ruddy faces, 
 
 where 
 I failed to find a trace of 
 
 care; 
 How pleasing to my 
 
 vanity 
 Its easy, well-bred 
 
 gallantry. 
 
 n 
 
An Idyl of the Rhine. 
 
 Ero long I learned the Black 
 
 Hussar 
 Was Felix, young 
 
 Yon Sclionstewahr, 
 A scion of a noble 
 
 line 
 Of princely dwellers near the 
 
 Rhine. 
 A consciousness of native 
 
 grace 
 Of every movement, form and 
 
 face, 
 No doubt emboldened him to 
 
 seek 
 An opportunity to 
 
 speak 
 To me whene'er we chanced to 
 
 be 
 In some gay, public 
 
 company. 
 By every pleasing, artful 
 
 Avile, 
 That doth the female heart 
 
 beguile. 
 The gallant soldier sought to 
 
 prove 
 His admiration and his 
 
 love, 
 
 S2 
 
The Flirtation. 
 
 When in a crowd, sometimes I'd 
 
 ^ see 
 A white glove waft a kiss to 
 
 me, 
 Or else I'd hear a deep-drawn 
 
 sigh 
 And, turning, quickly catch his 
 
 eye. 
 And then receive a melting 
 
 glance 
 That would my very soul 
 
 entrance. 
 But, tho' my heart overflowed with 
 
 ]oy 
 My girlish shyness made me 
 
 coy. 
 In doubt and fear, at first I 
 
 knew 
 Not what to say or what to 
 
 do; 
 So, blushing, simply feigned to 
 
 be 
 Unconscious of liis 
 
 gallantry. 
 But love will conquer fear or 
 
 pride 
 And have its way, whate'er 
 
 betide. 
 
 J3 
 
An Idyl of the Rhine. 
 
 One day I yielded to his 
 
 guile ; 
 I timidly returned his 
 
 smile, 
 Then listened to his pleading 
 
 and. 
 Most meekly, let him kiss my 
 
 hand. 
 No doubt all this was wrong, as 
 
 he 
 Had dared to pay his court to 
 
 me 
 Unsanctioned by the formal 
 
 code 
 Of presentation a la 
 
 mode; 
 But I was scarcely eighteen 
 
 then, 
 And he the courtliest of 
 
 men. 
 My friends all called young Felix 
 
 bold 
 And gave him looks severely 
 
 cold. 
 Perhaps I might have done so 
 
 too 
 Had he but turned his eyes of 
 
 blue 
 
 J4 
 
The Flittation. 
 
 T6ward some more favored friend of 
 
 mine 
 And worshiped only at her 
 
 shrine — 
 The diif 'rcnce one may plainly 
 
 see 
 'Twixt worshiping a friend or 
 
 me. 
 For women rarely fail to 
 
 find 
 Excuses for a lover 
 
 kind; 
 Each deems the passion she 
 
 inspires 
 A holy flame of pure 
 
 desires, 
 Yet thinks it duty to 
 
 repress 
 A sister's show of 
 
 tenderness. 
 
 15 
 
An Idyl of the Rhine* 
 
 £ooe'$ €iicl)antmeiir* 
 
 There is no earthly 
 
 paradise 
 O'er-canopied by cloudless 
 
 skies. 
 But sometimes even here we 
 
 find 
 A transient Eden for 
 
 mankind : 
 When Heaven opens with a 
 
 kiss 
 Tlie common world is veiled in 
 
 bliss. 
 Young Felix, brave and 
 
 resolute, 
 With passion boldly pressed his 
 
 suit. 
 In spite of frowns we sat or 
 
 strayed — 
 Most lover-like — ^beneath the 
 
 shade 
 
 t6 
 
Lovers Enchantment. 
 
 Of linden boughs, while fancy 
 
 grew 
 From friendship to affection 
 
 true. 
 Life soon became a sweet 
 
 routine 
 Of pleasures planned or 
 
 unforeseen. 
 Up on the Nieder-Wahlden - 
 
 height. 
 Where fair Germania charms the 
 
 sight. 
 We'd sit for hours and sip our 
 
 wine 
 And look down on the classic 
 
 Ehine, 
 Whoso waters flow in rippling 
 
 rhyme 
 'Twixt Bingen fair and 
 
 Eudesheim. 
 Among the crumbling, massive 
 
 walls 
 Of stately old baronial 
 
 halls 
 Where ivy twines and lizards 
 
 play 
 At hide and seek, we'd ofttimes 
 
 stray ; 
 
An Idyl of the Rhine. 
 
