AN EMPTY NEST
Hidden by green grasses tall,
Close beside the orchard wall,
A little sparrow built.
Laden boughs tossed overhead,
Apple blossoms, white and red,
Which their odor spilt.
Close beside the orchard wall,
A little sparrow built.
Laden boughs tossed overhead,
Apple blossoms, white and red,
Which their odor spilt.
Sweeter home could not be found,
Should one search the green earth round
Than this sparrow chose.
Neighborly the clover grew;
There the strawberry thickly blew,
White as winter snows.
Should one search the green earth round
Than this sparrow chose.
Neighborly the clover grew;
There the strawberry thickly blew,
White as winter snows.
Wandering sunbeams found it out,
When the grasses blew about
In each little breeze;
Fireflies, too, with flickering spark,
Seemed to blossom after dark
In among the trees.
When the grasses blew about
In each little breeze;
Fireflies, too, with flickering spark,
Seemed to blossom after dark
In among the trees.
Three bare, shivering little things,
Waiting for their promised wings,
Made the home complete.
What a life it was to live—
Summer long to take and give
Just love's sweet for sweet!
Waiting for their promised wings,
Made the home complete.
What a life it was to live—
Summer long to take and give
Just love's sweet for sweet!
Then, what melody divine
Soon would bubble, clear and fine,
From each little breast!
What loud praise of flower or fern,
Rains that drench and suns that bum,
Liquidly confessed!
Soon would bubble, clear and fine,
From each little breast!
What loud praise of flower or fern,
Rains that drench and suns that bum,
Liquidly confessed!
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