A HOLIDAY.
WE met, and swift our friendship grew Mid pine-woods fragrant, full of bees. With glimpses of clear water through And murmuring voices in the trees.
The blue lake shone, the flowers were fair. We marked not how the days passed o'er. What wonder castles in the air Should rise upon Lake Leman's shore ?
Full of great purposes and wise, Your castle rose in splendour rare. All who should help your enterprise, Leader of men, you marshalled there.
And toiling millions, by your aid Enlightened, purer, woke to see The sunlight break beyond the shade Of ignorance and misery.
And my more humble castle stood A fair oasis full of peace.
A home in which the weary should Find welcome, and their troubles cease- Alas ! that holidays should end, That cloudy castles tumble down; The time has come, too soon, my friend, To take our way to London town.
Back from the pine-woods and the sun, To weary days and foggy skies, And work that somehow must be done Between the sunset and sunrise.
We two, from labour not exempt, Must part; yet friends we still shall be, Because of all the dreams we dreamt Beside Geneva's inland sea.
CLARA GRANT DUFF'.
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