In father's arms I nestle,
Caressing soft, dark hair;
I beg for one more story,
Or breathe my childhood's prayer.

My heart cries out, when fancy
Brings mother back to me,
Her loving care o'er shadows
The past sweet memory.

The house now grows resplendent
With joys of former scene,
My brothers loved so dearly,
And life a happy dream.

Our uncle, kind and tender,
The cousins, buoyant, gay;
My playmates calling for me,
To school we his away.

Awakened from my dreaming,
Time speaks of saddened years,
Two-score more, and voices hushed.
Flow now, ye pent-up tears!

Oh, voices hushed, where art thou?
A stranger lone I stand.
Good-bye, good-bye, old homestead;
Farewell, sweet mystic band.