Friend of a Wayward Hour

Friend of a wayward hour, you came
Like some good ghost, and went the same;
And I within the haunted place
Sit smiling on your vanished face,
And talking with--your name.

But thrice the pressure of your hand--
First hail--congratulations--and
Your last "God bless you!" as the train
That brought you snatched you back again
Into the unknown land.

"God bless me?" Why, your very prayer
Was answered ere you asked it there,
I know--for when you came to lend
Me your kind hand, and call me friend,
God blessed me unaware.