What the Swallows Did

"Swallow, swallow, neighbor swallow,Starting on your autumn flight,Pause a moment at my window,Twitter softly your good-night;For the summer days are over,All your duties are well done,And the happy homes you buildedHave grown empty, one by one.

"Swallow, swallow, neighbor swallow,Are you ready for your flight?Are all the feather cloaks completed?Are the little caps all right?Are the young wings strong and steadyFor the journey through the sky?Come again in early spring-time;And till then, good-by, good-by!"