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 fairytale.
Thy loving smile will surely hail
The love gift of a fairytale.
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 hereafter
Enough that now thou wilt not fail
To listen to my fairytale
Enough that now thou wilt not fail
To listen to my fairytale.
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 stormwind'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 fairytale.
It shall not touch with breath of bale
The pleasance of our fairytale.
Though time be fleet and I and thou
Are half a life asunder
Thy loving smile will surely hail
The love gift of a fairytale