ught of childish fancy,
More beauteous than the pen of romance
Has pictured of the days of chivalry.
But their little dreaming childhood,
Painted no baronial robber.
Saw no haughty plumed tiara,
Heard no clank in Norman donjon.
In the palace, dream-constructed,
Where the little waifs lay nestled
In each other's arms fraternal,
Love had built a shining altar,
War had laid aside his armor,
And the knights that there assembled
Were their little homeless brothers,
Gathered from the ranks of sorrow,
Orphans, outcasts, gamin, wanderers.

WADE

Out of the infinite depths of love,
Floated a spirit song,
Plaintive and sad as coo of dove,
Burdened for sin and wrong;
So tender and sweet the melody,
None heard that song but he.

Out of the days of childhood joys,
Faded the smile of light;
The sun that dazzled other boys,
For him was never bright:
The birds sang sweet on every tree--
All heard their songs but he.

Out of the realms of infinite light,
A song of infinite glee;
The faded smile of joy grew bright,
"Mother is waiting for thee."
So tender and sweet the melody,
None heard that song but he.

A SONG

In the mountains of Kentucky,
Where the ivy's astral bloom
And the laurel's waxen petals
Shed a rich and rare perfume;
Where the purple rhododendron
And the wild forget-me-not
Bloom in amorous profusion
Round a little mossy grot.
It was there I left Rowena,
She is waiting now for me,
While I linger here impatient,
For my love I long to see.
Oh, but soon I know I'll see her,
And never more we'll part--
In the mountains of Kentucky,
Lives my own, my true sweetheart.

_Refrain_

She's a fairy, I'll admit, a little airy;
But her eyes are like the blue Aegean sea:
And her auburn hair, it would drive you to despair,
For Rowena's heart is true to none but me.

In the mountains of Kentucky,
Though the grass may not be blue,
Yet the streams are swift and sparkling,
And Rowena's heart is true:
And I love the lofty mountains,
And the deep and darkling coves,
Where the redbirds gloom and glimmer,
And Rowena lives and loves.
'Tis the home, they say, of feudist,
Where the h