Poems (Barker)/Little May and Bruin
Little May and Bruin.
'Tis four o'clock, and from the open doorway
The merry scholars, laughing, bound away:
While at her desk still sits the weary teacher,
Too tired to watch them in their harmless play.
How fair she looks and frail, this pale, young creature,
A lovely woman, battling for her bread:
Over her shoulders her fair hair is floating,
While two white hands support the drooping head.
The merry scholars, laughing, bound away:
While at her desk still sits the weary teacher,
Too tired to watch them in their harmless play.
How fair she looks and frail, this pale, young creature,
A lovely woman, battling for her bread:
Over her shoulders her fair hair is floating,
While two white hands support the drooping head.
But suddenly the open door is darkened,
A stalwart form comes quickly to her side;
A flush of joy lights up the young girl's features,
A look of trusting peace and loving pride.
"Oh Mary, Mary, you've been grieving, darling!"
And in his own he took the fair, white hands.
"Between us and our long-planned happy future,
So much of hindrance and of waiting stands.
A stalwart form comes quickly to her side;
A flush of joy lights up the young girl's features,
A look of trusting peace and loving pride.
"Oh Mary, Mary, you've been grieving, darling!"
And in his own he took the fair, white hands.
"Between us and our long-planned happy future,
So much of hindrance and of waiting stands.
"And lately I've been thinking, Mary darling,
That if I went away to the far West,
Perhaps that I would sooner be in building
For my dear bird a cosy, little nest:
And I will work with heart and hands, my darling,
Inspired by thoughts of this sweet, patient face,
This little form, so tender and so loving,
That holds for me each earthly charm and grace.
That if I went away to the far West,
Perhaps that I would sooner be in building
For my dear bird a cosy, little nest:
And I will work with heart and hands, my darling,
Inspired by thoughts of this sweet, patient face,
This little form, so tender and so loving,
That holds for me each earthly charm and grace.
"Then I'll come back a happy man and claim you,
And all our dreams and fancies will come true;
But you must promise to be very careful,
When I have gone so far away from you.
What is it, Mary? Can it be you're crying?
You, who have always been so brave and true?"
"Yes, and I will be yet," the young girl answered,
"If you will only let me go with you."
And all our dreams and fancies will come true;
But you must promise to be very careful,
When I have gone so far away from you.
What is it, Mary? Can it be you're crying?
You, who have always been so brave and true?"
"Yes, and I will be yet," the young girl answered,
"If you will only let me go with you."
"If there is care, we'll share it dear, together;
If there is joy, our mutual joy 'twill be;
We'll build our nest in sunshine and ill-weather,
And help and cheer each other, don't you see?"
So Ned and Mary in the sunny spring time.
Pledged their two hearts, to share each other's life;
The sun ne'er looked upon a happier husband,
Nor smiled upon a fonder, fairer wife.
If there is joy, our mutual joy 'twill be;
We'll build our nest in sunshine and ill-weather,
And help and cheer each other, don't you see?"
So Ned and Mary in the sunny spring time.
Pledged their two hearts, to share each other's life;
The sun ne'er looked upon a happier husband,
Nor smiled upon a fonder, fairer wife.
And in the far-off Western wild together,
Far from the sight of any human face,
With patient bands, and hearts by love uplifted,
They laid the plans for their abiding place.
And as the days went by, a tiny dwelling
Sprang into view beside a brooklet fair;
A grand, old mountain towered high above them,
And lovely flowers blossomed everywhere.
Far from the sight of any human face,
With patient bands, and hearts by love uplifted,
They laid the plans for their abiding place.
And as the days went by, a tiny dwelling
Sprang into view beside a brooklet fair;
A grand, old mountain towered high above them,
And lovely flowers blossomed everywhere.
Their life was peaceful, toiling late and early.
With promise of the pleasure yet to come,
For every monarch felled or seedling planted,
Kept softly whispering to them, "This is home."
And so the months went by; another summer
Had brought its beauty to this quiet place,
And Ned grew still more tender to his darling,
And watched each look of the dear, patient face.
