Page:The Collected Poems of Dora Sigerson Shorter.djvu/156

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THE LITTLE SISTER

The wind knocks at the window,
And my heart is full of fear.
For I know when it is calling
That some evil thing is near.

It whispers in the chimney,
And I strike the log to name,
Lest it come down and take me
To the land that hath no name.

For once I had a sister,
Who now am left alone,
And here we sat together,
When the wind did sigh and moan«.

There came a gentle knocking
Quick and sudden at the door.
And my sister hushed my terror.
Saying, “'Tis the wind, a-stór!”

She took my arms from round her,
She kissed me, cheek and chin,
But I cried, “Oh, little sister.
Do not let the robber in!”

She rose up from me laughing,
But her face was strange and white.
And she opened wide the window,
Looking long into the night.

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