Was not with Dora. She broke out in praise So the women kiss'd Each other, and set out and reach'd the farm. The door was off the latch; they peep'd and saw The boy set up betwixt his grandsire's knees, Who thrust him in the hollows of his arm, And clapt him on the hands and on the cheeks, Or William, or this child; but now I come He could not ever rue his marrying me. I had been a patient wife: but, Sir, he said But now, Sir, let me have my boy, for you So Mary said, and Dora hid her face 'I have been to blame-to blame! I have kill'd my son! I have kill'd him-but I loved him-my dear son ! Then they clung about And all his love came back a hundredfold; And for three hours he sobb'd o'er William's child, Thinking of William. So those four abode Within one house together; and as years Went forward, Mary took another mate; But Dora lived unmarried till her death. A. Tennyson CLXIX A WITCH Spoken by a Countryman There's that old hag Moll Brown, look, see, just past! I wish the ugly sly old witch Would tumble over in the ditch; I wouldn't pick her out not very fast. I don't think she's belied, 'tis clear's the sun Yes, I do know just hereabout of two Or three folk that have learnt what Moll can do. To Farmer Gruff's folks, down at Lower Farm. Because they would not give or lend her That she'd a-left her evil wish behind. She soon bewitch'd them; and she had such power, And addle all the eggs their fowls did lay; All back again to curds and whey. The little pigs a-running with the sow Did sicken somehow, nobody knew how, And fall, and turn their snouts towards the sky, And all the little ducks and chicken Were death-struck while they were a-pickin' Their food, and fell upon their head, And flapp'd their wings and dropp'd down dead. They couldn't fat the calves; they wouldn't thrive; They couldn't save their lambs alive; Their sheep all took the rot and gave no woɔl; Their horses fell away to skin and bones, And got so weak they couldn't pull A half a peck of stones; The dog got dead-alive and drowsy, The hag did come and ride them all half dead. And I've a-heard the farmer's wife did try In through her old hard wither'd skin But she could never fetch a drop, She bent the pin and broke the needle's top Against her skin, you know, and that, in course, CLXX NURSERY RHYMES I Jenny Wren fell sick; Upon a merry time, In came Robin Redbreast, And brought her sops of wine. Eat well of the sop, Jenny, Jenny she got well, And stood upon her feet, Robin, being angry, Saying, Out upon you, Fye upon you, bold-faced jig! 2 There were three jovial Welshmen, All the day they hunted, But a ship a-sailing, A-sailing with the wind. One said it was a ship, The other he said, nay; The third said it was a house, |