[ \A^ ^aiVERf o OCT 4 im , r_..(jr*^'^>v' J LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. Chap^^.r'- Copyright MS^'P- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Bown Durle^ Xane .... ..... ^ovcn 2)urlc^ Xanc mb ©tber BaUa68 Bs *^ Diroinia Moobwarb Cloub IlClitb IFlIustrations b's 1RecjinalC> B. JSircb -^p mew l?ork : Zhc Century Ca : 1 898 r 2n 15022 Copyright, 1891-1898, by The Century Co. „,.. COPIES R£C£IVED. t89t The De ViNNE Press. '^ Co OXi\> nDotber / I Down Durley Lane .... II When Mistress Peggy Comes to Town . III The Happy Holiday of Master Merrivein IV How the Dominie Went to Sea 1>AGE I 9 13 20 V What Things Befell the SauiRE's House all on a Friday Morning 26 VI The Scribe of Durley VII The Highwayman of Durley VIII The Happy Thought of Mistress Pynch IX The Enviable Errand of Master Merrivein X The Battle of Durley XI White Marie 31 • 37 45 • 51 57 . 63 XII CONTENTS XII Lisbeth's Song Xlil By Hook or by Crook XIV The Fool and the Little Court Lady XV The Ballad of the Maid and the King XVI Over the Bridge to the King's Highway XVII What the Lord High Chamberlain Said XVIII Old Christmas PAGE 67 7^ . 79 • 91 97 ^ov^n 2)urlc^ %nnc '■-'^ ***'t^<<^"%. ©^(iy OWN Durley Lane a-singing as I chanced for to go, The brier was a-blossom, and the hedges were a-blow- There I spied a piper, a-piping to the sky, So down the lane and after him away went I. " O/i, tell me, piper, tell me, why go you piping here ? " *'■ For honey-stalks and ox-lips a7id all the sweet o' year !" Or^^'K .J^ ■'& \r^';i->{ ,^;%%m^:-' HERE the crooked turnstile at the meadow stands A brown and lithesome farmer lad was Avhistling o'er his lands ; Only larks above the wheat could whistle clear as he, So through the meadow, after him, away went we ! " Oh, tell tts, farmer, tell us, why go yon 7vhistliug gay ? ' " For barley-break and yellow moon and tossing of the hay ! DOWN DURLEY LANE. m. UT upon the highway from the nodding grass, A-trilling of a silver song, we met a |,, .^, lovely lass; She only smiled — I know not yet just P how it did befall, But up the highway, after her, away went we all ! 4 '• Oh, tell Hs, lovely, lovely lass, why go you singing there ? " " Why, but for love-ifi-idleness, and dancing at the fair ! " 7/A ^ '/ I, \4t i,' \f .,:^^ "-C'-i^' DOWN DURLEY LANE KK'i^ y'4^. HERE, about a milestone, where the hill began, A-leaping and a-skipping we found the queerest man; He hopped and he laughed — 't was very strange to see, — So up the hill, and after him, away went we ! Now ^ pry thee, ?nerty gentleman, 7vhy go you laughing, too ? " '■'^ Forsooth, fair mates, because I fared this tvay, and met with you!" r --/•. ^k^..^m-^ ■I J V -^^ ?/i Kmr <., ''^^ '¥*i':.jSt'.;'i!ias4'^^.4 : 't!*^#lri#^ ^; M>. ■'«' '>■■!. -'»4<.\\V DOWN DURLEY LANE. 3&^,^£^#3 ND lo, upon the hill-top, a mighty mistress gay Her satm petticoat was grand, her feathers fine' were they ' Her buckles and her ribbons they flouted foot and head So, o'er the hill-top, after her, away we all sped ' " O/i, mistress, mighty mistress, what brings you o'er the lea? " But she tossed her head right haughtily, and proudly past minced she. DOWN DURLEY LANE. M^j^^^ ND then, with pipe and singing, with laugh and whistle shrill, The maddest music there was made a-dashing down the hill ! Until upon the green ways, nigh to Durley Fair, We smiled at one another— and wondered we were there! " No7v, 7vhy go we a-faring about the green ways here ? " "■For such a blithesome cornpany.and all the sweet 0' year/" 6 DOWN DURLEY LANE. UT why the Piper piped a tune so keenly strange and sweet, And why the Farmer whistled so joyous through his wheat, And what the magic meaning of the lovely lassie's song. And why the queer man should leap so merrily along, {And of that mighty mistress, who was so wofidrous fine, With buckles peering through the dusk like fireflies a-shine), E never grew the wiser, nor learned what 't was about, Although we danced upon the green until the stars shone out; And no one knows unto this day the how and why and where — Save that each followed someone else well-nigh to Durley Fair. Yet this, 7nethinks, is very clear — in truth 7 is passing plain — / tripped it once, when the world was gay, adown greeji Durley Lane/ Mben ^IMstress Ipeoo^e comes to Zown . JV057KC5S cJoWhT There is such staring all about, And such a running up and down; The Dominie himself goes out, And we behind him, two and two, — We mind our manners, that we do, When Mistress Peggy comes to town ! II. The yellow coach goes rattling by, With its white horses galloping; The geese and chickens frightened fly, Even the Parson's pigeons proud Go scurrying through the dusty cloud; The Blacksmith's anvil stops its ring! lO WHEN MISTRESS PEGGY COMES TO TOWN. III. They draw up just a moment's space, For water, at the " Trusty Three." Once she leaned out, — we saw her face, — It was so pink and sweet and all, Like Granny's roses by the wall! She smiled at Cicely and me. IV. Then toots the horn, the whip goes "crack!" The dogs all bark the noise to drown, And off they dash; the dust flies back ; The coach is out of sight at last. You 'd think a wind-storm had blown past When Mistress Peggy comes to town ! — t V ::= g II Zhc Ibapp^ Iboliba^ of HDaster nDcrdvcin /., ?_Ffl^^D!fJl 'LL hie me up to Durley Fair," quoth Master Merrivein; ' A day of rest and jolhty, then hie me home again. With shilhngs in my pocket, and the harvest work all done, spend a happy holiday, then back by set o' sun ! " o bhthesome Master Merrivein, all in his Sun- day best. Started straightway for Durley Fair, with energy and zest; His stick upon his shoulder, most joyfully he sped, But suddenly a voice ■iijg'u.t from a T^ffltit ■ -^ neisrhbor's' .