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Show THE MARKET BELL. Sweet from his pipe the piper drew A strain that ravished all men's ears, And soared in triumph to the blue Wherein the skylark disappears. THE listening throng, or grave or gay, Were hushed beneath the music's sway. WHEN sudden on the silver notes A harsh resounding clangor fell; A shout went forth from eager throats-"The market bell! the market bell!" SWIFT rushed the audience from the place; The piper piped to empty space. AN old world story this, unique, And told in solique irony; The keen-edged humor of the Greek, It bears no sting for thee and me! THE sweet, the clear, the sad, the fain, Dear Nature woos us not in vain? HER mystic measures round us roll, We sit in silence at her feet, And, awed and blessed, we own control As potent as, alas! ‘tis fleet. FOR hail? for haste! we know it well, Earth's loud, imperious market bell.-Margaret E. Sangster, in Harper's Magazine. |