But he who in thy praises was sweetest and best-- Who wrote that great song full of soothing and rest-- "Through pleasures and palaces though we may roam, Be it never so humble, there's no place like home"-- He who, in a moment unfettered by art, Let that heavenly song fly from the nest of his heart, He wandered the earth, all forgot and alone, And ne'er till he died had a home of his own! He wandered the earth at his own dreary will, And carried his great heavy heart with him still; He carried his great heavy heart o'er the road, With no one to give him a lift with his load; And wherever he went, with his lone, dreary tread, He found that his sweet song had flown on ahead! He heard its grand melodies' chimes o'er and o'er, From great bands that played at the palace's door; He heard its soft tones through the cottages creep, From fond mothers singing their babies to sleep; But he wandered the earth, all forgot and alone, And ne'er till in Heaven had a home of his own! * * * * * Of course--be it said to the poor fellow's shame-- There was no one on earth but himself he could blame. God meant, when he made this world cheerful and bright, Then looked it all over and said 'twas all right, Then stole Adam's rib while he lay fast asleep, And when he awoke gave it to him to keep-- He meant that this world, as he gazed on it there, Should blossom with homes, rich and radiant and fair; That his chain of love-gold, flung from Heaven's glittering dome, Should be forged into links, and each link be a home! * * * * * [Illustration: "HE HEARD ITS SOFT TONES THROUGH THE COTTAGES CREEP, FROM FOND MOTHERS SINGING THEIR BABIES TO SLEEP."] This Adam and Eve more advantages carried, Than any _young_ couple that ever was married. They'd a nice, cozy home, unencumbered and free, Save a slight reservation on one little tree; They toiled not and sweat not in tilling their lands: Their orchards were trimmed by invisible hands; They were bothered by no tailors' bills over-due; Their dress-makers' bills were quite moderate, too; No tax-ghost each year their scared domicile haunted, To find out how much more they owned than they wanted; In sooth this young pair more advantages carried Than any _young_ couple that ever was married! * * * * *