A Dream at Twilight

by

Blanche Hagaman Melvin

I'm sitting alone in the twilight. Any my thots come thronging along;
And they fill my soul with the music. Of a beautiful, beautiful song.
That song to my heart is far better. Than any I'll evermore hear;
The song that is simple and childlike, The song that is kindly and dear.

Tis one not set to music. The music of my old heart is all
But it sounds far sweeter than any. That down on my spirit doth fall
Tis the sound, yet the sound of sweet voices, I hear them as years long gone by
And I think that those dear days are ended. And a great tear falls from my eye

Every school day morning those children came early with book and with slate;
Hurrying along so quickly, For fear that they might be too late.
Yes, I hear them approaching the school house, Their sweet voices fall on the air
And methinks they are asking each other I wonder if teacher is there?

A few more steps they have traveled, And their sweet little faces I see;
Then they quietly enter the school room, And say good morning to me
Soon the time will come for their study, And their faces are bright with joy
As they quickly take their places, Each dear little girl and boy

How eager their faces turn toward me, As they drink in the knowledge I give;
As I teach them the things they are seeking, And the beautiful way to live
All day long they are striving, Each hard little lesson to do;
And their dear little brains grow weary, And the day is no longer new.

Tis evening, their tasks are completed, And their work is put neatly away;
Then they quietly pass from the school room, Leaving me at the close of the day
They are gone, and I am left lonely, And I think o'er the day that is past,
While the children are tripping lightly toward home, Their work being done at last

This is only a dream at twilight, Those days a forever have flown;
Those children have drifted from, And I am left all alone.
I live in the past with those dear ones, Tho now I am feeble and white
And methinks I still can see them in the glow of the morning light.

Blanche Hagaman Melvin was a school teacher for 33 years in Livingston County, IL., She was born Dec. 31, 1880 at Rural Chatsworth IL., and died September 29, 1974 at the age of 93. She was the daughter of John and Margaret S. Carver Hagaman. She married James R. Melvin in Chatsworth, IL., on October1,1913 after they were married they lived in Pleasant Ridge Township, IL.

~ Blanche Hagaman Melvin ~

Blanche was my third great aunt.
Poem Courtesy of: 

~ Linda Sue Heffner ~ 

(my cousin)