Poems (Charlotte Allen)/The Woodman's Cottage

by Charlotte Allen

THE WOODMAN'S COTTAGE.

Beside the lake, a Cottage stood,
 Of humble, rustic mien;
While far around, a thickly wood
 Bounded the forest scene.
Beneath that lowly roof there dwelt
 A woodman and his wife;
To whom kind Providence had dealt
 The sweets of human life.

A little farm he tilled with care,
 Which well repaid his toil;
Content made sweet his humble fare,
 Culled from his rural soil.
His fond wife shared with him the sweets,
 Of dear domestic joy;
The centre where all pleasure meets,
 And nought should e'er destroy.

One little boy, a Father's pride,
 Was all the pledge they had;
And more to them, than the world beside,
 Was this joyous hearted lad.
And when their daily toil was o'er.
 And the sun had sought the west,
When twilight on the sea and shore,
 In darkening hues was drest;

The matron on the sanded floor,
 Then placed her little stand,
And with a meek eyed spirit bore
 The Bible in her hand;
Her husband read in accents fair,
 From the inspired page;
And then breathed forth the fervent prayer,
 For all, in "every age."

Before his father's knees then knelt
 In prayer, their little boy;
A parent's love was all he felt,
 'T was all his earthly joy.
Thus lived the woodman and his wife,
 Within their humble cot;
And truly theirs was a happy life,
 Contentment marked their lot.