• Kind sir, if the truth k must tell; At the sign of the basin of water K dwell.' Then she flew from the ball-room, and put On her Catskin robe again; And slipt in unseen by the cook, Who little thought where she had been. The young lord the very next day, Till he'd found out his beautiful maid! There's another grand ball to be, 6 "You go with your Catskin robe, In a rage a ladle she took, And broke poor Catskin's head; But off she went shaking her ears, And swift to her forest she fled. She washed every blood-stain off, My lord at the ball-room door, . When he asked her to dance, she again Said Yes,' with her first smiling glance; And again all the night my young lord, With none but fair Catskin did dance! 'Pray tell me,' said he,' where you live;' For now 'twas the parting time; But she no other answer would give, Than this distych of mystical rhyme, •Kinb sir, if the truth I must tell ; Then she flew from the ball, and put on And slipt in unseen by the cook, Who little thought where she had been. My lord did again the next day, Now another grand ball is to be, 'You go with your Catskin robe, In a fury she took the skimmer, She washed the stains of blood, Then put on her most beautiful dress, My lord at the ball-room door, Was waiting with pleasure and pain; When he asked her to dance, she again 'Pray tell me, fair maid, where you live;' For now was the parting time: But she no other answer would give, Rind sir, if the truth I must tell, At the sign of the broken skimmer k dwell.' Then she flew from the ball, and threw on And slipt in unseen by the cook, Who little thought where she had been. But not by my lord unseen, For this time he follow'd too fast; And hid in the forest green, Saw the strange things that past! Next day he took to his bed, And sent for the doctor to come; He told him how dearly he lov'd her, Then the doctor kindly promis'd To the proud old lady to speak. There's a struggle of pride and love, And love had the mastery! Then my lord got quickly well, Of a young To a way-faring woman and child, The child gave the alms to the child, This was seen by the old lady mother; 'Only see,' said that wicked old woman, 'How the beggar's brats take to each other?" This throw went to Catskin's heart, She flung herself down on her knees; And pray'd her young master and lord, To seek out her parents would please. They set out in my lord's own coach, They put up at the head inn, Where Catskin was left alone; When folks are away, in short time Her father repented too late, And the loss of his youngest bemoan'd; In his old and childless state, He his pride and cruelty own'd! The old gentleman sat by the fire, But my lord drew a chair close by, Have you not, sir, a daughter, I pray, The old man, alarm'd, cried aloud, Then my lord brought his wife and child, Who fell down and thanks return'd The bells ringing up in the tower, Are sending a sound to the heart; There's a charm in the old church bells, Which nothing in life can impart! |