| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
| |
| 1657. Romance |
| | | By Mildred Howells |
| |
| |
| DOWN from a sunken doorstep to the road, | |
| Through a warm garden full of old-time flowers, | |
| Stretches a pathway, where the wrinkled toad | |
| Sits lost in sunlight through long summer hours. | |
| |
| Ah, little dream the passers in the street | 5 |
| That there, a few yards from the old house door, | |
| Just where the apple and the pear trees meet, | |
| The noble deeds of old are lived once more!— | |
| |
| That there, within the gold-lit wavering shade, | |
| To Joan of Arc angelic voices sing, | 10 |
| And once again the brave inspired maid | |
| Gives up her life for France and for her king. | |
| |
| Or, now no more the fields of France are seen, | |
| They change to England’s rougher, colder shore, | |
| Where rules Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen, | 15 |
| Or where King Arthur holds his court once more. | |
| |
| The stupid village folk they cannot see; | |
| Their eyes are old, and as they pass their way, | |
| It only seems to them beneath the tree | |
| They see a little dark-eyed girl at play. | 20 |
| |
|
|
|
