Ballads And Sonnets

at the light, and I saw the tear on his cheek? He was tender of heart, and I knew that his love was lasting and strong? But he dash'd it off with his hand, and I did not think fit to speak, But look'd right ahead through the dark, as we clank'd and thunder'd along. They had been at the school, the two, and had run, like a single life, Through the mazes of childhood up to the sweeter and firmer prime, And often he told me, smiling, he had promised to make her his wife, In the rambles they had for nuts in the woods in the golden autumn time. " I must make," he would add, " that promise good in the course of a month or two; And then, when I have her safe and sound in a nook of the busy town, No use of us whistling then, Joe, lad, as now we incline to do, For a wave of her hand, or an answering light as we thunder up and down." Well, the marriage was settled at last, and I was to stand by his side, Take a part in the happy rite, and pull from his hand the glove; And still as we joked between ourselves, he would say, in his manly pride, That the very ring of the engine-wheels had something in them of love. At length we had just one run to make before the bridal took place, And it happen'd to be in the night, yet merry in heart we went on; But long ere he came to the house, he was turning each moment his face To catch the light by the window, placed as a beacon for him alone. "Now the...