ACE

DOWN LOVER'S LANE

Down Lover's Lane the creamy spray
Of elder blooms enchants the way,
And dappled shadows sport and play,
Down Lover's Lane!
Here happy redbirds glint and gloom,
The wildrose sheds a sweet perfume,
But death oft lurks in leaf and bloom,
Down Lover's Lane!

BENEATH THE CHESTNUT TREE

Long years ago in childhood's hour.
Beneath an old Beech Tree,
A sweeter and a daintier flower
Than ever graced a lea,
Unfolded all its beauteous bloom
And shed its rich and rare perfume
Alone, alone for me.

The dewdrop sparkling on the rose
Is fresh and fair to see;
I love the lily when it blows
And rocks the cradled bee;
But fairer than the diamond dew
Or lily, was the flower that grew
Beneath the old Beech Tree.

Rose-petaled with a golden fringe,
And calyx to agree;
A dash of sea-foam and a tinge
Of sky in harmony;
The subtile perfume sunny smiles,
And sunnier love, though but a child's,
Beneath an old Beech Tree.

One morn I sought the cooling shade
With heart as light and free
As snowy whitecap ever played
Upon the bounding sea;
But she, the fairy child, was gone,--
The flower that grew for me alone--
Beneath the old Beech Tree.

The brooks still ran the hills among
And babbled on in glee;
The birds still mated, loved and sung
In tuneful melody:
But all the soul of song was lost;
My flower had withered with the frost
Beneath the old Beech Tree.

The years ran on in golden sands
For lovers rapidly;
The flowers waved their magic wands
And smiled still joyously:
But love's enchanting power was gone
For me whom Death had left alone
Beneath the old Beech Tree.

* * * * *

The moonlight sifting through the leaves
Fell soft and silvery,
As threads that sly Arachne weaves
With artful modesty;
It fell and wove a mystic veil
About her face; my cheek grew pale
Beneath the Chestnut Tree.

A breathless moment, all was still;
A deep solemnity
Hung over earth,--and then a thrill
Of love and mystery--
An odor of a rare perfume,
The sweetest flower that e'er did bloom
Beneath the Chestnut Tree!

The brooks now run the hil