Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/412

 376 THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

��LAUGHTER.

��BY CHARLOTTE E. RICKER.

I'm in love with a happy-voiced maiden, A trolicsoine. i-ollicksome maiden. A biiglit-eyed bewildering maiden.

A perfect coquette of a lass ; One moment my glad lips caress her. One moment my heart beats to bless her.

And then, like the dew from the grass,

She doth pass. — And echo sounding far and near. Loud and clear, Brings back to me, ha I ha I ha! ha!

her voice is like a bird's !

This her warbling — set to words — "All in vain is human sorrow! Yesterday, to-day, to-morrow. Flay the soul with cruel lashes, Pass, and ai-e but useless ashes ; Eyes gi'ow dim with constant weeping, Cease to shine, forget their sleeping, Then, by all the world forsaken. Close at last, no more to waken — Eyes were never made to weep. Eyes were made to harbor sleep. Made to symt)athize and smile. Made to flatter and beguile. Made to lift and droop their lashes, Made to telegraph by flashes

To the answering eye. — Made to mirror sweetest fancies,

Made to question and reply. Hear my voice, my name is Laughter; Mark my footsteps^follow after

And thy foolish tears shall cease."

Then was peace, — And echo sounding far and near, Loud and clear. Brought back to me, ha ! ha ! ha ! ha !

I'm in love with this happy-voiced maiden, This frolicsome, rollieksome maiden. This bright-eyed bewildering maiden, This wonderful, lovable spi'ite;

1 woo hf r from mountain and dingle, To gladden the blaze of my ingle.

And when, in the darkness of night,

She takes flight, — The echo sounding far and near. Loud and clear. Brings back to me, ha ! ha ! ha ! ha !

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