 Dear Felix there wild legends 
 
 told 
 Of Deutschland's ruthless, warriors 
 
 bold 
 Who, in the feudal days of 
 
 old. 
 Supremely reigned o'er stream and 
 
 wold. 
 While I, with ghostly fear 
 
 impressed. 
 Drew closer to his manly 
 
 breast. 
 When Phoebus, smiling god of 
 
 day, 
 Had turned his beaming face 
 1 away, 
 "And Luna, gentle queen of 
 
 night, 
 Refused us her bewitching 
 
 light. 
 We sought a summer garden 
 
 where 
 We breathed the cool, refreshing 
 
 air 
 And listened to gay 
 
 minstrelsy, 
 Or strains of classic 
 melody, 
 
Love's Enchantment. 
 
 Till lips could only well 
 
 , express. 
 Through contact, all our 
 
 tenderness ; 
 When starless, threat'ning skies 
 
 above, 
 Looked frowningly upon our 
 
 love. 
 We whirled amid the t^iddy 
 
 dance 
 And found sweet solace in a 
 
 glance. 
 The course of true love, so they 
 
 say, 
 Is not an even, loving 
 
 way; 
 But smoother roadway ne'er could be 
 
 be 
 Than that so we trod, 
 
 joyfully. 
 Thro' summer days that seemed to 
 
 me 
 But moments in 
 
 eternity ; 
 For frowning dames had had their 
 
 say 
 And left me mistress of the 
 
 day— 
 
 t9 
 
An Idyl of the Rhine. 
 
 Tho' doubtless some o'cr-anxious 
 
 friend 
 Oft wondered how it all would 
 
 end. 
 When verdant lawns lay brown and 
 
 dry 
 Beneath a scorching, summer 
 
 sky, 
 My Felix fondly followed 
 
 me 
 From Bingcn to the Thuner 
 
 Sea. 
 And there, shut in by Alpine 
 
 heights. 
 We found a vale of new 
 
 delights. 
 Love echoed thro' the rugged 
 
 hills, 
 Love sparkled in the dancing 
 
 rills. 
 Love breathed the fragrance of the 
 
 flowers 
 And sported in the leafy 
 
 bowers, 
 While we, like eager babes who 
 
 try 
 To catch a flitting 
 
 butterfly, 
 
 20 
 
Love's Enchantment* 
 
 With flying footstcptj there 
 
 pursued 
 The winged god thro' ghide and 
 
 wood — 
 We touched his plumes, we heard him 
 
 speak. 
 And felt his breath on lip and 
 
 cheek. 
 The heart from wlieuce emotion 
 
 springs 
 Infolds a lyre with many 
 
 strings ; 
 Its sweetest chords, till touched by 
 
 love. 
 Are silent. Angels from 
 
 above 
 Then seem to play with magic 
 
 hand 
 Upon each thrilling silv'ry 
 
 strand. 
 The music swells and fills the 
 
 air, 
 Eesounding sweetly 
 
 everywhere. 
 When autumn tints began to 
 
 glow 
 Below the Jungfrau's veil of 
 
 snow, 
 
 2$ 
 
An Idyl of the Rhine. 
 
 And flitting birds to gaily 
 
 flee 
 From foreign shores across the 
 
 sea 
 My Love and I too bade 
 
 adieu 
 To Alpine haunts and backward 
 
 flew 
 To those about our old 
 
 retreat 
 Beside the Ehine. Life seemed 
 
 complete. 
 Sweet passion pinioned in the 
 
 Spring, 
 Still soared aloft on joyous 
 
 wing, 
 'Mid dreamy skies of azure 
 
 hue 
 And rainbows charged with fragrant 
 
 dew. 
 Fresh dewdrops clinging to a 
 
 rose 
 That in some fragrant garden 
 
 grows, 
 Are not more passing fair to 
 
 see. 
 In their transparent 
 
 purity, 
 
 22 
 
Lovers Enchantment. 
 
 Than tender hearts that fondly 
 
 cling 
 To love, in youth's ambrosial 
 
 Spring. 
 
