214
THE MOUNTAIN ROAD
Or silent crept from tree to tree—
Spirit of stealthy vengeance, he!
Or breathless crouched while through the brake
The wild deer stole his thirst to slake.
Spirit of stealthy vengeance, he!
Or breathless crouched while through the brake
The wild deer stole his thirst to slake.
The barefoot school-boys rushing out,
An eager, crowding, roisterous rout;
The sturdy lads; the lassies gay
As bobolinks in merry May;
An eager, crowding, roisterous rout;
The sturdy lads; the lassies gay
As bobolinks in merry May;
The farmer whistling to his team
When first the dawn begins to gleam;
The loaded wains that one by one
Drag slowly home at set of sun;
When first the dawn begins to gleam;
The loaded wains that one by one
Drag slowly home at set of sun;
Young lovers straying hand in hand
Within a fair, enchanted land;
And many a bride with lingering feet;
And many a matron calm and sweet;
Within a fair, enchanted land;
And many a bride with lingering feet;
And many a matron calm and sweet;
And many an old man bent with pain;
And many a solemn funeral train;
And sometimes, red against the sky,
An army's banners waving high!
And many a solemn funeral train;
And sometimes, red against the sky,
An army's banners waving high!
All mysteries of life and death
To which the spirit answereth,
Are thine, O lonely mountain road,
That followed where the river flowed!
To which the spirit answereth,
Are thine, O lonely mountain road,
That followed where the river flowed!
