40 THE CHILDREN's HOUR
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
BETWEEN the dark and the daylight，
When the night is beginning to lower，
Comes a pause in the day's occupations，
That is known as the Children's Hour．
I hear in the chamber above me
The patter of little feet，
The sound of a door that is opened，
And voices soft and sweet．
From my study I see in the lamplight，
Descending the broad hall stair，
Grave Alice，and laughing Allegra，
And Edith with golden hair．
A whisper，and then a silence：
Yet I know by their merry eyes
They are plotting and planning together
To take me by surprise．
A sudden rush from the stairway，
A sudden raid from the hall！
By three doors left unguarded
They enter my castle wall！
They climb up into my turret
o'er the arms and back of my chair；
If I try to escape，they surround me；
They seem to be everywhere．
They almost devour me with kisses，
Their arms about me entwine，
Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen
In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine！
Do you think，O blue-eyed banditti，
Because you have scaled the wall，
Such an old mustache as I am
Is not a match for you all！
I have you fast in my fortress，
And will not let you depart，
But put you down into the dungeon
In the round-tower of my heart．
And there will I keep you forever，
Yes，forever and a day，
Till the walls shall crumble to ruin，
And moulder in dust away！