 23 
 
An Idyl o{ the Rhine. 
 
 parting Scenes, 
 
 Time's steady march caniiol. be 
 
 stayed 
 By sighing youth and loving 
 
 maid. 
 The glory of the harvest 
 
 moon 
 Had come and gone; the paths wore 
 
 strewn 
 With yellow leaves ; a dreamy 
 
 mist 
 O'erhiing the monntain tops and 
 
 kissed 
 The fleecy clouds which flecked the 
 
 sky; 
 The fiery glance of Phoehus' 
 
 eye 
 Had lost its fiorccnops ; somber 
 
 night 
 Encroached upon the hours of 
 
 light 
 
 24 
 
Parting: Scenes. 
 
 With steady pace; October's 
 
 lareath 
 Had touched the leaves, and chilled to 
 
 death 
 A tender, little mountain 
 
 flower 
 That oft had charmed a passing 
 
 hour ; 
 All round, the woodlands lately 
 
 green. 
 Were now a variegated 
 
 scene 
 Of gaudy tints; from vine-clad 
 
 wall 
 A drapery, like a Persian 
 
 shawl. 
 Hung gaily down ; the autumn 
 
 rain 
 Had brought the grass to life 
 
 again. 
 And freshened thirsty brooks and 
 
 rills. 
 Which dashed or rippled down the 
 
 hills ; 
 It almost seemed another 
 
 Spring, 
 With just a change of 
 coloring. 
 
 25 
 
An Idyl of the Rhine. 
 
 But with these passing changes 
 . came 
 
 No change in love; 'twas e'er the 
 ' same 
 Enchantment ; e'er the same sweet 
 
 spell 
 , Which first had caused onr hearts to 
 
 swell 
 With deep emotion. Nobly 
 
 true 
 Had Felix proved. His eyes of 
 
 blue 
 And rosy lips still plead a 
 
 cause — • 
 Decreed to him by Nature's 
 
 laws 
 Long months before — as 
 
 ardently 
 As when he first made love to 
 
 me: 
 Thus, we absorbed in thought 
 
 sublime. 
 Loved on and took no note of 
 
 Time, 
 Till happiness and sorrow 
 
 lay 
 Divided by a single 
 
 day. 
 
 26 
 
Parting Scenes. 
 
 A message from across the 
 
 sea. 
 Which said, *'Come home 
 
 immediately," 
 Awoke us from the dreamy 
 
 trance 
 Of youthful lovers' first 
 
 romance. 
 Ah, then, but not till then we 
 
 knew 
 That Cupid's darts could punish, 
 
 too! 
 The morning dawned most wondrous 
 
 fair 
 Which heralded our keen 
 
 despair ; 
 Dear Felix with heroic 
 
 pride. 
 Kept bravely up till 
 
 eventide ; 
 But when the cheering beams of 
 
 light 
 Were lost in shadows of the 
 
 night. 
 His courage failed, and anxious 
 
 fears 
 Bedimmed his eyes with hopeless 
 
 tears. 
 
 n 
 
An Idyl of the Rhine. 
 
 Disconsolate^, our restless 
 
 feet 
 Moved to and fro. Each dear 
 
 retreat 
 Received ti pure, baptismal 
 
 flow 
 From lovers' eyes suffused with 
 
 woo. 
 The moon arose above the 
 
 towers. 
 Where wc had passed so many 
 
 hours 
 Of tenderness, and served to 
 
 guide 
 Our footsteps up the mountain 
 
 side ; 
 And as we sadly passed 
 
 along 
 A path, still musical ^vitli 
 
 song. 
 The night-birds in their leafy 
 
 boughs 
 Were hushed to silence by our 
 
 vows. 
 Altho' the tolling hour was 
 
 late 
 We f)asscd within the castle 
 
 gate 
 
 2§ 
 
Partingf Scenes. 
 
 And fearlessly, at midnight, 
 
 strayed 
 Thro' halls where ghostly moonbeams 
 
 played. 
 Fatigued, we slowly mounted 
 
 by 
 
 A stairway to a terrace 
 
 high, 
 'Twas such a night as one might 
 
 deem 
 Befitting love's most ardent 
 
 dream. 
 A full moon, sailing round and 
 
 bright. 
 Poured down a stream of silv'rj^ 
 
 light 
 That flooded everything 
 
 below. 
 And set the somber earth 
 
 aglow ; 
 Fresh mountain odors filled the 
 
 breeze 
 Which stirred the foliage of the 
 
 trees. 
 And gently fanned us as we 
 
 stood 
 Surveying castle, stream an'dl 
 
 wood; 
 
 29 
 
An Idyl of the Rhine* 
 
 We saw the waters of the 
 
 Ehine 
 Far, far below us gleaming 
 
 shine, 
 And heard the rushing current 
 
 roar 
 Along the winding, rocky 
 
 shore ; 
 A cuckoo from a turret 
 
 high 
 Called to its mate with gutt'ral 
 
 cry; 
 The little lizards peeped 
 
 between 
 Their lattices of 
 
 ivy-green, 
 But finding strange intruders 
 
 there 
 Soon darted back with frightened 
 
 air. 
 Our hearts grew lighter 'neath the 
 
 power 
 Of that enchanting place and 
 
 hour, — 
 For who could pass his time in 
 
 sighs 
 While in the realms of 
 
 paradise ? 
 
