Etchings in Verse (Underhill)/On the River
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!"