With witless hope to bring her near;
'Nay, patience! patience, little boy!
Your tender mother cannot hear.'
"I told of hills, and far-off towns,
And long, long vales to travel through,—
He listens, puzzled, sore perplexed,
But he submits; what can he do?
"No strife disturbs his sister's breast;
She wars not with the mystery
Of time and distance, night and day;