The Serenade.

I.     The winds were hushed, and thin and high         The fleecy clouds were drifting,     And through them as she sailed the sky         The moon's soft light was sifting. II.     Beneath her pale and tender ray,         Its silvery kiss imprinting,     All dew-bedecked each flower and spray         Like myriad jewels glinting. III.     Across the lawn there floats the sound         Of music sweet--entrancing--     'Neath a latticed casement, ivy-bound,         Where love-lit eyes were glancing. IV.     The flute and harp and mandolin         There dulcet notes were blending,     And strains divine from a violin         In harmony ascending. V.     Enraptured by the magic spell,         I lingering stood, and listening,     It seemed to me that I could tell         What love to her was whispering. VI.     I looked above and chanced to see         The man in the moon was scowling,     For they had struck up "Sweet Marie,"         And the old watch-dog was howling!