‘Over the City, the Round Full Moon Was Rising’
February 12th, 2010 | published in Nouns: People, Places, Things.
It was a calm, still evening. The broad bosom of the Thames was scarcely ruffled by the little breeze that stirred the drooping sails of some of the river craft. Over the city and over the forest of masts, the round full moon was rising. Touching on the dome of St. Paul’s, it glances down over roofs and under bridges till it lay a broad path of light on the sleeping river. The gas lamps flickered and looked pale before its light, and many a weary pedestrian, hurrying across the crowded bridges which span the river, paused a moment to gaze at the full-orbed globe which even to weary eyes was a wondrous revelation of beauty.
It was dark under the bridges, and the water lapping against the piers had something mournful in its sound. One of the slow river-barges was just passing into shadow.
Excerpted from ‘Poppets’ by Amalie La Forge. Published in St. Nicholas: Scribner’s Illustrated Magazine for Girls and Boys, volume IV, conducted by Mary Mapes Dodge. Scribner & Co., New York, 1877.