Love and Hope and Youth, together
Travelling once in stormy weather,
Met a deep and loomy tide,
Flowing swift and dark and wide.
'T was named the river of Despair,
And many a wreck was floating there.
The urchins paused, with faces grave,
Debating how to cross the wave,
When lo! the curtain of the storm
Was severed, and the rainbow's form
Stood against the parting cloud,
Emblem of peace on trouble's shroud.
Hope pointed to the signal flying,
And the three, their shoulders plying,
O’er the stream the light arch threw.
A rainbow bridge of loveliest hue !
Now, laughing as they tripped it o'er,
They gayly sought the other shore :
But soon the hills began to frown,
And the bright sun went darkly down.
Though their step was light and fleet,
The rainbow vanished 'neath their feet, -