REST
When utterly wearied in body and mind,
How sweet upon a couch to lie
In a cozy room in the soft twilight,
When snowflakes darken the winter sky.
How sweet upon a couch to lie
In a cozy room in the soft twilight,
When snowflakes darken the winter sky.
With the firelight from the open grate
Flickering on the floor and wall;
Where not a disturbing voice is heard,
Nor even a passing, light footfall.
Flickering on the floor and wall;
Where not a disturbing voice is heard,
Nor even a passing, light footfall.
Where the only sound is the tick of the clock
That sounds the heart-beat of the world;
And the great house-cat in his tawny coat
Before the fire in a ball lies curled.
That sounds the heart-beat of the world;
And the great house-cat in his tawny coat
Before the fire in a ball lies curled.
And the world with all its restless noise,
Afar, within the distance lies—
And tortures not the tired ears
And blisters not the weary eyes
Afar, within the distance lies—
And tortures not the tired ears
And blisters not the weary eyes
How sweet it is to thus lie still.
An hour or two in quiet peace—
Until the weary soul finds rest
And from fever and fret it finds release.—
An hour or two in quiet peace—
Until the weary soul finds rest
And from fever and fret it finds release.—
Until we find the old joyousness
Spring back to the heart with a merry bound;
And we feel like mingling again with the world,
Raised up like a drooping flower from the ground.
Spring back to the heart with a merry bound;
And we feel like mingling again with the world,
Raised up like a drooping flower from the ground.
Then the human voice sounds very sweet
To the newly rested heart and brain,
That feels as fresh as the woods and hills
Just after a light, refreshing rain.
To the newly rested heart and brain,
That feels as fresh as the woods and hills
Just after a light, refreshing rain.
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