eadpiece]

TO ALMON KEEFER

INSCRIBED IN "TALES OF THE OCEAN"

This first book that I ever knew
Was read aloud to me by you--
Friend of my boyhood, therefore take
It back from me, for old times' sake--
The selfsame "Tales" first read to me,
Under "the old sweet apple tree,"
Ere I myself could read such great
Big words,--but listening all elate,
At your interpreting, until
Brain, heart and soul were all athrill
With wonder, awe, and sheer excess
Of wildest childish happiness.

{171}

[Illustration: Under "the old sweet apple tree"]

{173}

So take the book again--forget
All else,--long years, lost hopes, regret;
Sighs for the joys we ne'er attain,
Prayers we have lifted all in vain;
Tears for the faces seen no more,
Once as the roses at the door!
Take the enchanted book--And lo,
On grassy swards of long ago,
Sprawl out again, beneath the shade
The breezy old-home orchard made,
The veriest barefoot boy indeed--
And I will listen as you read.

[Illustration: To Almon Keefer--tailpiece]

{174}

[Illustration: To the quiet observer--headpiece]

TO THE QUIET OBSERVER

AFTER HIS LONG SILENCE

Dear old friend of us all in need
Who know the worth of a friend indeed,
How rejoiced are we all to learn
Of your glad return.

{175}

We who have missed your voice so long--
Even as March might miss the song
Of the sugar-bird in the maples when
They're tapped again.

Even as the memory of these
_Blended_ sweets,--the sap of the trees
And the song of the birds, and the old camp too,
We think of you.

Hail to you, then, with welcomes deep
As grateful hearts may laugh or weep!--
You give us not only the bird that sings,
But all good things.

[Illustration: To the quiet observer--tailpiece]

{176}

[Illustration: Reach your hand to me--headpiece]

REACH YOUR HAND TO ME

Reach your hand to me, my friend,
With its heartiest caress--
Sometime there will come an end
To its present faithfulness--
Sometime I may ask in vain
For the touch of it again,
When between us land or sea
Holds it ever back from me.

{177}

[Illustration: Reach your hand to me, my friend]

{179}

Sometime I may need it so,
Groping somewhere in the night,
It will seem to me as though
Just a touch, however light,
Would make all the darkness day,