 30 
 
Paiting Scenes. 
 
 What if the Future were 
 
 unknown ! 
 The Present, there, was all our 
 
 own 
 And we were young and love was 
 
 sweet 
 In that fair, Eden-like 
 
 retreat. 
 Dear Felix drew me to his 
 
 breast 
 And brow and cheek and lip 
 
 caressed. 
 With arms entwined we gently 
 
 sank 
 Upon a moss-grown rocky 
 
 bank. 
 Where, doubtless, in the days of 
 
 yore. 
 Fond lovers oft had sat 
 
 before — 
 Some gallant knight and lady 
 
 fair. 
 Alone, in sweet communion 
 
 there ; 
 In silent, voiceless 
 
 tenderness 
 That feeble words cannot 
 
 express ; 
 
 31 
 
An Idyl of the Rhine. 
 
 Two hearts alLuncd in 
 
 unison. 
 Two i^piriis mingled into 
 
 one. 
 All ! liow the preeions moments 
 
 flew 
 Till daylight dawned, we never 
 
 knew! 
 We'd wisely planned to leave the 
 
 place 
 And prudently our steps 
 
 retrace 
 Before the envious morning 
 
 light 
 Aroused the sleepers of the 
 
 night. 
 But clearly rang a bugle 
 
 call, 
 And hales played about the 
 
 wall. 
 And still wo fondly lingered 
 
 there 
 With dewy locks of tangled 
 
 hair 
 And dreamy eyes, — all sense of 
 
 sight 
 Still lost in visions of the 
 
 night — 
 
 32 
 
Patting- Sarnes* 
 
 tJnmindfnl of tlie dawn in. »• 
 
 O 
 
 day 
 Or what the cruel world might 
 
 say. 
 But Nature ever claims her 
 
 right. 
 Exhausted by a restless 
 
 night. 
 At length we languidly; 
 
 arose 
 To seek a moment's calm 
 
 repose 
 Before the morning boat should 
 
 bear 
 My aching heart away from 
 
 there. 
 Then down the rugged mountain 
 
 side, 
 With throbbing hearts, we quickly 
 
 hied ; 
 And onward o'er the dewy 
 
 lawn 
 Until we reached the 
 
 pension. 
 The sleepy villagers, no " 
 
 doubt. 
 Were shocked to see a young girl 
 
 out 
 
 33 
 
 LofC. 
 
An Idyl of the Rhine* 
 
 iWithoiit a jDroper 
 \ cluiperone, 
 lA'ttended by a man 
 
 alone, 
 lAt such an early hour; but 
 
 WQ 
 
 Were much too pure in thought to 
 
 bo 
 Disturbed by 
 
 impropriety — 
 For perfect love is 
 
 sanctity. 
 Dear Felix Avoukl have lingered 
 
 still 
 Had I not, bj my strength of 
 
 will. 
 Enforced him to withdraw, as 
 
 we 
 Had planned that he should call for 
 
 me. 
 Like some poor wretch who seeks his 
 
 bed 
 With fumes of liquor in his 
 
 head, 
 I fell on mine and senseless 
 
 lay 
 'As some exhausted 
 
 debauchee, 
 
 34 
 
Parting Scenes. 
 
 My heavy brain too dull to 
 
 be 
 The seat of pleasing 
 
 phantasy. 
 When I had slept an hour, or 
 
 more. 
 Loud knocking on my chamber 
 
 door 
 Awoke me — much to my 
 
 surprise, 
 I thought I had but closed mine 
 
 eyes. 
 I yawned and tried to rise in 
 
 vain. 
 Then turned and fell asleep 
 
 again. 
 But time and tide refused to 
 
 be 
 Eetarded in their course for 
 
 me; 
 For soon there came another 
 
 knock 
 And some one cried: "'Tis eight 
 
 o'clock ; 
 The morning boat is almost 
 
 due. 
 And Felix waits below for 
 
 j-ou !" 
 
