27 "No doubtful balance of rights and wrongs, Nor weary lawyers with endless tongues, 28 "But low of cattle and song of birds, 29 But he thought of his sisters proud and cold, And his mother vain of her rank and gold. 30 So, closing his heart, the Judge rode on, 31 But the lawyers smiled that afternoon, When he hummed in court an old love-tune; 32 And the young girl mused beside the well, 33 He wedded a wife of richest dower, Who lived for fashion, as he for power. 34 Yet oft, in his marble hearth's bright glow, He watched a picture come and go; 35 And sweet Maud Muller's hazel eyes 36 Oft, when the wine in his glass was red, 37 And closed his eyes on his garnished rooms, 38 And the proud man sighed, with a secret pain, "Ah, that I were free again! 39 "Free as when I rode that day, Where the barefoot maiden raked her hay.” 40 She wedded a man unlearned and poor, 41 And oft, when the summer sun shone hot 42 And she heard the little spring brook fall 43 In the shade of the apple-tree again 44 And, gazing down with timid grace, 45 Sometimes her narrow kitchen walls 46 The weary wheel to a spinnet turned, 47 And for him who sat by the chimney lug, 48 A manly form at her side she saw, 49 Then she took up her burden of life again, 50 Alas for maiden, alas for Judge, 51 God pity them both! and pity us all, 52 For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: "It might have been !" 53 Ah, well! for us all some sweet hope lies THE FLOWER OF LIBERTY. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.* 1 What flower is this that greets the morn, It is the banner of the free, The starry Flower of Liberty. 2 In savage Nature's far abode Its tender seed our fathers sowed; Then hail the banner of the free, The starry Flower of Liberty. 3 Behold its streaming rays unite, One mingling flood of braided light,- The sister Stars of Liberty! Then hail the banner of the free, The starry Flower of Liberty! *For Biography see p. 253. |