-^:^t^ ^' way said : y^^P^. *; •«5;i H, Master, Master Merrivein! As you go to the fair, ^Vill you take my tumbler-pigeons to the pigeon fakir there ? " So, kindly Master Merrivein, he slung them on his back, The pigeons and the pigeon-cage. (They made a goodly pack !) H '>/ i; THE HAPPY HOLIDAY OF MASTER MERRIVEIN. "r"j3«r?OLD ! hold, there, Master Merrivein! As you go through the town, lEsJ Will you leave this little donkey with brother Billy Brown ? The donkey is so gentle, and so tractable, 't is said, '^''?^5llf!%' That, if you do not beat him, he '11 just trot on ahead! " ,;:**'' "-'" ^' So, kindly Master Merrivein, he added to his store. By letting one small donkey just trot right on before. >^>: '.M- '■im Jt':^' ^^^^ ?te c- ■/ f "■vp " I [^] O' there, you Master Merrivein ! Go 1== you by Durley Fair? J ^tj) i. Then please just take these candle- -^^ . ■-".j^.j- sticks to cousin Betty Blair ! '^^O^ This bonnet, in the bonnet-box, I '11 add, if you don't mind, And these few little trifles I will just tie on behind! " They 're for my sister at the Inn, good sir; and mother begs To add this green umbrella and a basketful of eggs!" vf^fY^ i'ltfuMi £/ So, kindly Master Merrivein, he took them on his arm. For fear the bonnet and the eggs might straightway ""^^V.^ //y^ come to harm. ^^,/'^^'/^ ■ ^ IS THE HAPPY HOLIDAY OF MASTER MERRIVEIN. ' %^, ' t^. uJU H, Master, Master Merrivein! just step around this way! If only you will drive a cow along with you to-day ! She 's the gentlest, kindest animal that ever yet was seen, And I 've sold her to young Mistress Finch, who lives on Durley Green ! " So, kindly Master Merrivein, he hummed a little song. And the cow she switched her tail about and straight- way went along. ^ i. s 7'.'^^',:7ii,uli¥0f:M >lf 1% B H, wait — wait. Master Merrivein! Please stop a moment where The cross-roads meet the school-house, well-nigh to Durley Fair, And give this keg of butter and bag of tarts so nice. And this shawl and woolen comforter, to good old Granny Gryce ! " '\t ' \\nrm\f jM'ii' G ,p^v*^«- So, kindly Master Merrivein, with effort and with care. Got all these things slung on him, — no matter how or where. '^^. ■ "^iJ^-o- i6 'HiW' \i:,;:,tii<'J:i.. THE HAPPV HOLIDAY OF MASTER MERRIVEIN. ^^ ^/ •p^s that good Master Merrivein ? Three squawk- ing geese have I; I '11 hang them on your shoulder, and their feet I '11 tightly tie. Just leave them with Dame Blodgett, anear the crooked stile, The other side of Durley Green, about a half a mile!" ' " H, stop Stop, Master Merri- vein ! Go you to Durley Fair ? ^xX.4^. ,ir^^W Then I beg you take this finery for my ^>3^#j\W'^^ ^' ,„,^^, daughter Meg to wear, ' /^l^'l?^^^'^^^^^^^ '^^^^ flowered hat and tippet, the mitts and M^^ v^^^ paduasoy. W% ' 4 -^-y^M^*^/^ ^^^ '^ '^*- ^^'^t Elsie's cottage, and will wel- '^W US J!/'/ J ^'^ I)/ f /I^Im come you with joy ! " -^^ AIT, there, good Master Merrivein ! If to the fair you go. Please take my fiddle and my flute to Uncle Jerryjo ! The tuning-fork and music-rack, accordion and horn. Are for his son, who leads the band at Durley Fair each morn ! " 17 THE HAPPY HOLIDAY OF MASTER MERRIVEIN. -^^^^ --■*S^ o, Straightway, Master Merrivein, so good and true and kind, Started him off to Durley Fair a day of rest to find. But did he find it ? Oh, dear me ! Go ascertain, I pray, Of all the curious country-folk who passed him on the way >^y^ '# v^ -^ 7 0R the gentle litde donkey, — that the sight you may not miss, ^ I I 'II say it took an attitude occasionally like this, — / // •// / V» V ^^-^ v:^" . -^^^^^iM. While the pigeons and the squawking geese, I really am afraid, That one small picture could not hold the havoc that they made! i8 THE HAPPY HOLIDAY OF MASTER MERRIVEIN • w /y V V;'. I '// i f. If y — ^HE COW (that gejitle animal!) — to-morrow, at the fair, Young Mistress Finch may try to sell ; I warn you, then beware ! For Master Merrivein found out, to his own great surprise, That she had an unexpected way of taking exercise. ND all the other articles ? Alack-a-da\- ! I ween, Some things, to be appreciated, really must be seen; But if 3'ou 'd fully understand the Iww, and when, and where, Go take a day (like Merrivein's) to rest at Durley Fair ! T^ V ' ' .. ^ 4-'y^ I. i ii^ Ik j'l if^sil'iCi^, ^^■m "•Tki //'I 1F30W the ©oininie went to Sea To StA IV' ^ .k M going to see — " the Dominie said, With a nod of his gray, sagacious head To a path that wound from the hill- side down Away to a far-ofif seaport town — " To see — " and he nodded, and off he went. His hands behind and his wise head bent, And a far-seeing look in his kind blue eyes Fixed on some marvelous enterprise. "To sea!" cried his wife from the trellised door. "Was ever a man so queer before — To start on a voyage as sudden as that, In his every-day coat and his garden hat ? " Or ever a faithful, painstaking wife As worried as I each day of my life, To know what he may do next ? Alack ! Dominie Brown, come back! Come back!" But in vain she called, and in vain she ran ; The long-limbed Dominie, excellent man, Was up the road that led to the hill. Striding along with a right good will. So the provident wife, who knew his ways. Sped back, in a state of sore amaze. For his three-cornered hat, and his long-tailed coat, And a silken scarf to envelop his throat, \'n. And his flowered waistcoat, and breeches blue. And a ribbon black for the end of his queue And his silver buckles and gold-headed stick. And his slippers thin, and his gaiters thick. ','7/ ■.•< <■ 21 HOW THE DOMINIE WENT TO SEA. And his powder-hom, and his musket new, And lastly she added his field-glass too ; Because," this provident wife quoth she, " In foreign lands there is much to see ! " Then she sped through the village and over the road. While far in the distance the Dominie strode, And to every one questioning thus cried she, "77?