Page:The Writings of John Green Whittier (v.1).pdf/282
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NARRATIVE AND LEGENDARY POEMS.
"She looked up in his face of pain
So archly, yet so tender
'And if I lend you mine,' she said,
'Will you forgive the lender?
So archly, yet so tender
'And if I lend you mine,' she said,
'Will you forgive the lender?
"'Nor frock nor tan can hide the man;
And see you not, my farmer,
How weak and fond a woman waits
Behind this silken armor?
And see you not, my farmer,
How weak and fond a woman waits
Behind this silken armor?
"'I love you: on that love alone,
And not my worth, presuming,
Will you not trust for summer fruit
The tree in May-day blooming?'
And not my worth, presuming,
Will you not trust for summer fruit
The tree in May-day blooming?'
"Alone the hangbird overhead,
His hair-swung cradle straining,
Looked down to see love's miracle,—
The giving that is gaining.
His hair-swung cradle straining,
Looked down to see love's miracle,—
The giving that is gaining.
"And so the farmer found a wife,
His mother found a daughter
There looks no happier home than hers
On pleasant Bearcamp Water.
His mother found a daughter
There looks no happier home than hers
On pleasant Bearcamp Water.
"Flowers spring to blossom where she walks
The careful ways of duty;
Our hard, stiff lines of life with her
Are flowing curves of beauty.
The careful ways of duty;
Our hard, stiff lines of life with her
Are flowing curves of beauty.
"Our homes are cheerier for her sake,
Our door-yards brighter blooming,
And all about the social air
Is sweeter for her coming.
Our door-yards brighter blooming,
And all about the social air
Is sweeter for her coming.