AT THE WALCKER DINNER UPON THE COMPLETION OF THE GREAT ORGAN FOR BOSTON MUSIC HALL IN 1863

I asked three little maidens who heard the organ play,
Where all the music came from that stole our hearts away:

" I know, " — said fair-haired Edith, — " it was the autumn breeze
That whistled through the hollows of all those silver trees. "

" No, child! " — said keen-eved Clara, — " it is a lion's cage, —
They woke him out of slumber, — I heard him roar and rage. "

" Nay, " — answered soft-voiced Anna, — " 't was thunder that you heard,
And after that came sunshine and singing of a bird. "

" Hush, hush, you little children, for all of you are wrong, "
I said, " my pretty darlings, — it was no earthly song;
A band of blessed angels has left the heavenly choirs,
And what yon heard last evening were seraph lips and lyres! "