Child of the pure unclouded brow

And dreaming eyes of wonder

Though time be fleet

And I and thou

Are half a life asunder

Thy loving smile will surely hail

The love gift of a fairy tale

Thy loving smile will surely hail

The love gift of a fairy tale

I have not seen thy sunny face

Nor heard thy silver laughter

No thought of me shall find a place

In thy young life's herafter

Enough that now thou wilt not fail

To listen to my fairy-tale

Enough that now thou wilt not fail

To listen to my fairy-tale

A tale begun in other days

When summer suns were glowing-

A simple chime that served to time

The rhythm of our rowing-

Whose echoes live in memory yet

Though envious years would say 'forget '

Whose echoes live in memory yet

Though envious years would say 'forget '

Come hearken then ere voice of dread

With bitter tidings laden

Shall summon to unwelcome bed

A melancholy maiden

We are but older children dear

Who fret to find our bedtime near

We are but older children dear

Who fret to find our bedtime near

Without the frost the blinding snow

The storm-wind's moody madness-

Within the firelight's ruddy glow

And childhood's nest of gladness

The magic words shall hold thee fast:

Thou shalt not heed the raving blast

The magic words shall hold thee fast:

Thou shalt not heed the raving blast

And though the shadow of a sigh

May tremble through the story

For 'happy summer days' gone by

And vanish'd summer glory-

It shall not touch with breath of bale

The pleasance of our fairy-tale

It shall not touch with breath of bale

The pleasance of our fairy-tale

Though time be fleet and I and thou

Are half a life asunder

Thy loving smile will surely hail

The love-gift of a f