THE river sleeps beneath the sky, And clasps the shadows to its brea… The crescent moon shines dim on hi… And in the lately radiant west The gold is fading into gray.

A little dreaming by the way, A little toiling day by day; A little pain, a little strife, A little joy,—and that is life. A little short—lived summer’s morn…

HE scribbles some in prose and ve… And now and then he prints it; He paints a little, —gathers some Of Nature’s gold and mints it. He plays a little, sings a song,

ON THE RECEIPT OF A F… To me, like hauntings of a vagrant… From some far forest which I once… The perfume of this flower of vers… Tho’ seemingly soul—blossoms faint…

DO’ a—stan’in’ on a jar, fiah a—s… thoo, Ol’ folks drowsin’ 'roun’ de place… wide awake is Lou, W’en I tap, she answah, an’ I see

Oh, the day has set me dreaming In a strange, half solemn way Of the feelings I experienced On another long past day,— Of the way my heart made music

W’en daih’s chillun in de house, Dey keep on a—gittin’ tall; But de folks don’ seem to see Dat dey’s growin’ up at all, 'Twell dey fin’ out some fine day

IN de dead of night I sometimes, Git to t’inkin’ of de pas’ An’ de days w’en slavery helt me In my mis’ry —ha’d an’ fas’. Dough de time was mighty tryin’,

AH, yes, ‘t is sweet still to rem… Though ’t were less painful to for… For while my heart glows like an e… Mine eyes with sorrow’s drops are… And, oh, my heart is aching yet.

OH, de grubbin’—hoe’s a—rustin’ i… An’ de plow’s a—tumblin’ down in d… While de whippo’will’s a—wailin’ l… When his stubbo’n hea’t is tryin’… In de furrers whah de co’n was all…

Whut dat you whisperin’ keepin’ f’… Don’t shut me out ‘cause I ’s ol’… Somep’n’s gone wrong dat 's a—caus… Don’t be afeared to tell—Whut! ma… Somebody brung de news early to—da…

Summah 's nice, wif sun a—shinin’, Spring is good wif greens and gras… An’ dey 's some t’ings nice 'bout… Dough hit brings de freezin’ blas; But de time dat is de fines’,

THE trees bend down along the str… Where anchored swings my tiny boat… The day is one to drowse and dream And list the thrush’s throttling n… When music from his bosom bleeds

WHY fades a dream? An iridescent ray Flecked in between the tryst Of night and day. Why fades a dream? —

ON the wide veranda white, In the purple failing light, Sits the master while the sun is l… And his dreamy thoughts are drowne… In the softly flowing sound