BRIDAL BALLAD.

THE

ring is on my hand,
And the wreath is on my brow;

Satins and jewels grand

Are

all at my command,
And I am happy now.

And

my lord he loves me well;
But, when first he breathed his vow,

I felt my bosom swell -
For the words rang as a knell,
And the voice seemed his who fell
In the battle down the dell,
And who is happy now.

But

he spoke to re-asure me,
And he kissed my pallid brow,

While a reverie came o're me,
And to the church-yard bore me,
And I sighed to him before me,
Thinking him dead D'Elormie,
"Oh, I am happy now!"

And

thus the words were spoken,
And this the plighted vow,

And, though my faith be broken,
And, though my heart be broken,
Behold the golden token

That proves me happy now!

Would God I could awaken!
For I dream I know not how,
And my soul is sorely shaken
Lest an evil step be taken, -
Lest the dead who is forsaken
May not be happy now.