With promise of the pleasure yet to come,
For every monarch felled or seedling planted,
Kept softly whispering to them, "This is home."
And so the months went by; another summer
Had brought its beauty to this quiet place,
And Ned grew still more tender to his darling,
And watched each look of the dear, patient face.
And when the trees had turned to red and yellow,
There came to them a little welcome guest;
Their loving hearts and arms were widely opened
To take this little bird into their nest.
Ob, such a dainty bird, whose first faint cooing
Made wondrous music in that little cot;
A blessing sent from God, they fondly called her,
To brighten and to sanctity their lot.
There came to them a little welcome guest;
Their loving hearts and arms were widely opened
To take this little bird into their nest.
Ob, such a dainty bird, whose first faint cooing
Made wondrous music in that little cot;
A blessing sent from God, they fondly called her,
To brighten and to sanctity their lot.
How fair she grew, so dimpled and so rosy,
This little blossom in the woodland wild,
And all the graces of the fond young parents
Seemed to be doubled in the gentle child.
The years stole on, 'till three had blossomed round her,
And glad, light-hearted, happy little May,
Without a care or sorrow to perplex her,
Danced in the sunshine all the live-long day.
This little blossom in the woodland wild,
And all the graces of the fond young parents
Seemed to be doubled in the gentle child.
The years stole on, 'till three had blossomed round her,
And glad, light-hearted, happy little May,
Without a care or sorrow to perplex her,
Danced in the sunshine all the live-long day.
Oft with her little basket lade with treasure,
She followed papa to his daily toil,
Or sang within the open door for mamma—
The brightest blossom of that Western soil.
One day the mother tied the little bonnet,
And stooped to kiss the glad, expectant face,
Before she started out with the dear papa,
For the accustomed merry noonday race.
She followed papa to his daily toil,
Or sang within the open door for mamma—
The brightest blossom of that Western soil.
One day the mother tied the little bonnet,
And stooped to kiss the glad, expectant face,
Before she started out with the dear papa,
For the accustomed merry noonday race.
"When she gets tired send her to me, husband,
I'll keep a watch. Farewell, my pretty one.
One—two—and three. start fair, be careful, papa!
Our little girl has won the race; well done!"
Then to her work the busy housewife started,
And through the long and sunny afternoon
She sang old songs and worked with willing fingers,
The warp of life one sweet and tender tune.
I'll keep a watch. Farewell, my pretty one.
One—two—and three. start fair, be careful, papa!
Our little girl has won the race; well done!"
Then to her work the busy housewife started,
And through the long and sunny afternoon
She sang old songs and worked with willing fingers,
The warp of life one sweet and tender tune.
But when the shades of night began to lengthen—
"How long the baby stays, 'tis time for Ned:
I'm sure the little bird is tired and sleepy,
She ought to fold her wings, and go to bed.
Oh, there he comes! I hear his merry whistle,
But where is baby? Ned, where is our May?"
"She came to you long hours ago," he answered;
"She wanted mamma, and she would not stay.
"How long the baby stays, 'tis time for Ned:
I'm sure the little bird is tired and sleepy,
She ought to fold her wings, and go to bed.
Oh, there he comes! I hear his merry whistle,
But where is baby? Ned, where is our May?"
"She came to you long hours ago," he answered;
"She wanted mamma, and she would not stay.
"Is she not here? Speak wife!" The startled father
Reads the dread answer in her anguished eyes.
"I watched her to the very gate. Oh, Mary!
See here one little shoe and stocking lies.
Where is our child. Great God in heaven help us!
Alone, and to the beasts of night a prey!
I'll go, dear wife, and surely I will find her.
But lest she wander home, you here must stay.
Reads the dread answer in her anguished eyes.
"I watched her to the very gate. Oh, Mary!
See here one little shoe and stocking lies.
Where is our child. Great God in heaven help us!
Alone, and to the beasts of night a prey!
I'll go, dear wife, and surely I will find her.
But lest she wander home, you here must stay.
"Bring me my gun, and give me food and water,
She will be hungry: do not fret, dear one.
Trust to the arm that than our own is stronger.
