Page:The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20.djvu/565

1867.] and other fine fellows, who were serving them with a generosity that was only equalled by their admiration. Coffee, cakes, cheese, chowder, bottled beer, fruits, and hot bannocks, the lasses had them all at once, and the lads would have been glad to give them even more.

And John, grown ten years younger that day, kept all the while (being forced to turn his head away now and then to receive congratulations) one foot under the table, and against the soft slipper and silken stocking of Rose, lest at any moment she might be caught up into heaven, and so vanish out of his sight; and she, in turn, kept fond watch of him, pressing the oranges upon him with almost importunate solicitude, Perhaps she remembered that one which he had parted with for her sake, when he used to look down upon her from the roof of Baker's Row with such hopeless and helpless admiration.

ACH day when the glow of sunset
 * Fades in the western sky,

And the wee ones, tired of playing,
 * Go tripping lightly by,

I steal away from my husband,
 * Asleep in his easy-chair,

And watch from the open doorway
 * Their faces fresh and fair.

Alone in the dear old homestead
 * That once was full of life,

Ringing with girlish laughter,
 * Echoing boyish strife,

We two are waiting together;
 * And oft, as the shadows come,

With tremulous voice he calls me,
 * "It is night ! are the children home?"

"Yes, love!" I answer him gently,
 * "They 're all home long ago";—

And I sing, in my quivering treble,
 * A song so soft and low,

Till the old man drops to slumber,
 * With his head upon his hand,

And I tell to myself the number
 * Home in the better land.

Home, where never a sorrow
 * Shall dim their eyes with tears!

Where the smile of God is on them
 * Through all the summer years!