CHAPTER XVI. 



THE GHOST-FLOWER, AND CHILD. 

 A DREAM. 



A shaded creature, dim and fair, 

 With thin, transparent colors of the gloom ; 

 A flower-stalagmite, cold and rare, 

 Chiseled b j Gnomes of caverned air, 

 With dew-sweats on it, gathered there 

 Then moon-drawn upward into sudden bloom. 



I. 



Elfin are Wonders and Elfin are we 

 Elfin is everything under the sea ! 



They know the godly, where elephants kneel, 

 They know ungodly, where petty things reel- 

 Think him ungodly who knows but himself 

 Ah, ha ! ungodly is only the Elf I 



A Child comes forth, within his eyes 

 A mournful splendor darkened lies 

 A great Bird perching on his arm, 

 Hears the sad song that fain would charm 

 This Tom Todd of the world to stay. 

 But Tom Todd has no time for play 

 The world and Tom Todd turn away ! 



