Page:The Galaxy, Volume 5.djvu/564

548 ::::His heart is in his iron safe,
 * His thoughts are with his ships;
 * But when the twilight gathers
 * Adown the dusky street,
 * The little housewife listens
 * For sounds of coming feet;

And by the gleaming firelight I see a figure tall Bend down to kiss a shadow, a shadow on the wall.


 * My garden palings, broad and high,
 * Shut in its costly spoils,
 * And through the ordered paths all day
 * The silent gardener toils;
 * My neighbor's is a grass-plat,
 * With a hardy buttercup,
 * Where children's dimpled fingers
 * Pull dandelions up.

Where on a baby's silken head, all day the sunbeams fall. Till evening throws its shadows upon the cottage wall.


 * My petted lapdog, warm and soft,
 * Nestles upon my knee;
 * My birds have shut their diamond eyes
 * That love to look for me;
 * Lonely, I watch my neighbor,
 * And watching can but weep,
 * To see her rock her darlings
 * Upon her breast asleep.

Alas! my doves are gentle, my dog comes at my call. But there is no childish shadow upon my chamber wall.


 * My beauty is the talk of fools.
 * And by the gaslight's glare,
 * In glittering dress and gleaming gems,
 * I know that I am fair;
 * But there is something fairer.
 * Whose charm in loving lies.
 * And there is something dearer,
 * The light of happy eyes.

So I return triumphant, queen of the brilliant ball, To envy the sweet shadow of the housewife on the wall.


 * My earthly lot is rich and high,
 * And hers is poor and low;
 * Yet I would give my heritage
 * Her deeper joys to know;
 * For husbands that are lovers
 * Are rare in all the lands,
 * And hearts grow fit for heaven.
 * Moulded by childish hands;

And while I go up lonely, before the Judge of all, A cherub troop will usher the shadow on the wall.