"And guests shall come, and guests shall go, And break with us our daily bread; And sometime--sometime--do you know? I hope that--dearest, lift your head; And let me speak it, soft and low! "The grass is sweeter than the ground: Can love be better than its flowers? Oh sometime--sometime--in the round Of coming years, this board of ours I hope may blossom and abound With shining curls, and laughing eyes, And pleasant jests and merry words, And questions full of life's surprise, And light and music, when the birds Have left us to our gloomy skies. "Now mount with me the old oak stair! This is your chamber--pink and blue! They asked the color of your hair, And draped and fitted all for you, My fine brunette, with tasteful care. "The linen is as white as snow; The flowers are set on every sconce; And e'en the cushioned pin-heads show Your formal "welcome," for the nonce, To the sweet home their hands bestow. "Declining to the river's marge, See, from this window, how the turf Runs with a thousand flowers in charge To meet the silver feet of surf That fly from every passing barge! "Along that reach of liquid light Flies Commerce with her countless keels; There the chained Titan in his might Turns slowly round the groaning wheels That drag her burdens, day and night. "And now the red sun flings his kiss Across its waves from finger-tips That pause, and grudgingly dismiss The one he loves to closer lips, And Moonlight's quiet hour of bliss. "And here comes Dinah with the steam Of evening cups and evening food, And coal-red berries quenched with cream, And ministry of homely good That proves, my dear, we do not dream." III. He heard the long-drawn organ-peal Within his chapel call to prayer; And, answering with ready zeal, He breathed o'er Mildred's weary chair These words, and sealed them with a seal: "Only an hour: but comfort take;-- This home and I are wholly yours; And many bosoms fondly ache To tell you, that while life endures, You shall be cherished for my sake. "So throw your heart's door open wide, And take in mine as well as me; Let no poor creature be denied The grace of tender courtesy And kindness from the pastor's bride." IV. The moon came up the summer sky: "Oh happy moon!" the lady said; "Men love thee for thyself, but I Am loved because my life is wed To one whose message, pure and high, Has spread the world's evangel far, And thrown such radiance through the dark That men behold him as a star, And in his gracious coming mark How beautiful his footsteps are. "Oh Moon! dost thou take all thy light From the great sun so lately gone? Are there not shapes upon thy white, That mould and make his sheen thy own, And charms that soften to the sight