Page:The songs that Quinte sang.djvu/91

Rh Alone of all that happy group;
 * Some sleep beneath the ground,

And winter winds sweep o’er their graves
 * With sad and mournful sound.

And some by happy firesides,
 * With children, bright and fair,

Encircled by Love’s shelt’ring arms
 * They know no pain nor care.

And one, ah me, the dearest one
 * Of all that household band,

Has drained the cup of sorrow
 * From Fate’s relentless hand.

Better, dear heart, if thou had’st died
 * In childhood, long ago,

Than live to see thy future marred
 * By memories of woe.

And as I sit here dreaming,
 * It seems so long ago,

Like a day of brightest sunshine
 * Veiled by weary years of woe,

And I bow my head in sorrow
 * While my soul cries out in pain;

Will those days of peace and gladness
 * Ne’er come to us again?

Then a voice of silvery music
 * Comes stealing through the room,

And a presence, sweet and mystic,
 * Seems to lighten up the gloom,

It lulls my bitter yearnings
 * Into calm and peaceful rest,

As it bids me not to murmur
 * For God knows what is best.