(f Dominie says he is going to sea/" So straightway the Innkeeper after her ran. And so did the Beadle and Penny-bun Man^ The Piper and Fiddler, still playing a jig. And the Clerk with his pen and his gown and his wig, 22 HOW THE DOMINIE WENT TO SEA. ^-■■s< The Doctor, a-riding his old gray nag, Came jogging along with his saddle-bag. And the Miller, too, stopped his wheel and he sped With his dusty hat on his floury head; 'fTKhi,. Vf' ! .'v.^^"'!"^ %W So they went round the hill by the winding road, While out of their sight the Dominie strode, For they said, " We will meet where the path leads down. And he takes the highway for yonder town ! " And to every one questioning thus cried they, " T/ie Domi?iie ''s going to sea, this day/" Till all with important excitement rife Went hurrying after the Dominie's wife. But though they scrambled and though they ran — To the path where the broad highway began. There was not a sign of Dominie Brown On the way which led to the seaport town ! While, after each one there hurried his wife, All of them running as if for life. Exclaiming, " If Dominie 's going to sea, He has much of importance to say to ?ne/" They waited and wondered and shaded their eyes Till the sun lay low in the western skies; Then every one said it was easy to see That so notably wise a man as he, 23 HOW THE DOMINIE WENT TO SEAo '^!/ y \ Taking a voyage as sudden as strange To give his loftiest ideas range, Would choose his own road, and even now ' ""C ^ Was doubtless a-sail at some brave ship's - "^'^' _ prow! So back as they came, with wonderment rife, And there, serenely shading his eyes. They followed the Dominie's provident wife With a questioning look of pleased surprise, Bewailing a husband who traveled like that Stood Dominie Brown for all to see. In his every-day coat and his garden hat ! " Now welcome to you, kind friends ! " quoth he. Back where the Dominie's lands begun " So fine a season it is for a stroll. They bore her company every one, I too have refreshed my body and soul. Condoling her care and her desolate state. And have been to see " — he nodded his head Till they came in sight of her garden gate. To the hill round which they late had sped — 24 HOW THE DOMINIE WENT TO SEA. " To see if yon path, if I followed it straight, But nobody smiled and nobody stirred ; Would bring me around to my garden gate. Only the Dominie's wife was heard, And it did ! " The Dominie nodded and Her eyes they flashed and she spake most smiled, true — While contentment shone in his blue eyes mild. " One never knows what sucn a man will do / " / .-' / I 25 Mbat tbinos befell tbe Squire's Ibouse all oil a jfribai^ ^omimj WHAT Thwcj- 3ETELL THE j-ovire:^ H0V5E m ON ^ '.. K NCAI ■■;■,■,,■■,. /, , "V - " Oh ! Mother Meg, come out, come out. And hearken what I say! There are strange happenings about The Squire's house this day! The mare is gone from out her stall, — Alack, unlucky fate ! — Three crows did fly around the hall As I ran out the gate ! " A bumblebee hath stung the Squire ; His face is twice its size. My cake hath vanished off the fire, Bewitched from 'neath my eyes ! Old Goody Gay doth sore bemoan Some spirit in the well. Which makes the bucket weigh ten stone And keeps it under spell ! " Then Buxom Bess, the Squire's maid, Wrung her two hands, forlorning; But simple Jake, who after sped, Just stood and looked and wagged his head,- AU on this Friday Morning. 27 WHAT THINGS BEFELL THE SQUIRE S HOUSE. So Mother Meg a charm did brew For Bess, the Squire's lass: A wondrous potion to undo What things had come to pass. She drew three hairs, and each one named, From out her old cat's back. And cast them in the fire that flamed Beneath her caldron black. 28 Took herbs which grew the well beside, Each with its magic art, A snake-tooth and a horsehair tied, And earth a seventh part, And these did brew and brew and brew. Within the caldron there, Then with her hazel rod she drew Three circles in the air: i|' " Abra-cad-abra, cad-abra, ca-di ! Come, my cat with the gleaming eye, \ Abra-cad-abra, cad-abra, cad- ay! Banish spell in this smoke away ! " With this strange charm went Bess the maid Backward, and slow retreating; And three times around the house she strayed, And here and there the potion laid. Those mystic words re- peating. WHAT THINGS BEFELL THE SQUIRE S HOUSE. And lo ! before the morrow, Jake Had caught that wandering mare ; And slyly from the well did take The stones he emptied there ! Old Goody, so rejoiced was she, Drew water till nigh spent; Then straightway o'er a cup o' tea To tell her Gossip went. No bees did sting the Squire, because The bees he went not nigh. And Buxom Bess so busy was She saw no black crows fly. But her good cake was gone, in truth ; Yet this thing I do say, She lost not one again, forsooth, Until next baking-day! Now, if such signs should come to you, Speed straight away, I beg. And get a magic potion, too. Brewed by old Mother Meg. But of one Jake, with shambling tread, Ask not the road. Take warning! For when these things were done and said, He just stood by and wag- ged his head — All on that Fnday Morn- ing ' 2q Zhc Scribe of Buvic)? ^^SLv ■^^-^ Said the dauntless Scribe of Durley, " I shall hie me forth to see The midnight raiders who molest my favorite plum-tree. Yestreen I counted thirty plums a-ripening in all ; This evening only twenty-nine are hanging on the wall " I '11 fright the bold marauders forever from the scene, For tales of blood and daring my daily food have been. My grandsire was a warrior who fought by sea and land : I '11 sally out upon the field, his weapons in my hand ' " 32 THE SCRIBE OF DURLEY. This dauntless Scribe of Dur- ley — toward his favorite plum-tree ; ' "' ' And the gruesome