First Love.

(A. S.) 1845.


We met--he was a stranger,
    His foot was free to roam;
I was a simple maiden,
    Who had never left my home.

He was a noble scion
    Of the green Highland pine,
To a strange soil transplanted,
    Far from his native clime

And well his bearing pleased me,
    For I had never seen
Keener eye, or smile more sunlit,
    Or more dignity of mien.

His brow was fair and lofty,
    Bright was his clustering hair;
I marvelled that to other eyes
    He seemed not half so fair

His it was to plead with men,
    With "Thus my Lord hath said;"
He stood God's messenger between
    The living and the dead

When I heard how earnestly
    His pleading message ran,
I said, "Here God has set his seal
    To mark a perfect man."

The rapture of a moment
    Came suddenly to me;
With softened glance he asked me,
'Could you learn to think of me?'

The star of love shone o'er us,
    His arm was round me thrown
And he fondly said he loved me
    And loved but me alone

I was but a simple maiden
    Village born and village bred
And when this crown of gladness
    Dropped down upon my head

A simple maiden's feelings
    That moment sprang awake
I wished myself rich, noble
    And lovely for his sake

Ah, love akin to sorrow
    Ah, ecstasy so fleet!
Why is parting made the surer
    When the meeting is so sweet?

Quick as the flash of summer
    Came bliss to fade too soon
My poor heart swelled, as ocean
    Swells for the lady moon.

I saw him at the altar
    Upon a morning fair
The matron and the maiden,
    And paranymph were there

There were holy words, and wishes,
    And smiles when tears would start
A fair bride stood beside him,
    And I--I stood apart.

Then came the parting moment,
    After I loved him well;
I stilled my heart's sore beating,
    And so I said farewell,

And oh! may no remembrance
    Cause him a moment's pain,
But yet, indeed, I loved him,
    And I'll never love again.