WITHIN the sitting-room, the company Had been increased in number. Two or three Young couples had been added: Emma King, Ella and Mary Mathers -- all could sing Like veritable angels -- Lydia Martin, too, And Nelly Millikan. -- What songs they knew! -- @3"'Ever of thee -- wherever I may be, Fondly I'm drea-m-ing ever of thee!'"@1 And with their gracious voices blend the grace Of Warsaw Barnett's tenor; and the bass Unfathomed of Wick Chapman -- Fancy still Can @3feel,@1 as well as @3hear@1 it, thrill on thrill, Vibrating plainly down the backs of chairs And through the wall and up the old hall-stairs. -- Indeed, young Chapman's voice especially Attracted @3Mr. Hammond.@1 -- For, said he, Waiving the most Elysian sweetness of The @3ladies'@1 voices -- altitudes above The @3man's@1 for sweetness; -- @3but@1 -- as @3contrast,@1 would Not Mr. Chapman be so very good As, just now, to oblige @3all@1 with -- in fact, Some sort of @3jolly@1 song, -- to counteract In part, at least, the sad, pathetic trend Of music @3generally@1. Which wish our friend "The Noted Traveler" made second to With heartiness -- and so each, in review, Joined in -- until the radiant @3basso@1 cleared His wholly unobstructed throat and peered Intently at the ceiling -- voice and eye As opposite indeed as earth and sky. -- Thus he uplifted his vast bass and let It roam at large the memories booming yet: "'Old Simon the Cellarer keeps a rare store Of Malmsey and Malvoi-sie, Of Cyprus, and who can say how many more? -- But a chary old soul is he-e-ee -- A chary old so-u-l is he! Of hock and Canary he never doth fail; And all the year round, there is brewing of ale; -- Yet he never aileth, he quaintly doth say, While he keeps to his sober six flagons a day.'" . . . And then the chorus -- the men's voices all @3Warred@1 in it -- like a German Carnival. -- Even @3Mrs.@1 Hammond smiled, as in her youth, Hearing her husband. -- And in veriest truth "The Noted Traveler's" ever-present hat Seemed just relaxed a little, after that, As at conclusion of the Bacchic song He stirred his "float" vehemently and long. Then Cousin Rufus with his flute, and art Blown blithely through it from both soul and heart -- Inspired to heights of mastery by the glad, Enthusiastic audience he had In the young ladies of a town that knew No other flutist, -- nay, nor @3wanted@1 to, Since they had heard @3his@1 "Polly Hopkins Waltz," Or "Rickett's Hornpipe," with its faultless faults, As rendered solely, he explained, "by ear," Having but heard it once, Commencement Year, At "Old Ann Arbor." Little Maymie now Seemed "friends" with @3Mr. Hammond@1 -- anyhow, Was lifted to his lap -- where settled, she, Enthroned thus, in her dainty majesty, Gained @3universal@1 audience -- although Addressing him alone: -- "I'm come to show You my new Red-blue pencil; and @3she@1 says" -- (Pointing to @3Mrs.@1 Hammond) -- "that she guess' You'll make a @3picture@1 fer me." "And what @3kind@1 Of picture?" Mr. Hammond asked, inclined To serve the child as bidden, folding square The piece of paper she had brought him there, -- "I don't know," Maymie said -- "only ist make A @3little dirl,@1 like me!" He paused to take A sharp view of the child, and then he drew -- A while with red, and then a while with blue -- The outline of a little girl that stood In converse with a wolf in a great wood; And she had on a hood and cloak of red -- As Maymie watched -- @3"Red Riding-Hood!"@1 she said. "And who's @3'Red Riding-Hood'?"@1 "W'y, don't @3you@1 know?" Asked little Maymie -- But the man looked so All uninformed, that little Maymie could But tell him @3all about@1 Red Riding-Hood. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A SUMMER NIGHT by GEORGE WILLIAM RUSSELL FAUSTINE by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE BY BLUE ONTARIO'S SHORE by WALT WHITMAN THE BREAKING POINT by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET A SWEET PASTORAL by NICHOLAS BRETON TO HIS FRIEND THE AUTHOR UPON HIS POEM by CHRISTOPHER BROOKE |