And all that can be, darling, shall be done."
Through the long night the heart-sick father wandered,
Torn by the briers and bruised by many a fall,
But still no answer came through the dread silence,
But the weird echo to his frenzied call.
She will be hungry: do not fret, dear one.
Trust to the arm that than our own is stronger.
And all that can be, darling, shall be done."
Through the long night the heart-sick father wandered,
Torn by the briers and bruised by many a fall,
But still no answer came through the dread silence,
But the weird echo to his frenzied call.
And when the beams of early morning found him,
Half up the mountain, near a darksome cave,
He well remembered that it had been told him
Whoever entered there would find a grave.
For 'twas the haunt of an old mountain grizzly
Whose name was terror many miles about:
And so he walked with cautions step, and slowly,
And hushed that long-repeated tearful shout.
Half up the mountain, near a darksome cave,
He well remembered that it had been told him
Whoever entered there would find a grave.
For 'twas the haunt of an old mountain grizzly
Whose name was terror many miles about:
And so he walked with cautions step, and slowly,
And hushed that long-repeated tearful shout.
Drawn by a strange desire to look within it,
He neared the cave and peered into its shade;
Then staggered back, with white lips set and rigid,
And raised his bloodshot eyes to heaven for aid.
Just near the entrance lay the massive creature.
His eyes were closed in sleep, but at his side
Slumbered his little child, his darling baby,
The comfort of the home, the joy, the pride.
He neared the cave and peered into its shade;
Then staggered back, with white lips set and rigid,
And raised his bloodshot eyes to heaven for aid.
Just near the entrance lay the massive creature.
His eyes were closed in sleep, but at his side
Slumbered his little child, his darling baby,
The comfort of the home, the joy, the pride.
Her little breath came fast, as if from weeping,
Her sunny curls upon the ground afloat,
While one wee baby hand was calmly resting
Upon old Bruin's rough and shaggy coat.
He raised his gun the little creature lying
So near the brute stirs in her restless sleep
And softly calls his name. Oh! anguished father,
This is no time, no time to wait or weep!
Her sunny curls upon the ground afloat,
While one wee baby hand was calmly resting
Upon old Bruin's rough and shaggy coat.
He raised his gun the little creature lying
So near the brute stirs in her restless sleep
And softly calls his name. Oh! anguished father,
This is no time, no time to wait or weep!
One upward glance and then his aim is taken:
The bullet to the mark has quickly sped;
The child is in his arms, and the old grizzly,
The terror of the mountain side, is dead.
"Oh, papa, is you come to get your baby?
I tried to find the sun, to get the gold;
But I will never try again to find it;
Because it gets so dark and still and cold.
The bullet to the mark has quickly sped;
The child is in his arms, and the old grizzly,
The terror of the mountain side, is dead.
"Oh, papa, is you come to get your baby?
I tried to find the sun, to get the gold;
But I will never try again to find it;
Because it gets so dark and still and cold.
"Has you been crying, too? Oh, papa, darling,
I guess God sended you to look for me,
And that's the very reason that you found me;
He must have led you, papa, don't you see?"
Oh, music sweeter than the song of angels,
That baby voice, and folded to his breast
He hastened to the new heart-broken mother,
A voiceless bird within a lonely nest.
I guess God sended you to look for me,
And that's the very reason that you found me;
He must have led you, papa, don't you see?"
Oh, music sweeter than the song of angels,
That baby voice, and folded to his breast
He hastened to the new heart-broken mother,
A voiceless bird within a lonely nest.
And mothers' hearts alone can tell the rapture
That filled her soul once more to see her child,
While e'en the father paused in awe struck silence
To see her joy, so passionate and wild.
And then together in the sunlight kneeling,
They blessed their God for this most wondrous day,
That from the cloud uplifted, in their bosom,
Still rests their baby, their dear little May.
That filled her soul once more to see her child,
While e'en the father paused in awe struck silence
To see her joy, so passionate and wild.
And then together in the sunlight kneeling,
They blessed their God for this most wondrous day,
That from the cloud uplifted, in their bosom,
Still rests their baby, their dear little May.