Child of the pure unclouded brow
And dreaming eyes of wonder!
Though time be fleet, and I and thou
Are half a life asunder
Thy loving smile will surely hail
The love-gift of a fairy-tale. (x2)
I have not seen thy sunny face
Nor heard thy silver laughter:
No thought of me shall find a place
In thy young life's hereafter
Enough that now thou wilt not fail
To listen to my fairy-tale. (x2)
A tale begun in other days
When summer suns were glowing-
A simple chime, that served to time
The rhythm of our rowing-
Whose echoes live in memory yet
Though envious years would say 'forget.' (x2)
Come, hearken then, ere voice of dread
With bitter tidings laden
Shall summon to unwelcome bed
A melancholy maiden!
We are but older children, dear
Who fret to find our bedtime near. (x2)
Without, the frost, the blinding snow
The storm-wind's moody madness-
Within, the firelight's ruddy glow
And childhood's nest of gladness
The magic words shall hold thee fast:
Thou shalt not heed the raving blast. (x2)
And, though the shadow of a sigh
May tremble through the story
For 'happy summer days' gone by
And vanish'd summer glory-
It shall not touch, with breath of bale
The pleasance, of our fairy-tale. (x2)
Though time be fleet, and I and thou
Are half a life asunder
Thy loving smile will surely hail
The love-gift of a fairy-tale