Time's Laughingstocks, and Other Verses Part 13

Will she guess that I said "Yes,"--that His I'd be, Ere I thought she might not see him as I see!

V

Old brown gable, Granary, stable, Here you are!

O my mother, Can another Ever bar Mine from thy heart, make thy nearness seem afar?

THE FIDDLER

The fiddler knows what's brewing To the lilt of his lyric wiles: The fiddler knows what rueing Will come of this night's smiles!

He sees couples join them for dancing, And afterwards joining for life, He sees them pay high for their prancing By a welter of wedded strife.

He tw.a.n.gs: "Music hails from the devil, Though vaunted to come from heaven, For it makes people do at a revel What multiplies sins by seven.

"There's many a heart now mangled, And waiting its time to go, Whose tendrils were first entangled By my sweet viol and bow!"

THE HUSBAND'S VIEW

"Can anything avail Beldame, for my hid grief? - Listen: I'll tell the tale, It may bring faint relief! -

"I came where I was not known, In hope to flee my sin; And walking forth alone A young man said, 'Good e'en.'

"In gentle voice and true He asked to marry me; 'You only--only you Fulfil my dream!' said he.

"We married o' Monday morn, In the month of hay and flowers; My cares were nigh forsworn, And perfect love was ours.

"But ere the days are long Untimely fruit will show; My Love keeps up his song, Undreaming it is so.

"And I awake in the night, And think of months gone by, And of that cause of flight Hidden from my Love's eye.

"Discovery borders near, And then! . . . But something stirred? - My husband--he is here!

Heaven--has he overheard?" -

"Yes; I have heard, sweet Nan; I have known it all the time.

I am not a particular man; Misfortunes are no crime:

"And what with our serious need Of sons for soldiering, That accident, indeed, To maids, is a useful thing!"

ROSE-ANN

Why didn't you say you was promised, Rose-Ann?

Why didn't you name it to me, Ere ever you tempted me hither, Rose-Ann, So often, so wearifully?

O why did you let me be near 'ee, Rose-Ann, Talking things about wedlock so free, And never by nod or by whisper, Rose-Ann, Give a hint that it wasn't to be?

Down home I was raising a flock of stock ewes, c.o.c.ks and hens, and wee chickens by scores, And lavendered linen all ready to use, A-dreaming that they would be yours.

Mother said: "She's a sport-making maiden, my son"; And a pretty sharp quarrel had we; O why do you prove by this wrong you have done That I saw not what mother could see?

Never once did you say you was promised, Rose-Ann, Never once did I dream it to be; And it cuts to the heart to be treated, Rose-Ann, As you in your scorning treat me!

THE HOMECOMING

Gruffly growled the wind on Toller downland broad and bare, And lonesome was the house, and dark; and few came there.

"Now don't ye rub your eyes so red; we're home and have no cares; Here's a skimmer-cake for supper, peckled onions, and some pears; I've got a little keg o' summat strong, too, under stairs: - What, slight your husband's victuals? Other brides can tackle theirs!"

The wind of winter mooed and mouthed their chimney like a horn, And round the house and past the house 'twas leafless and lorn.

"But my dear and tender poppet, then, how came ye to agree In Ivel church this morning? Sure, there-right you married me!"

- "Hoo-hoo!--I don't know--I forgot how strange and far 'twould be, An' I wish I was at home again with dear daddee!"

Gruffly growled the wind on Toller downland broad and bare, And lonesome was the house and dark; and few came there.

"I didn't think such furniture as this was all you'd own, And great black beams for ceiling, and a floor o' wretched stone, And nasty pewter platters, horrid forks of steel and bone, And a monstrous crock in chimney. 'Twas to me quite unbeknown!"

Rattle rattle went the door; down flapped a cloud of smoke, As s.h.i.+fting north the wicked wind a.s.sayed a smarter stroke.

"Now sit ye by the fire, poppet; put yourself at ease: And keep your little thumb out of your mouth, dear, please!

And I'll sing to 'ee a pretty song of lovely flowers and bees, And happy lovers taking walks within a grove o' trees."

Gruffly growled the wind on Toller Down, so bleak and bare, And lonesome was the house, and dark; and few came there.

"Now, don't ye gnaw your handkercher; 'twill hurt your little tongue, And if you do feel spitish, 'tis because ye are over young; But you'll be getting older, like us all, ere very long, And you'll see me as I am--a man who never did 'ee wrong."

Straight from Whit'sheet Hill to Benvill Lane the bl.u.s.ters pa.s.s, Hitting hedges, milestones, handposts, trees, and tufts of gra.s.s.

"Well, had I only known, my dear, that this was how you'd be, I'd have married her of riper years that was so fond of me.

But since I can't, I've half a mind to run away to sea, And leave 'ee to go barefoot to your d-d daddee!"

Up one wall and down the other--past each window-pane - Prance the gusts, and then away down Crimmercrock's long lane.

"I--I--don't know what to say to't, since your wife I've vowed to be; And as 'tis done, I s'pose here I must bide --poor me!