2. Between the dark and the daylight, When the night is beginning to lower

3. Comes a pause in the days occupati ons, That is known as the Children ’s Hour

4. I hear in the chamber above me, The patter of little feet

5. The sound of a door that is being opened

6. Voices sweet and soft

7. From my study I see in the lamp light, Descending from the broad hall stair,

8. Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra, And Edith with golden hair.

9. A whisper, and then silence:

10. Yet I know by their merr y eyes

11. They are plotting and planning together To take me by surprise

12. A sudden rush from the stair way

13. A sudden raid from the hall

14. Three doors left unguarded They enter my castle wall

15. They climb up my turret, O’er the arms of my chair;

16. if I try to escape, they surround me, They seem to be everywher e.

17. They almost devour me with kisses

18. Their arms about me entwine

19. Till I think of the bishop of Bingen

20. In his mouse -tower on the Rhine

21. Do you think, O blue eyed banditti, because you have scaled the wall.

22. Such an old mustaches I am, is not a match for you at all!

23. I have you fast in my fortress, And I will not let you depart,

24. But put you down into the dungeon, in the round tower of my heart

25. And there I will keep you forever, Yes forever and a day,

26. Till the walls shall crumble to ruin, And molder in dust away !

27.  THE CHILDRENS HOUR