 35 
 
An Idyl of the Rhine. 
 
 These words aroused my drowsy 
 
 brain 
 To wakefulness and conscious 
 
 pain, 
 1^'ur well they made me 
 
 understand 
 The parting hour was near at 
 
 hand. 
 A cooling plunge soon quite 
 
 restored 
 My shattered nerves, so my 
 
 adored 
 Was met with glances fresh and 
 
 bright, 
 Despite the vigils of the 
 
 night. 
 We reached the dock in time to 
 
 be 
 Too late ; and, helpless, stand and 
 
 see, 
 in spite of frantic waves and 
 
 cries. 
 The boat move off before our 
 
 eyes. 
 Of course the blame was laid on 
 
 me. 
 I stood all censure 
 
 patiently, 
 
 36 
 
Parting Scenes. 
 
 For 'Felix, ever kind and 
 
 mild. 
 Had gently pressed my hand and 
 
 smiled 
 While softly whisp'riug in mine 
 
 ear: 
 "Another hour for us, my 
 
 dear." 
 Beneath a tree at 
 
 liudesheim 
 We sat and sweetly passed the 
 
 time 
 In planning future joys, to 
 
 be 
 Conjointly shared by him and 
 
 me 
 When martial law should leave him 
 
 free 
 To seek a Land of 
 
 Liberty, 
 Where every num may choose in 
 
 life 
 His occupation and his 
 
 wife. 
 The tardy moments quickly 
 
 fly 
 
 When lovers wait to say 
 good-by. 
 
 37 
 
An Idyl of the Rhine. 
 
 A boat came steaming down the 
 
 Ehine ; 
 Great, melting eyes looked down in 
 
 mine 
 And hearts beat wildly as it 
 
 bore 
 Directly for the classic 
 
 shore. 
 We stepped aboard, my Love and 
 
 I, 
 
 I choked and could not say 
 
 good-by, 
 So much I feared to sob 
 
 aloud 
 Before a curious, gaping 
 
 crowd. 
 But when I heard the captain 
 
 cry, 
 "Aboard!" and others shout 
 
 "Good-by!" 
 The world became a blank, and 
 
 he 
 Who held my hand, the world to 
 
 mo. 
 I quickly raised my drooping 
 
 face 
 Toward his for one more sweet 
 
 embrace ; 
 
 38 
 
Paftingf Scenes* 
 
 AiKl he, ns quickly, bowed liis 
 
 head. 
 And kissing me most fondlj^ 
 
 said. 
 In mingled tones of love and 
 
 pain: 
 "Leben sie wolil, auf 
 
 loiedersehcn !" 
 A moment after he had 
 
 gone. 
 And I, upon the deck, 
 
 alone, 
 In silent tears of grief 
 
 remained 
 To dream of Paradise 
 
 regained. 
 He stood and watched me from the 
 
 shore, 
 I saw him kiss a glove he 
 
 wore 
 And wave it in a last 
 
 adieu 
 Till glove and Love were lost to 
 
 view. 
 
 39 
 
An Idyl of the Rliine. 
 
 r€nuoU 
 
 Oh, gay, impulsive, trusting 
 
 youth. 
 Bright, hopeful days when life, 
 
 forsooth, 
 Is naught but sunbeams, love and 
 
 flowers. 
 And tears are only gentle 
 
 showers. 
 The Joys which follow in thy 
 
 train 
 Soon leave us ne'er to come 
 
 again. 
 Enchanting days, too quickly 
 
 flown! 
 Had my fair springtime never 
 
 known 
 A romance so divinely 
 
 sweet 
 The season would be 
 
 incomplete. 
 
 40 
 
•.: .1.1^ < 
 
 MARY. 
 
L'Envoi. 
 
 .Tho' brief the passion we may 
 
 feel. 
 The precious moments, which 
 
 reveal 
 The depths of human bliss are 
 
 fraught 
 With memories for tender 
 
 thought. 
 Now, ofttimes, when the day is 
 
 done 
 And stars come stealing, one by 
 
 one. 
 Above me, in my dreams I 
 
 see 
 A white glove wave a kiss to 
 
 me 
 And in sweet fancy hear 
 
 again : 
 "Leban sie wold! Auf 
 
 wiedersehen !" 
 
 41 
 
A.nar U 
 
 •901 
 
1901