THE GENTLE STEP.

———

BY HARRIET J. MEEK.

———

Hearts somewhere beat, from which it cannot pass;

Earth has no sunshine left, nor time nor place,

But a new scene slides o’er the magic glass,

And we forget the space.

Light, and still lighter seemed that step to fall;

I scarce could tell you when it ceased, or how;

A breathing spirit walked the earth—’tis all—

That does not walk it now.

I think sometimes upon the sunny floor

I see the shadow of her golden hair;

And turn half-dreaming to the open door,

To look if she is there.

And then I mind. Life’s rough and thorny round

Would long ere this have torn the folded wing

Whose downy waving glided over sound,

And left it slumbering.

Death came, when flowers were passing from the earth;

We thought to hear the clanking of his chain,

But the light step one evening left the hearth,

And came not back again.