Page:Songs, Legends, and Ballads.djvu/234

222 His wife,—'twas for her: 'twas all he could say, And his clear eye brimmed as he turned away. After that he told me the simple tale: They had married for love, and she was to sail For Anstralia when he wrote home and told The oft-watched-for story of finding gold.

In a year he wrote, and his news was good: He had bought some cattle and sold his wood. He said, "Darling, I've only a hut,—but come." Friend, a husband's heart is a true wife's home; And he knew she'd come. Then he turned his hand To make neat the house, and prepare the land For his crops and vines; and he made that place Put on such a smiling and homelike face, That when she came, and he showed her round His sandal-wood and his crops in the ground, And spoke of the future, they cried for joy, The husband's arm clasping his wife and boy.

Well, friend, if a little of heaven's best bliss Ever comes from the upper world to this,