Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/653

 1850-60.] WILLIAM W. HARNEY. G37 Their marble-ring is grass o'ergrown As the mossy foot of the old grave-stone, Where the old folks sleep so calm. But the miller's son, in the city thick, Dreams that he hears the Old Mill click. And sees the wheel go round ; And the miller's daughter, through her half-shut eyes, Sees the miller in his dusty guise, And the place where the corn was ground. JIMMY'S WOOING. The wind came blowing out of the West, And Jimmy mowed the hay ; The wind came blowing out of the West : It stirred the green leaves out of their rest. And rocked the blue-bird up in his nest, As Jimmy mowed the hay. The swallows skimmed along the ground. And Jimmy mowed the hay ; The swallows skimmed along the ground, And rustlmg leaves made a pleasant sound, Like children babbling all around — As Jimmy mowed the hay. Milly came with her bucket by. And Jimmy mowed the hay ; Milly came with her bucket by. With wee light foot, so trim and sly. And sunburnt cheek and laughing eye — And Jimmy mowed the hay. A rustic Ruth, in linsey gown — And Jimmy mowed the hay ; A rustic Ruth, in linsey gown, He watched her soft cheeks' changing brown. And the long dark lash that trembled down. Whenever he looked that way. Oh ! Milly's heart was good as gold, And Jimmy mowed the hay ; Oh ! Milly's heart was good as gold ; But Jimmy thought her shy and cold. And more he thought than e'er he told,. As Jimmy mowed the hay. The rain came pattering down amain, And Jimmy mowed the hay ; The rain came pattering down amain ; And, under the thatch of the laden wain, Jimmy and Milly, a cunning twain, Sat sheltered by the hay. The merry rain-drops hurried in Under the thatch of hay ; The merry rain-drops hurried in, And laughed and prattled in a din. Over that which they saw within, Under the thatch of hay. For Milly nestled to Jimmy's breast. Under the thatch of hay ; For Milly nestled to Jimmy's breast. Like a wild bird fluttering to its nest ; And then I'll swear she looked her best Under the thatch of hay. And when the sun came laughing out. Over the ruined hay — And when the sun came laughing out, Milly had ceased to pet and pout, And twittering birds began to shout, As if for a wedding-day.