Page:Florence Earle Coates Poems 1898 68.jpg

 THE LITTLE LASS

(AN OLD-TIME DITTY)

Douglas to his castle came,

Emotion nerved his shatter'd frame,

And soft he pondered,—"Presently

My little lass will welcome me!

As longs the miser for his gold,

As fever longs, with thirst untold,

So yearns my heart her face to see,

Who yonder waits to welcome me!"

But as he turned his steed about,

A mournful peal of bells rung out;

Whereat he cried,—"Nay, merrily!

Ring forth my bairn to welcome me!"

He entered at the castle gate;

(None marked him come, for it grew late,)

He stood within his hall at last;

(None heeded him, for tears fell fast.)

68