Etchings in Verse (Underhill)/On the River

by Andrew Findlay Underhill

ON THE RIVER.

'TWAS moonlight there on the river:
 We dreamily drifted along:
The stars on the water did quiver,
 The breezes whispered their song;

And a spell was woven around us:
 Our hearts were too full for speech;
For we thought of the tie that had bound us
 When we plighted our vows each to each.

'Twas a year since the day we had parted,
 And we were united once more—
Ah! we who had been broken-hearted
 A look of contentment now wore.

The pale moon was slowly a-waning,
 But the stars they looked steadfast and sad;
The wavelets had ceased their complaining,
 And the river in silence was clad.

But the shadows fell farther and longer,
 Which told the descent of the moon;
And the joy of our hearts it grew stronger
 For midnight would be on us soon.

So I took out my golden "repeater,"
 And I looked at its face with a smile—
Ah! each second its ticking grew sweeter,
 As the moments fled from us the while.

And the minute hand went around slowly;
 The second-hand kept to its pace,
Till the index stood over that holy,
 Twelfth hour at the top of the face.

Then I put up my watch in a hurry,
 And I drew from my coat some "old rye;"
And I said: "Dave, old fellow don't worry:
 There's enough for us both, or I lie."

"'Tis a year since we swore off together,
 And we've kept to our pledges like men.
Well, here's to ye!—good luck, and fair weather,
 But I'm d———d if I swear off again!"