"What is it, dear?" And grandma calm,
With sweetly plaintive voice,
Came to his couch, "My little lamb
Why do you so rejoice?"
With sweetly plaintive voice,
Came to his couch, "My little lamb
Why do you so rejoice?"
"Oh, grandma, I had such a dream,
So beautiful and long;
A dazzling light in it did seem
To fill the air with song;
So beautiful and long;
A dazzling light in it did seem
To fill the air with song;
"I thought it was a brilliant bird—
Will-o'-the-Wisp—so sweet
The charming music that I heard,
I shadowed its retreat;
Will-o'-the-Wisp—so sweet
The charming music that I heard,
I shadowed its retreat;
"And when I came quite close and low,
I softly thrust my hand
Into a fragrant bush, when lo!
I caught the sunshine's strand;
I softly thrust my hand
Into a fragrant bush, when lo!
I caught the sunshine's strand;
"See how it lingers 'bout my bed,
So lovingly and warm,
And bathes my weary aching head
With such a soothing charm;
So lovingly and warm,
And bathes my weary aching head
With such a soothing charm;
"I've been so tired, all night through,
I'm better now," he said;
The white lids drooped o'er eyes of blue,
A smile—and he was dead.
I'm better now," he said;
The white lids drooped o'er eyes of blue,
A smile—and he was dead.
—19—
