There is a memory that may Not ever wholly fade away From out my heart, so bright and fair The light of it still glimmers there. Why, it did seem as though my sight Flamed back upon me, dazzling white And godlike. Not one other word Of hers I listened for or heard, But I _saw_ songs sung in her eyes Till they did swoon up drowning-wise, As my mad lips did strike her own And we flashed one and one alone! Ah! was it treachery for me To kneel there, drinking eagerly That torrent-flow of words that swept Out laughingly the tears she wept?-- Sweet words! O sweeter far, maybe, Than light of day to those that see,-- God knows, who did the rapture send To me, and hold it from my friend. And we were married half a year Ago,--and he is--waiting here, Heedless of that--or anything, But just that he is lingering To say good-bye to her, and bow-- As you may see him doing now,-- For there's her footstep in the hall; God bless her!--help him!--save us all! RIGHT HERE AT HOME. Right here at home, boys, in old Hoosierdom, Where strangers allus joke us when they come, And brag o' _their_ old States and interprize-- Yit _settle_ here; and 'fore they realize, They're "hoosier" as the rest of us, and live Right here at home, boys, with their past fergive! Right here at home, boys, is the place, I guess, Fer me and you and plain old happiness: We hear the World's lots grander--likely so,-- We'll take the World's word fer it and not go.-- We know _its_ ways aint _our_ ways--so we'll stay Right here at home, boys, where we know the way. Right here at home, boys, where a well-to-do Man's plenty rich enough--and knows it, too, And's got a' extry dollar, any time, To boost a feller up 'at _wants_ to climb And 's got the git-up in him to go in And _git there_, like he purt'-nigh allus kin! Right here at home, boys, is the place fer us!-- Where folks' heart's bigger 'n their money-pu's'; And where a _common_ feller's jes as good As ary other in the neighborhood: The World at large don't worry you and me Right here at home, boys, where we ort to be! Right here at home, boys--jes right where we air!-- Birds don't sing any sweeter anywhere: Grass don't grow any greener'n she grows Acrost the pastur' where the old path goes,-- All things in ear-shot's purty, er in sight, Right here at home, boys, ef we _size_ 'em right. Right here at home, boys, where the old home-place Is sacerd to us as our mother's face, Jes as we rickollect her, last she smiled And kissed us--dyin' so and rickonciled, Seein' us all at home here--none astray-- Right here at home, boys, where she sleeps to-day. THE LITTLE FAT DOCTOR. He seemed so strange to me, every way-- In manner, and form, and size, From the boy I knew but yesterday,-- I could hardly believe my eyes!