armor's rusty greaves they rattled as he trod, And the dint- ed hel- met sway- ed and bent with spectral beck and nod. IffV I '- He crawled within the shadows dark, and clambered up the wall, When lo ! upon the /' further side uprose a fig- ure tall — A fearful, ghostly figure, with hairy visage black ! And the dauntless Scribe of Durley from off the wall fell back. v^^ So that dauntless Scribe of Durley, when the night was dark and still. And the trees were black and spectral, and the moon hung o'er the hill, His project hazardous he hid from his maiden daughters three. But made him ready to protect his favorite plum-tree. " I '11 don my grandsire's armor," quoth he unto himself; '* And with his shield and helmet, his long sword from the shelf, I '11 impress these poor marauders, when I conquer face to face. That they 're honored in encountering a very ancient race ! " It was a black and gloomy way, and stealth- ily stole he — 3 35 THE SCRIBE OF DURLEY, Forgot was grandsire's valor, as straightway to the ground He rolled with creak and jangle, with weird and awful sound. Up through that gloomy garden-close the Scribe of Durley fled Dropped armor, shield and long sword, and the helmet from his head. And lo ! upon his threshold, trembling and panting, he — The dauntless Scribe of Durley — met his pretty daughters three. One had a lighted candle, and one the snufifers bore, And one a gruesome cobweb-brush held valiantly before. •'^M 'yi/: m " Oh, father, you are come too late!" cried One and Two and Three; " For armed men this night besieged your favorite plum-tree ! 34 THE SCRIBE OF DURLEY. >! ^■'^^ 3 We heard them stealing stealth- ily, and followed, one and all With our long broom made ready to sweep them from the wall! ^""^ r--__~ And when their leader rose on high with rattling, warlike sound, We lifted yonder cobweb-broom and felled him to the ground ! 35 THE SCRIBE OF DURLEY. And not a plum molested is, upon your favorite tree, m ' ; / For twenty-nine a-ripening are, and one we ate for tea!" , , 1 1 ; nii l^,■/'l/})/'//i(/) # is Then the dauntless Scribe of Durley, oh, ne'er a word i.i.iliU iL\nilw\ ^r^^Mii said he About the bold old ancestor who fought by land and sea. Nay, he patted condescendingly each pretty daughter's head, ^ ^ ^^,. And with candle -and with dignity- .. ;, ijljjpjpi'jfir^^ betook himself to bed im^m-' micm 36 tibc Ibiobvva^ntan of Duilc^ wmmn @ The Durley Coach came rattling down the steep and shppery road, With geese and chickens swung atop, and hampers full ^ a load. "■ Toot - toot .' Toot - toot ! '' the coacher's horn echoed without, within, sirs, And said : " Light up, light up the fires in good old Durley Inn, sirs / " ■' '^'>> 39 THE HIGHWAYMAN OF DURLEY. ^^ff:-^ ^.*<.^ The Durley Coach held passengers well- nigh a half a score : The Dominie, he sat behind ; the Beadle sat before; And Master Mynce was packed therein, his viol by his knees; While Granny Gryce held sunshade green, and half a keg of cheese ; And Mistress Pynch with sampler, and with jar of honey clear, Sat by the Innkeeper and wife and all their children dear; With pickles, pie, and bird-cage. Mistress Merrivein was there, — For all were bringing home their goods from distant Durley Fair. -%liJ:./^ ^ ' .'ft'" -T/e-- ^»5«^'_ '^— ==.^ 40 THE HIGHWAYMAN OF DURLEY. ''Toot-toot I Toot-toot r' The Durley Coach swung into Durley Lane. The darkness fell upon the road, the moist- ure on the pane, While gaunt and black the branches waved along old Durley Hill, sirs, And at its foot the Squire's woods stood lonely, dense, and still, sirs. " Stop, there ! " The horses reared and plunged and halted in the dark. A hand had grasped the leader's rein, and swung a lantern's spark. And Mistress Pynch shrieked, " Highway- men ! " with all her might and main. And " Highway7nen ! " screamed Granny Gryce and Mistress Merrivein, 41 THE HIGHWAYMAN OF DURLEY. " Thieves ! Robbers ! " bawled the Beadle. -i*- " Fling everything outside ! " "Take all we have, but spare our lives ! " the Innkeeper he cried " Here is my viol," wailed Master Mynce ; " 't is worth a pound to you, sirs ! " " My snuff-box," cried the Dominie, " and best umbrella, too, sirs ! " " Alack ! " sobbed Mistress Merrivein, " kind sirs, oh, let me go ! My husband dear will pay you well, good gentlemen, I know ! A finer man you '11 never meet, nor see his like again ; No one was ever yet afraid of Master Merrivein ! " .u^" ;r^.-.^m0'}fi.: THE HIGHWAYMAN OF DURLEY. %&M The voices shrieked ; the traps flew out, a queer and motley horde, The Highwayman he shouted, " Sfo/> / " The Coacher, too, he roared ; Came sampler, viol, sunshade, and bird- cage, pickles, cheese. Umbrella, honey, snuff-box, for that High- wayman to seize. The Highwayman his lantern swung, and chattels strove to miss. •' Alackaday, good friends," he cried, " a pretty welcome this ! 'T is dark, and I 've a sack of grain I fetched from Durley Mill ; I stopped the coach to get a ride — all with a right good will ; But if there be no room within, — and that, methinks, is plain, — I '11 cUmb atop." So spake the voice of Master Merrivein! Then Innkeeper and Dominie and Beadle, one and all, Climbed out to seek their scattered goods, and not a sound let fall. But Mistress Merrivein outside the window- stretched her head, And to her husband dear straightway these were the words she said : In all of Durley, round about, there is not such a man For making fuss and trouble! Explain it, if you can. Instead of all this bother and worry and to-do, sir, Why could you not have said at first that you were only you, sir ? " 43 ^be Ibapp^ ^bouobt of niMstvcss p^ncb ^"^'-'- UOTH Mistress Pynch unto her cat (a prim old , lady, she !) : " If Durley Town held no small boys, how happy we should be! Young