This eBook was produced by David Widger
EMBERS
By Gilbert Parker
Volume 3.
CONTENTS
IN CAMDEN TOWNJEANA MEMORYIN CAMP AT JUNIPER COVEJUNIPER COVE TWENTY YEARS AFTERLISTENINGNEVERTHELESSISHMAELOVER THE HILLSTHE DELIVERERTHE DESERT ROADA SON OF THE NILEA FAREWELL FROM THE HAREMAN ARAB LOVE SONGTHE CAMEL-DRIVER TO HIS CAMELTHE TALL DABOONTHERE IS SORROW ON THE SEATHE AUSTRALIAN STOCBRIDERTHE BRIDGE OF THE HUNDRED SPANSNELL LATORE
IN CAMDEN TOWN
How many years of sun and snow
Have come to Camden Town,
Since through its streets and in its shade,
I wandered up and down.
Not many more than to you here
These verses hapless flung,
Yet of the Long Ago they seem
To me who am yet young.
We strive to measure life by Time,
And con the seasons o'er,
To find, alas! that days are years,
And years for evermore.
The joys that thrill, the ill that thralls,
Pressed down on heart and brain-
These are the only horologues,
The Age's loss or gain.
And I am old in all of these,
And wonder if I know
The man begotten of the boy,
Who loved that long ago.
A lilac bush close to the gate,
A locust at the door,
A low, wide window flower-filled,
With ivy covered o'er.
A face—O love of childhood dreams,
Lily in form and name—
It comes back now in these day-dreams,
The same yet not the same.
My childhood's friend! Well gathered are
The sheaves of many days,
But this one sheaf is garnered in,
Bound by my love always.
Where have you wandered, child, since when
Together merrily,
We gathered cups of columbine
By lazy Rapanee?
The green spears of the flagflower,
Down by the old mill-race,
Are weapons now for other hands,
Who mimic warfare chase.
You were so tender, yet so strong,
So gentle, yet so free,
Your every word, whenever heard,
Seemed wondrous wise to me.
You marvelled if the dead could hear
Our steps, that passed at will
Their low green houses in the elm-
Crowned churchyard on the hill.
And I, whom your sweet childhood's trust,
Esteemed as most profound,
Thought that they heard, as in a dream,
The shadow of a