Poems (Merrill)/The Cottage by the River
Appearance
THE COTTAGE BY THE RIVER
(Lines on a very old house situated on the west shore of the Nezinscot river, and some distance from any other dwelling.)
On the bank of Old Nezinscot,
Where the sparkling waters flow
Down this sea-ward course, as freely
As the roving winds that blow.
Stands a cottage by the river—
(Built upon the side-hill plan;—
Think it was a blacksmith built it
Else it was a crazy man!
Where the sparkling waters flow
Down this sea-ward course, as freely
As the roving winds that blow.
Stands a cottage by the river—
(Built upon the side-hill plan;—
Think it was a blacksmith built it
Else it was a crazy man!
Must have been an awful ship wreck
Once, upon Nezinscot's waves;
When a score or more of sailors
Went down to their watery graves—
All except old Robinson Crusoe,
Guess he landed on a scow;
And this fact seems most emphatic
For man "Friday" lives there now!
Once, upon Nezinscot's waves;
When a score or more of sailors
Went down to their watery graves—
All except old Robinson Crusoe,
Guess he landed on a scow;
And this fact seems most emphatic
For man "Friday" lives there now!
Probably, from out the wreckage
They contrived to save their goods,—
Then, with jack-knife and a hatchet
Built this cottage in the woods—
Must have been some ship-wreck'd sailor
By the angry tempest tossed—
Or an aeronaut that landed
Who with his balloon was lost.
They contrived to save their goods,—
Then, with jack-knife and a hatchet
Built this cottage in the woods—
Must have been some ship-wreck'd sailor
By the angry tempest tossed—
Or an aeronaut that landed
Who with his balloon was lost.
Doubtless, then, this lonely exile
Fought the wild-cat and the bear—
Else he'd not have pitched his cabin
Forty miles from any where—
Far away from habitation—
Neither do we often find
Houses that are built like this one
With the front door on behind!)
Fought the wild-cat and the bear—
Else he'd not have pitched his cabin
Forty miles from any where—
Far away from habitation—
Neither do we often find
Houses that are built like this one
With the front door on behind!)
Though in this salubrious climate
Often lurks the river fogs;—
Yet the sweet, halcyon chorus
Of the whip-poor-wills and frogs
When the twilight shadows gather
And the sun sinks in the west—
Calms and sooths the fever'd pillow,
Lulls the weary into rest.
Often lurks the river fogs;—
Yet the sweet, halcyon chorus
Of the whip-poor-wills and frogs
When the twilight shadows gather
And the sun sinks in the west—
Calms and sooths the fever'd pillow,
Lulls the weary into rest.
Then all hail—all hail to Crusoe
(Or what ever was his name)
Who discovered this fair haven,
And in reverence well proclaim
That to him who built this cottage
We should ever give our thanks
For the hours we've spent in pleasure
On Nezinscot's mossy banks!
(Or what ever was his name)
Who discovered this fair haven,
And in reverence well proclaim
That to him who built this cottage
We should ever give our thanks
For the hours we've spent in pleasure
On Nezinscot's mossy banks!