lads so unexpected are; their manners so alarming. I 'd work a transformation satisfactory and charming. "I 'd have our grown-up townsmen grave, for space of one brief day, Assume the guise of boyhood days, ^^-Ul and show us youth at play, ^'' '■ ' So circumspect! Such dignity! At lessons late and early! Alack, what models they would be unto these lads of Durley! "The Dominie — right certain I that never in his life Was that staid mind on pleasure bent, with noisy pastime rife; Our good friend Master Merrivein — so conscientious ever ! I 'm sure that in his boy- j^'I'Js hood he de- ^JS^ sired a play- time never. "Our wise adviser, Doctor Patch — how studious was he ! And Cousin Mynce, who always walked abroad with sisters three! Alas! their tasks were play enough; all lighter pastime spurning. They kept them to their copy-books, or Rule of Three a-learning. 46 MISTRESS PYNCH S HAPPY THOUGHT. "Now, could these stately friends :' .v,> ^. . , •■ / recall how discreetly they have ^ -" ^z; . .■ ' ,.■■•-"' //\ played "^ ' 7 r " '^-^K 'v'N^-' ''•■•■ In the sood old days when duty the part Wi^-r^ ^.•.. l^Jx '• 'A'^l^ of youth was made! - ":\ ■-■';>"^. AW,'* > ^ -",::. And And And Polly from the Ferrier's, and Peggy from the hillside, \' ' . And little Norah of Dunblea, and Nelly of the millside; And so they ran, and oh, they ran! a-joining hands together, Twixt Durley Hill and Durley Green, all in the windy weather. And there, — good Master Merrivein! — upon a stone they found him; And oh, they glanced, and oh, they pranced, and oh, they danced around him! And Polly showed a crimson shoe, And Norah's saucy eyes were blue, Bess she wore a kerchief red, and Peggy had a yellow head, Nelly like a lark did sing, as round they whirled them in a ring. 55 v;^:"'^ THE ENVIABLE ERRAND OF MASTER MERRIVEIN. ,^ ^ " 'T was red alpaca in a pail But through the song and laughter, and the tripping dance so gay, They heard good Master Merrivein's dis- jointed utterance say : a pound of looking-glasses . . . Blue mufifs and things , . . red finger-rings for little dancing-lasses A skein of yellow beads and lace ... a yard of snake-tooth tea Alack, poor Master Merrivein, in sorry plight was he! Then mad they danced up Durley Hill, a-flitting back together Like butterflies, all in the glad and golden Durley weather. But what good Master Merrivein fetched home that morning early Go ask of Mistress Merrivein, on t ' other side of Durley ! 56 Zbc Battle of 3)urle^ ^..^ Quoth Master Merrivein, one mom, unto Whistling, had packed his market-cart and his wife : " I hear started off for town. The mill on Durley River bank hath been But nigh half-way, a-gallop, came the doctor besieged, my dear — " and his na^; Besieged ! " cried Mistress Merrivein. "What And, hard behind, the donkey-cart of good news ! Oh, lack-a-day ! " Dame Featherbag. And off she flew to tell the news to Mistress Lo! at the crooked turnstile, a-running as for hfe. Meanwhile, good Master Merrivein, with The fiddler and the blacksmith, the dominie Dolly Gay. .nwhile, goo( not a care or frown, and wife ; n,/ 58 THE BATTLE OF DURLEY. ■Mm/-j^&./' 'V?^iV"i^S A-follo\ved by the shrimp-man, ■--. who, panting, breathless, said : " There 's fighting up at Durley Town, and much blood hath been shed ! " And on the yellow highway he met with sailors three, A-hobbling up to Durley Town, as hard as hard could be. They carried sticks and bludgeons, and as they passed they said : "There 's a battle up at Durley, and sixteen men are dead ! " Upon the bridge the innkeeper was driv- ing like the wind, And all his family in a cart were coming on behind ; And they flourished warlike implements, all threatening to strike — Long skewers, j tongs, brass candlesticks, and snufiers, and the like. .V 59 THE BATTLE OF DURLEY. :^#4' ^^;i And out upon the highway — the strangest And they shouted as they hastened by, each sight, I ween ! — with a right good will : A throng of frightened village folk a-march " The soldiers are upon us, and they 've fired from Durley Green, Durley Mill!" Equipped with ancient musketry — arrayed And lastly came the cannon, with the from toe to crown — // beadle on before; To battle for their neighbors at beleaguered jjl And he shouted, " Haste and help us, Durley Town. W for there 's going to be a war ! " ■■ ■ I'l' •- r ^ J I .. ^ ■■ if^ w 'm§& ^^l 60 THE BATTLE OF DURLEY. So away went Master Merrivein, and followed them all down To fight for suffering neighbors at beleaguered Durley Town. But lo! what sight did meet his eyes as he drove round the hill? All peacefully against the skies stood good old Durley Mill! And thick about it there was drawn a And lo! on Master Merrivein they turned, strange and motley crew, as he drew nigh, A-talking and a-clamoring, and making a And his wife advanced with wrathful mien to-do and anger-flashing eye : Around the starded miller, who, with coun- " What is this thing you 've done, sir! What tenance benign, do you mean, I say, Of enemy or bloodshed had seen nor trace By telling me that Durley Mill hath been nor sign 1 besieged this day ? " 6i THE BATTLE OF DURLEY. " Ay, ay ! " cried all the neighbors, and the While all the birds round Durley Hill listened beadle wagged his head. in every tree : "Explain, sir! Ay, explain, sir!" right fu- " I /r/>^/ to tell my wife, good friends, — may- riously he said. hap she '11 make it plain, — And kindly Master Merrivein, full wonder- That Durley Mill 's besieged by juice ! " ing, spake he, quoth Master Merrivein. 