The Silver Messenger

Just as near heaven
As I wanted to be
Swinging in the grapevine swing."

—Old Song.

"'Twas only a song in a quiet room,
And the singer knew not of the joy she gave
But she told her message well.
For she sang to the heart and not to the ear,
And her voice had a charming ring;

'Oh! to be a boy, with a heart full of joy
Swinging in the grapevine swing.'

In sorrow, remorse and in pain:
So no wonder the song with its sad refrain
To my senses sweet memories bring

'Oh! to be a boy, with a heart full of joy,
Swinging in the grapevine swing.'

The cares of life and the falsehoods of men,
The losses that caused me such pain;
The trust I had given to those that I loved,
To find it was only in vain;
The remembrance of these was taken away
While I heard that sweet voice sing.

'Oh! to be a boy, with a heart full of joy,
Swinging in the grapevine swing.'

The thrall of its perfumed air;
Happy the singer who values her gift
And sings for the hearts of men:
But the heart of the child and the heart of the man
Are the same when all is done,
Though reared 'neath the frosts of a wintry clime,
Or nurtured 'neath summer's bright sun.

While ever and ever the cry returns
In man's fevered brain it will ring;
'Oh! to be a boy, with a heart full of joy,
Swinging in the grapevine swing.'

Refrain—

The cry of the heart for years passed away
Goes up from all climes and conditions of men
For chances that come not again.

'Swinging in the grapevine swing,
Laughing while the wild birds sing:
Oh! to be a boy, with a heart full of joy.
Swinging in the grapevine swing.'

—Mary Bell, in Boston Transcript.