THE VOICE OF THE PINE
The voice of the breeze,—it soundeth
Thro' the grand old Silver Pines,
Like the solemn tone of the ocean,
Responsive to stormy winds.
Thro' the grand old Silver Pines,
Like the solemn tone of the ocean,
Responsive to stormy winds.
A thousand thoughts it calleth
From the graves of many years,
Where the hopes of girlhood slumber,
Imbalmed in bitter tears.
From the graves of many years,
Where the hopes of girlhood slumber,
Imbalmed in bitter tears.
The voice of the Pine—it soothed me
Thro' weary hours of pain,
Like my mother's gentle look and smile,
I ne'er shall know again.
Thro' weary hours of pain,
Like my mother's gentle look and smile,
I ne'er shall know again.
Beside the ruddy fire I sit,
In the gray twilight alone;
Save the phantoms that round me gather
At the call of the Pine Tree's moan.
In the gray twilight alone;
Save the phantoms that round me gather
At the call of the Pine Tree's moan.
A step on the walk—it neareth,
As always her step would come,
And I rise, as I hasted in Auld Lang Syne,
To welcome the dear one home.
As always her step would come,
And I rise, as I hasted in Auld Lang Syne,
To welcome the dear one home.
I gaze wistfully out at the window,
But darkness meets my eyne;
And my heart sinks low, as it knows her step
Was mocked by the Voice of the Pine.
But darkness meets my eyne;
And my heart sinks low, as it knows her step
Was mocked by the Voice of the Pine.
Oh, heart! whose hope, deferred,
Sickened and died thro' years,
Look where the Pine-trees beckon,
If thou canst see for tears.
Sickened and died thro' years,
Look where the Pine-trees beckon,
If thou canst see for tears.
Look up to the starry heavens,
That spread so broad and fair;
And gird up thy strength to hasten
To her who awaits thee there.
That spread so broad and fair;
And gird up thy strength to hasten
To her who awaits thee there.
Then the voice of the Pine shall token
The sweep of the angel's wing,
Who shall loosen the cord that binds thee
To a life-long sorrowing.
The sweep of the angel's wing,
Who shall loosen the cord that binds thee
To a life-long sorrowing.