The voice of you, in my musings, The glance of you, in my dreams; The feeling, you ever were near me, Even now, how compelling it seems! As if but to turn--were to see you; To know the clasp of your hand; Yet, I guarded the knowledge carefully, And you did not understand. Still the thought of you hurt, and I hungered-- Hungered, day and night, It will count when the story is ended, I was able to see aright. You never guessed the secret, Nor have unto to-day. The truth of it never reached you, I hid it so well away. THE LIGHT The light! the light! For all is dark, The light I pray, My feet stumble, I cannot find the way. The light! the light! For all is dark, Soon the night Complete, will overtake The light! the light! Oh! God--the light! EDUCATION You say you are shocked, my lady,--and so you ought to be. A comedy, quite upon my soul, To make me love you,--then fence about When I demand only righteous toll. An innocent flirtation, you intended no harm,-- Well, a lesson the trifler learns, To keep a safe distance away from fire,-- For the truth, not the lie, it burns. RE-ADJUSTMENT You beg of me to forgive you The Other in your life. She, who has for some time, I’ve discovered, Been defrauding the wife. You avow you never loved her That ’twas she led you along-- And why hold one responsible Who’s not guilty of a wrong? Won’t I forgive, as you urge me, Forgive and try to forget? Let the rest of your life be a token, Of how sincere your regret. I must have time for my answer, Some things take the breath-- It seems to die, we need not Always wait for death. I loved you so absolutely, Thought you so completely my own; I never questioned but that we meant All in all to each other--alone. And you the while were betraying The faith I held so dear, Selling the same to another-- No, do not come near. When its foundation becomes weakened, A structure is undermined, Nor can it at all times, be strengthened anew, They who venture the effort, find. I will do my best to replace it-- The foundation my trust hath known; Should I fail--tho’ sincere my intention--tion-- You must go on your way--alone. FROM “RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS” Acknowledgment is made to Messrs. George W. Jacobs & Company for their courtesy in granting permission to reprint in this volume verses from “Rhymes for Wee Sweethearts.” WHEN GRANDMAMA WAS LITTLE