Child of the pure unclouded brow
And dreaming eyes of wonder!
Though time be fleet, and I and thou
Are half a life asunder

Thy loving smile will surely hail
The love-gift of a fairy-tale

Thy loving smile will surely hail
The love-gift of a fairy-tale

I have not seen thy sunny face
Nor heard thy silver laughter
No thought of me shall find a place
In thy young life's hereafter

Enough that now thou wilt not fail
To listen to my fairy-tale

Enough that now thou wilt not fail
To listen to my fairy-tale

A tale begun in other days
When summer suns were glowing
A simple chime, that served to time
The rhythm of our rowing

Whose echoes live in memory yet
Though envious years would say 'forget

Whose echoes live in memory yet
Though envious years would say 'forget

Come, hearken then, ere voice of dread
With bitter tidings laden
Shall summon to unwelcome bed
A melancholy maiden!

We are but older children, dear
Who fret to find our bedtime near

We are but older children, dear
Who fret to find our bedtime near

Without, the frost, the blinding snow
The storm-wind's moody madness
Within, the firelight's ruddy glow
And childhood's nest of gladness

The magic words shall hold thee fast
Thou shalt not heed the raving blast

The magic words shall hold thee fast
Thou shalt not heed the raving blast

And, though the shadow of a sigh
May tremble through the story
For 'happy summer days' gone by
And vanish'd summer glory

It shall not touch, with breath of bale
The pleasance, of our fairy-tale

It shall not touch, with breath of bale
The pleasance, of our fairy-tale

Though time be fleet, and I and thou
Are half a life asunder

Thy loving smile will surely hail
The love-gift of a fairy-tale