62 mUbite Clbmc c-- V- 1 lT''"\ r' til- i < ;'=-^-T /j- i 4 i ■ Oh, White Marie from tlie mountain high Came down, when the world went Maying, From the snow of the peaks that shine alway, To the snow o? the fields that flowering lay. Where Shy Suzette and Saucy Dinette — and Baby Babette — were playing. Stole White Marie from the mountain high Like a wandering wind-flower straying; And oh, the surprise in her soft dark eyes At the blossoming ball of wonderful size With which Suzette and Saucy Dinette — and Baby Babette — were playing! Then — SKy Suzette would not go nigh, And naughty Dinette drew her face awry, And frightened Marie turned swift to fly Back to her goats, the foot-path by, When — Baby Babette in the grasses high — A Marguerite out-swaying — Reached her hands with a laugh of delight, And scattered a shower of sunflakes white. With nods and smiles and baby wiles, And baby words soft saying. 64 WHITE MARIE. ^M ^ 'h\''- "^^"^'i. ■ if ■'■■■ 4^ 77/^;z / Dinette threw her ball and cried "/<:/.'" And Suzette looked sorry and said "(9 oia.'" And Marie murmured a sweet " A/erd J " And then — and then — Dear Baby Babette and Shy Suzette and Saucy Dinette, With White Marie from the mountain high, In the snow of the fields were playing ! ^ m"y'"'^% 'Mu^y\^s4. )i. "^i >^' '■^'i 65 Xisbetb's Song 'J^' •^.J ■^vn' '^-^5- TT^.l *r\^'' '/i!5^ , '-''- AC>^ ^iMa'^^^^PI ^^^ ,^- y- .p. ^v^ .:.>Nf , *' Whirr!" says the little wheel. "AVhirr! Wliirr ! " While out of the window a twitter and stir. And the bells of the garden are all a-chime ^^'ith the clock in the corner that ticks the time Solemn o'er Lisbeth's white-capped head, And kerchief demure, and petticoat red ; 68 LISBETH S SONG. " Whirr ! " says the Httle wheel, " let me be ! " But Lisbeth laughs, and blithe sings she : '• Soft and bright. Smooth and white. Keeps the thread in beginning. And I '11 have no spot. Or tangled knot, At the close of this day's spinning." "Burr!" says the little wheel. " Bur-r-r — " While the buds in the window beckon to her, And the sunlight mocks at the clock's stem face, And the big blue tiles in the chimney-place. And dances in glee on the white floor bare, And Lisbeth's braids of yellow hair — *' Burr ! " says the little wheel, " don't you see ? " But Lisbeth laughs, and blithe sings she : " Turn and spin, Out and in, No end without a beginning; I must have no spot. Or tangled knot. At the close of this day's spinning ! " 69 Big "ffJook ox b^ Crook Y Hoolt or By ^v. J^^-'' >a'-*iUfi^ 1 .r ^,- >v. ^#/. Mi..i)»|i;— •'«-'. -1'yj' :^^ ,-/..Ti' "^.U;- :^y / It was a lonely Shepherd lad, who lolled upon the lea, — "Alack, how many fishes are a-swimming in the sea! 'T would seem a goodly company were I in yonder boat. But here are only grazing sheep, or else a gruesome goat ! " The sun comes up, the sun goes down, alike day after day ; I come and go with my slow sheep in just the selfsame way. I am tired of the hilltop, I am tired of the lea. And I would I were yon Fisherman a-skimming o'er the sea ! " It was a lonely Fisherman, who drifted with his boat, — "Alack! this life is nothing more than fish, and row, and float; There 's plenty worth the hving for if I were on the land. But here the world is all made up of water, salt, and sand. " There might be more variety if things were turned around. And sheep went scampering in the sea and fishes on dry ground; I am tired of the fishes, I am tired of the sea, And I would I were yon Shepherd lad, a-loUing on the lea ! " 72 BY HOOK OR BY CROOK. Then the Fisherman he shouldered his basket, rod, and hook, While the Shepherd sauntered surlily, a-slinging of his crook ; They nodded to each other, — a nod unreconciled, — And the great sun gave a parting look, then smiled, and smiled, and smiled ! ^ i , yf- ,k' ■^^ ' < A ' ^ ^, ■w. >> n Zhc jfool anb the !!LittIe Court %ab^ TtlE TOOL AND UTILE COVB.T ^ ^-r=-<«^ ^r ^fesisi ■^t^ He was a merry, merry Fool so gay, She was a little Court Lady; He jangled his bells by night and by day, She sang in the green ways shady. ; 1 1 rS=^ Z—^jJ -^^^^^^r'^ -:r=___ -i mm?- 76 THE FOOL AND THE LITTLE COURT LADY. She sang to the Queen with the sad, sad face, Who sighed, " Ah me ! " as she listened, " My crown for a day of such childhood's grace ! " And a tear in her dark eye glistened. And the grave King looked at his jester gay, And sighed, as he smiled at the chaffing, " My kingdom to be this Fool for a day. Whose life is a time for laughing ! " They met when the sun slipped down in the sea, The Fool and the Htde Court Lady, And a queer jester he, and a sorry singer she, As they walked in the green ways shady; 77 THE FOOL AND THE LITTLE COURT LADY. Then he bobbed a Httle bow, and a little curtsey she, As they passed down the green ways shady; But " Alack ! " quoth the queer little Fool, quoth he ; And "Alas!" sighed the little Court Lady. V M ,:w;^ "/':'■!■ : mmi^'% Li yff^^p^t^wi'^ ll I \f' M''^ 'Q'lr r' im 'i!i^'\ii ^'I'-f^/ 7/^"^ ^w ir\\ \ f«t'^Jr«S: m 78 Zhc Ballab of the nDaib anb tbe Ikino '1111/,;, !• ^^^^2^^^^ T'^T -T' '--''^'^- JV^^ / / i^As told hy the old Spinner.) '^ . ---^:$- /■'.■-^f' V HE king and his men to the castle came; Ttirn, my taheel, tuni / The sun was setting, in blood-like flame; Turn, my wheel, turn I The flags o' the tower were red to the west, The dove i' the turret had sought its nest, And I did 'broider a silken vest — Turn, my wheel, turn J Clanged the horseshoe and rang the spur In courtyard and hall; Owls flew forth with hoot and whir From the tower wall; And out by the moat they frightened ran, Warder and scuUion, maid and man — Fled they all. Only I in the tower was left — A maid, half-grown. My lord of his household all bereft — Hearts of stone! My good, gray lord was hiding there; Only his little maid knew where He lurked alone. %!