the vacant chair.
153
And they have search'd the valleys round,
And sought him on the lone sea-shore,
Call'd loudly on his name; no sound
In answer came, save ocean's roar.
And sought him on the lone sea-shore,
Call'd loudly on his name; no sound
In answer came, save ocean's roar.
Now months and years have onward roll'd,
And yet no word to the bereft,
Of their dear lost one: still they hold
That day as sacred when he left
His happy home; still on that day
His widow'd bride, the fond and fair,
Bedecks her in the same array,
And takes her seat beside his chair,
And yet no word to the bereft,
Of their dear lost one: still they hold
That day as sacred when he left
His happy home; still on that day
His widow'd bride, the fond and fair,
Bedecks her in the same array,
And takes her seat beside his chair,
That vacant chair, oft wet with tears
Wrung from fond hearts, with woe replete,
It stands unoccupied for years,
And no one dares profane that seat.
The bridal day again returns,
They sit in silence round the board,
Each tear-fraught eye in muteness mourns
For the long absent, long deplored.
Wrung from fond hearts, with woe replete,
It stands unoccupied for years,
And no one dares profane that seat.
The bridal day again returns,
They sit in silence round the board,
Each tear-fraught eye in muteness mourns
For the long absent, long deplored.
But who is he that rudely throws
Himself upon that hallow'd seat?
With out-stretch'd hand each guest arose
To raise the offender on his feet.
The stranger bared his head, and waved
The dark locks from his sun-burnt brow;
Fair Nora's bosom wildly heaved,
Her cheek burn'd with a sudden glow:
Himself upon that hallow'd seat?
With out-stretch'd hand each guest arose
To raise the offender on his feet.
The stranger bared his head, and waved
The dark locks from his sun-burnt brow;
Fair Nora's bosom wildly heaved,
Her cheek burn'd with a sudden glow:
