Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: BALLADE OF OLD LOVES TI7HO is it stands on the polished stair, ' A merry, laughing, winsome maid, From the Christmas rose in her golden hair To the high-heeled slippers of spangled suede? A glance, half daring and half afraid, Gleams from her roguish eyes downcast; Already the vision begins to fade— Tis only a ghost of a Christmas Past. Who is it sits in that high-backed chair, Quaintly in ruff and patch arrayed, With a mockery gay of a stately air As she rustles the folds of her old brocade,— Merriest heart at the masquerade? Ah, but the picture is passing fast Back to the darkness from which it strayed— Tis only a ghost of a Christmas Past. Who is it whirls in a ball-room's glare, Her soft white hand on my shoulder laid, Like a radiant lily, tall and fair, While the violins in the corner played BALLADE OF OLD LOVES The wailing strains of the Serenade? Oh, lovely vision, too sweet to last— E'en now my fancy it will evade— Tis only a ghost of a Christmas Past. L'ENVOI Rosamond! look not so dismayed, All of my heart, dear love, thou hast. Jealous, beloved? Of a shade? — Tis only a ghost of a Christmas Past. MAIDEN MEDITATION (A RONDEAU) TV/TYRTILLA thinks! be still, oh, breeze, Ye birds, cease warbling in the trees, Ye wavelets, your light plash subdue, Ye turtle-doves, neglect to coo, And silent be, ye buzzing bees, Lest even your soft harmonies Intrude upon such thoughts as these, For though astonishing, 'tis true, Myrtilla thinks! Plunged in profoundest reveries, Fair visions her rapt fancy sees; So undecided what to do— Shall she wear pink? shall she wear blue? Amid her pretty fineries Mvrtilla thinks! A KARA AVIS there was an Easter Bonnet With some wings and feathers on it,...