■ So THE BALLAD OF THE MAID AND THE KING. Strode the king to the tower door — " Open h^re ! " Fell my 'broidery down to the floor. Loud and clear, Men in mail smote the tower wall ; Burst the door, and the king stood tail, With helm and spear. Swarmed his men up the narrow stair, Soldier and knight. Found only a maiden with yellow hair. And a face milk-white — Only a maid (and that maid I) — Spears and helmets they thronged them nigh In the sun's red light. " Now who is this who hath stayed alone?" Spake the king to the maid. " Warder o' castle and keeper o' stone ! " 'T was thus she said. " All men's places I 'm left to fill — Soldier and scullion, too, an ye will — For all are fled!" Oh, then the laughter rose harsh and loud; And words they buzzed like bees in a cloud ! But I marked the great king's angry eye, Which sought where my good, gray lord might lie. "Where is thy lord?" quoth the king to the maid; " Point the place, or thou 'It lose thy head ! " " My life may be thine," said the maid to the king; " But my lord's is his own court'sying. quoth she. " Lead thou on to his hiding-place, Or I burn the castle before thy face ! I level the castle from turret to ground Unless thy lord be straightway found ! " Cried the king to the maid. ■v She stamped her foot on the pavement stone — She defied the King. " Wouldst threaten a maiden left alone ? " How scorn can sting! " A captive thou in a dungeon low," Said the king to the maid, " Unless his hiding-place thou 'It show, Where he lurks in dread ! " 8i THE BALLAD OF THE MAID AND THE KING. Spake the maid: "The great king I obey! Mine be my Hfe ! I shall lead the way To where my lord hath hid him this day ! " These words she said. " Bravely pledged! An' thou 'It play me true! Or thy life is the price, and the deed thou 'It rue, I vow to thee ! " Oh, stem spake he. " If I show not where he is hid this day, My life is the forfeit that I shall pay ! " And thus spake she. Forth from the castle, with clamor and speed, Rode the king and his men; One in advance on a fiery steed, Urging me onward to point the way To where my dear lord, good and gray. Had striven to save his life that day. Then, oh, then They rode abreast and they rode in state At a maiden's word; Out by the courtyard and castle gate, Where swallows whirred; Up the highway and over the hill. Past the river, with desperate will. Was our galloping heard. Into the forest, and dusk at last Fell quick, so quick! The dead leaves swept in a cloud as we passed, Thick, so thick! The dark crept round like a smoky shroud ; The horses they panted hard and loud — " If thou play false," said the king, " beware ! " 82 THE BALLAD OF THE MAID AND THE KING. " 'T is well," said she of the l^axen hair; " If I lead not where he hath hid this day My life is the forfeit, an' that I '11 pay ! " Over the river and past the moat, Drawbridge, ferry, and lagging boat; Swift they unhorsed them, each and all, And stood without a turreted wall. Through the postern, soldier and knight, Blades made ready and torches alight, Listen I Only a maid was there, FHtting before them up the stair — The selfsame stair they had trodden o'er, The selfsame castle they 'd searched before I Listen I Oh, listen! How that maiden laughed as she upward sped To the empty tower room o'erhead! But the king he shouted in baffled rage, f^r^f"' -^ "^ -^.- '^^' Following whither that maiden bid, To where her good, gray lord was hid. Within those portals, — silence all. Torches wavered on cornice and hall. And they trembled — soldier, knight, and page. But not the maid. She sprang to the room in the turret high, And faced them all with a flashing eye; ^3 THE BALLAD OF THE MAID AND THE KING. And the torches flamed: but she laughed the more At an upturned stone in the paved floor — At a stairway dark and steep and low, Where into the depths a man might go. Every soldier with flaming eye! Blades flashed bright in the torches' glare, A protecting ring o'er that maiden there ! No tyrant's sword could pierce that wall — Not one drop of her blood might fall ! 'Behold my dear lord's hiding-place!" Cried the maid to the king. • I led thee to 't with a right good grace," Quoth she, court'sying. ■ Thou didst leave him hiding beneath this stone ; And now my lord is away and gone! Thou didst go by the courtyard and come by the moat; Thou didst go in the saddle and come by the boat ; Thou hast been all round my lord's domain, — Round his castle and back again, — And he fled when ye left him — my good, gray lord ! And my life I yield to the great king's sword ! " Said the maid to the king. ' And by my sword thou shalt straightway die ! " Spake the king to the maid. ' Strike ! " I cried (for the maid was I — A slip of a girl, with yellow hair). Flashed his furious blade in air, — But lo ! what a protest burst anigh ! AH his knights with their swords on high ! Beyond the yawning portal-stone The great king stood, and he stood alone. With never a man to call his own; Gazing, amazed, at the swords held high O'er a slip of a maid — And that maid I! I sit and I spin in my tower room; Turn, 7/iy wheel, turn / The year blows in -with the apple-bloom; Turn, ?ny wheel, turn ! But listen ! When, wailing, the year fades out, And dead, dry leaves they whirl them about. And the sun lies red on the turret and wall, I hear once more the trumpet call ; The clamor arises, the rage, the din, As dusk, the merciful, darkens in. And a slim, young maid with a milk-white face Rides through the night at a fearful pace — Leads to her good lord's hiding-place — Faces the furious king anigh : I am old, I am old I — But that maid was I / (W- D^: . jl,,ci 84 ©vcr tbc BvibGC to tbc Ikino's H^iobwa^ IveF ^pe BRiD^e 9W .»'i Over the bridge to the King's highway The friar with his book, and the jester with They throng and they jostle, young and old, his bells. With bustle and with hurry; for 't is market- The vender with red apples for his stands, day, The maid who buys, and the master who sells, And the mist from the