I saw young Edward by himself He snatch'd a stick from every fence, He snapp'd them still with hand or knee, And then away they flew ! As if with his uneasy limbs He knew not what to do! You see, good sir! that single hill? He heard it there, he heard it all, Now Ellen was a darling love And in the moment of his prayers Yea, both sweet names with one sweet joy He reach'd his home, and by his looks And they clung round him with their arms, And Mary could not check her tears, So on his breast she bow'd; Then frenzy melted into grief, And Edward wept aloud. Dear Ellen did not weep at all, And turn'd her face and look'd as if Το PART IV. see a man tread over graves I hold it no good mark; "Tis wicked in the sun and moon, And bad luck in the dark! You see that grave? The Lord he gives, The Lord he takes away : O Sir! the child of my old age Except that grave, you scarce see one That was not dug by me; I'd rather dance upon 'em all Than tread upon these three ! "Ay, Sexton! 'tis a touching tale." You, sir! are but a lad; This month I'm in my seventieth And still it makes me sad. year, And Mary's sister told it me, For three good hours and more; Though I had heard it, in the main, From Edward's self before. Well! it pass'd off! the gentle Ellen To market she on market-days, Had Ellen lost her mirth? Oh! no! When by herself, she to herself Must sing some merry rhyme; She could not now be glad for hours, And when she soothed her friend, through all Her soothing words 'twas plain She had a sore grief of her own, And oft she said, I'm not grown thin! Then harder, till her grasp at length And once her both arms suddenly She felt them coming, but no power And with a kind of shriek she cried, So gentle Ellen now no more Could make this sad house cheery ; And Mary's melancholy ways Drove Edward wild and weary. Lingering he raised his latch at eve, He loved no other place, and yet One evening he took up a book, Then flung it down, and groaning cried, Mary look'd up into his face, And nothing to him said; And he burst into tears, and fell "Her heart is broke! O God! my grief, It is too great to bear !" 'Twas such a foggy time as makes Old sextons, sir! like me, Rest on their spades to cough; the spring Was late uncommonly. And then the hot days, all at once, You look'd about for shade, when scarce It happen'd then ('twas in the bower, Perhaps you know the place, and yet I scarce know how you should,—) |