Though bleak these woods and damp the
With fallen leaves so thickly strewn,
And cold the wind that wanders
With wild and melancholy moan,
There is a friendly roof I
Might shield me from the wintry blast;
There is a fire whose ruddy
Will cheer me for my wanderings past.
And so, though still where'er I
Cold stranger glances meet my eye,
Though when my spirit sinks in
Unheeded swells the unbidden sigh,
Though solitude endured too
Bids youthful joys too soon decay,
Makes mirth a stranger to my
And overclouds my noon of day,
When kindly thoughts that would have
Flow back discouraged to my breastI know there is, though far awayA home where heart and soul may rest.
Warm hands are there that clasped in
The warmer heart will not belie,
While mirth and truth and friendship
In smiling lip and earnest eye.
The ice that gathers round my
May there be thawed; and sweetly
The joys of youth that now
Will come to cheer my soul again.
Though far I roam, this thought shall
My hope, my comfort everywhere;
While such a home remains to
My heart shall never know despair.
Hespera Caverndel