river riseth cold. And the little lass with blossoms in her hands. Over the bridge they speed, the noisy folk. Oh, the violets smile like her sweet blue With chaises, with barrows, and with carts; eyes. The 'prentice in his cap, and the dame in her As dawn on the river stealeth down ; cloak, But nobody heeds them and nobody buys, And the baker with his fresh-made tarts; For 't is market-day in yonder busy town. 87 OVER THE BRIDGE TO THE KING'S HIGHWAY, Over the bridge they have sped them one and Will they stop ? Nay, nay ! they are grand, all, they are great, She watches, and she nods, and under- She nods, and she smiles, and understands ; stands; They have no time, while the court doth For they are so great and she so small — yonder wait. This little lass \\ith blossoms in her For a little lass with blossoms in her hands, hands ! jt~: Over the bridge to the King's '~' "^ highway " "^"- -^'"^ ' They are riding in the noontide "^ sun, '—-' " The lords and the ladies, the courtiers gay, A-gleaming and a-glancing every one. Oh, they flash and they dart past her sweet She knows how the page with his lagging lit- blue eyes, tie feet The merry, the courtly, and the sage; Would fain for a wee rest stay; She sees the lance that lights, and the feather, They have journeyed so far, they have ridden too, that flies, so fleet. And the lagging of the little foot-page. The noble, the kingly, and the gay ! 88 Then swiftly the leaves of her vio- lets blue Are brushing his wan, pale face, — Oh, my blithe little lass, the court hath need of you, Of the gift, and the giver, and the grace ! OVER THE BRIDGE TO THE KINGS HIGHWAY. Over the bridge in the noontide bright They have sped like an arrow from its bow; The little lass a-shading her eyes for the sight. The Httle page's plume sweep- ing low. Just a pause, just a smile from iJ:^<^j^J^^^si5-*if:s^m^'lf .I'^^^V her bonny sweet eyes — And the river, how it laugheth to the sands; For the tired Httle page like a winged bird he flies A-bearing dewy blossoms in his hands ! ^'iO • ^m-^ Mbat the Xovb IFMob (Tbamberlain Saib 1:^ l 1 1 ^ i i ' '1 ' WHAT THE LORD HIGH CHAMBERLAIN SAID. Little Prince Carl he stole away Alone in the twilight gray and dim, From the gold-laced guard and the powdered He climbed on the carven chair of page, state. And the ladies in waiting, who night and day And there with a smile sufficiently grim, Kept their bird in a gilded cage. And a royal air, His Highness sate. 9- WHAT THE LORD HIGH CHAMBERLAIN SAID. He folded his arms with a mighty mien, Little Prince Carl, the son of a king,— But never an auditor was to be seen, Save the pea-green cockatoo, perched in his swing! And rebellion shone in His Highness' eyes : " When I am a king full-grown," said he, " I fear there is going to be surprise At some of the things this court shall see ! " With the Dowager Duchess I shall begin ; When I say, 'Stand forth!' she shall bow her low. ' For me to jump you have said was a sin; I command _>'6'z/ to jump wherever you go! ' " The Court Physician I next shall take : 'And you, I hear, have declared it best That I, your monarch, shall not eat cake,— Phan-cake^ too, of the very best I — "'Well, yoti are to eat a gallon of rice, And nothing besides, for every meal; 93 WHAT THE LORD HIGH CHAMBERLAIN SAID. I am sure 't is quite " wholesome," " nourishing," " nice," But I know quite well just how you feel ! ' "Now let the Lord Chamberlain have a care!" His Highness' voice took a terrible ring; He rumpled his curls of yellow hair, And the pea-green cockatoo shook in its swing! "'Down! Get down on your knocking knees, Down with your smile and your snuff-box, too ! ' I will thunder, ' and now 't is time, if you please, To settle an old, old score with you ! 94 WHAT THE LORD HIGH CHAMBERLAIN SAID. "'What became of those three white mice That crept from the royal nursery door. After you said if they did it twice They should never be heard of any more ? '"/ k7io'w, for I heard the little one squeak/ And I ran and stopped my ears up tight. You need not squirm, and you need not speak, For your fate shall be settled this very night. "*In the darkest depths of the dungeon lone You are to live; but do not fear, For company livelier than your own You shall have three milhon mice a year!'" The little Prince clapped his hands in glee, And laughed aloud at this fancying, — Oh, a rare and a wonderful monarch he! — And the pea-green cockatoo hopped in its swing : When out of the twilight a slow voice rolled; There stood the High Chamberlain, stern, who said " I regret to state that I 've just been told It is time for Your Highness to go to bed!" And lo! not a word did His Highness say! — He went at once, like the son of a king. But his bright curls drooped as he walked away. And the cockatoo's head went under its wing. ©lb Christmas OLD CHRISTMAS. It 's a long way round the year, my dears, A long way round the year! I found the frost and the flame, my dears, I found the smile and tear! The wind blew high on the pine-topp'd hill, And cut me keen on the moor; The heart of the stream was frozen still. As I tapped at the miller's door. I tossed them holly in hall and cot, And bade them right good cheer, But stayed me not in any spot, For I 'd traveled around the vear To bring the Christmas joy, my dears, To your eyes so bonnie and true; And a mistletoe bough for you, my dears, A mistletoe bough for you ! bring the Christmas joT,my dears,To your eyes so bonnie and true ; And a m^^^^h — ' ' — — —— — ^ — ■ J^ H^=ez =ff= q=S--t==:^ -: i^ — »»--— ^ - — I li^t^ IP mistle-toe bough for you, my dears, A mis-tle-toe bough for youl 1^=1' i=?= ^3^-=J^|Efe|=|5^|EEl^iE ^-^—Z=l'^C i &=-E «-Et rT i i33a=±pr«=5: 99 ,tp 1 .' '^^^ '0 -> ¥: h'.^.M*!^^ O"" CONGRESS illlLIIIJIJJI|.;.J 015 906 403 7