MALINDY’S SONG
When I was young I often heard
There was no sign or token
By which to know a lover’s word
Would not be shortly broken.
I feared to trust love to entwine
Without a due reflection
Around this foolish heart of mine
To ravish its affection.
I thought ’twould rob my peace of mind
And force the tear to trickle
Upon a fading cheek to find
The love I loved was fickle.
And yet it seemed that if I knew
A lover not ungraceful
And I could feel that he was true,
I’d surely be as faithful.
And really, once there came a beau
Who wooed me very kindly,
But love is blind, I said, and oh!
I feared to love so blindly.
And yet it seemed that very day
I found my heart relenting,
But he was gone, Oh, gone away!
And I was left repenting.
So, often now there comes a day
I seem to be expecting
That love will come and come to stay,
For I have quit reflecting.
“There’s no use reflecting”—a sort of refrain
That went ’round the room and repeated again
When the dancing was over. “I’m always reflecting,”
Said Roland, quite proudly. “I think you’re expecting
That some one will love you,” laughed shy Letha Lane,
“How sad it would be if she loved you in vain!”
“I should think it were sadder,” the great witling said,
“If loving bold Roland, bold Roland she’d wed.”
With a little small wit—a supposed repartee,
Thus every one went on their own merry way.
They gathered in groups, as you’ve seen dancers do,
Discussing a well-worn gossip or two;
Louisa was telling a personal affair
Which Neoma was hearing with sisterly care.
’Twas a subject some slyly had whispered in jest;
Louisa denied it at first, then confessed
To a folly her heart would no longer conceal,
Which most girls, though dying, would scarcely reveal—
Confession’s a troublesome thing in our youth—
But see how Louisa could tell the whole truth.