A GRACIOUS waiting in the air,
A welcome in the morning star;
A thrill of praise, a throb of prayer;
A strange glad coming from afar.
A happy calling, bell to bell;
A merry meeting, flame with flame.
" This day a babe is born. All's well!
Peace and good will! All's well! Good-will! "
— — Then Bunny came.

II

An awful waiting in the heart;
A parting ken in watching eyes;
A pang of prayer; kind tears, that start
From wells of winsome memories.
A lonesome going, far and dark:
That look — " By-bye! " That sigh — all spent.
Hark, love, their wings! Their whisper, hark!
" Peace and good-will. By-bye! — His will. "
— — Then Bunny went.

III

Ah, homeless home! Ah, barren cot!
Ah, poor dead pillow, white and cold!
All dark, where his small spark is not;
All silent, his short story told.
Dumb drum, your little soldier's slain;
Dull doll, your pretty playmate's fled.
How keen the holly's thorns of pain!
" His will be done! " His will — 'tis done.
— — And Bunny's dead.