Applesgrowing carleton sabt
Apples Growing by Will Carleton Read for LibriVox.org by SkyAlbatross Underneath an apple tree sat a dame of comely seeming. With her work upon her knee and her great eyes idly dreaming, O'er the harvest-acres bright came her husband's din of reaping.
Near to her an infant white, through the tangled grass, was creeping. On the branches long and high, and the great green apples growing, Rested she her wandering eye, with a retrospective knowing, This, she said, the shelter is, where, when gay and raven-headed, I consented to be his, and our willing hearts were wedded.
Laughing words and peals of myrt long are changed to grave endeavour. Sorrow's minds have swept to earth, many a blossomed hope for ever. Thunder-heads have hovered o'er, storms my path have chilled and shaded. Of the bloom my gay yout bore, some has rooted, more has faded. Quickly and amid her sighs, through the grass, her baby wrestled,
Smiled on her its father's eyes, and on to her bosom nestled, With sudden, joyous glee, half the wives and half the mothers. Still the best is left, said she. I have learned to live for others.
