Now terror seized her quaking frame:
For where the path was bare
The trotting Ghost kept on the same!
She mutter'd many a prayer.

Yet once again, amidst her fright,
She tried what sight could do;
When, through the cheating glooms of night,
A MONSTER stood in view.

Regardless of whate'er she felt,

It followed down the plain!

She own'd her sins, and down she knelt,
And said her prayers again.

Then on she sped; and hope grew strong,
The white park-gate in view;
Which pushing hard, so long it swung
That GHOST and all pass'd through.

Loud fell the gate against the post!
Her heart-strings like to crack;
For much she fear'd the grisly ghost
Would leap upon her back.

Still on, pat, pat, the goblin went,
As it had done before;

Her strength and resolution spent,
She fainted at the door.

Out came her husband, much surprised;
Out came her daughter dear ;-
Good-natured souls! all unadvised

Of what they had to fear.

The candle's gleam pierced through the night,
Some short space o'er the green;
And there the little trotting sprite

Distinctly might be seen.

Then he lifted his voice, but none to hear
The sound of his sorrow was nigh.

So he cover'd his head with his half-fledged wing,
And lay down on a stone to die.

Ah! never more in that beautiful wood
Was the song of his gladness heard,
And for many a day did his brothers weep
For the loss of that truant bird.

And for many a day no song of joy
Came up from his mother's breast;
She mourned for him with drooping wing,
But he came not again to his nest.

And thus, little children, from this you may learn
How one little child may be

The cause of sorrow which nought may remove
In a loving family.

You each have a home in a chosen tree,

Your parents have lit it with love;

Then cause not the shadow of grief to ascend,
That beautiful light to remove.

But seek for that wisdom that comes from on high, That truth which shall never decay ;

That heaven-born peace which the world cannot give, Nor the world and its pride take away.

And your heavenly Father who dwelleth above
Will guard you wherever you be ;

He will send down the light of celestial love
To your home in the chosen tree.