WE TWO.

We own no houses, no lots, no lands; No dainty viands for us are spread; By sweat of our brows, and toil of our hands, We earn the pittance that buys us bread. And yet we live in a grander state, Sunbeam and I, than the millionaires Who dine off silver or golden plate, With liveried lacqueys behind their chairs. We have no riches in bonds or stocks; No bank books show, our balance to draw; Yet we carry a safe-key, that unlocks More treasure than Crœsus ever saw. We wear no velvets, nor satins fine; We dress in a very homely way; But, ah! what luminous lustres shine About Sunbeam's gowns and my hodden gray. When we walk together—(we do not ride, We are far too poor)—it is very rare We are bowed unto from the other side Of the street—but not for this do we care. We are not lonely; we pass along, Sunbeam and I, and you cannot see (We can) what tall and beautiful throng Of angels we have for company. No harp, no dulcimer, no guitar, Breaks into singing at Sunbeam's touch; But do not think that our evenings are Without their music; there is none such In the concert halls where the palpitant air In musical billows floats and swims; Our lives are as psalms, and our foreheads wear A calm like the feel of beautiful hymns. When cloudy weather obscures our skies, And some days darken with drops of rain, We have but to look in each other's eyes, And all is balmy and bright again. Ah! ours is the alchemy that transmutes The dregs to elixir, the dross to gold; And so we live on Hesperian fruits, Sunbeam and I, and never grow old. Never grow old: and we live in peace, And we love our fellows, and envy none; And our hearts are glad at the large increase Of plenteous virtue under the sun. And the days pass by with their thoughtful tread, And the shadows lengthen toward the west; But the wane of our young years brings no dread, To break our harvest of quiet rest. Sunbeam's hair will be streaked with gray, And Time will furrow my darling's brow; But never can Time's hand take away The tender halo that clasps it now. So we dwell in wonderful opulence, With nothing to hurt us, nor upbraid; And my life trembles with reverence, And Sunbeam's spirit is not afraid.