947. The Light'ood Fire by John Henry Boner. Stedman, Edmund Clarence, ed. 1900. An American Anthology, 1787-1900

Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

947. The Light’ood Fire

By John Henry Boner


WHEN wintry days are dark and drear
And all the forest ways grow still,
When gray snow-laden clouds appear
Along the bleak horizon hill,
When cattle all are snugly penned	5
And sheep go huddling close together,
When steady streams of smoke ascend
From farm-house chimneys,—in such weather
Give me old Carolina’s own,
A great log house, a great hearth-stone,	10
A cheering pipe of cob or briar,
And a red, leaping light’ood fire.

When dreary day draws to a close
And all the silent land is dark,
When Boreas down the chimney blows	15
And sparks fly from the crackling bark,
When limbs are bent with snow or sleet
And owls hoot from the hollow tree,
With hounds asleep about your feet,
Then is the time for reverie.	20
Give me old Carolina’s own,
A hospitable wide hearthstone,
A cheering pipe of cob or briar,
And a red, rousing light’ood fire.