Page:The cry for justice - an anthology of the literature of social protest. - (IA cryforjusticea00sinc).pdf/521

 Mammon Marriage

(Scotch novelist and clergyman, 1824-1905)

The croak of a raven hoar! A dog's howl, kennel-tied! Loud shuts the carriage-door: The two are away on their ghastly ride To Death's salt shore!

Where are the love and the grace? The bridegroom is thirsty and cold! The bride's skull sharpens her face! But the coachman is driving, jubilant, bold, The devil's pace.

The horses shiver'd and shook Waiting gaunt and haggard With sorry and evil look; But swift as a drunken wind they stagger'd 'Longst Lethe brook.

Long since, they ran no more; Heavily pulling they died On the sand of the hopeless shore Where never swell'd or sank a tide, And the salt burns sore.

Flat their skeletons lie, White shadows on shining sand; The crusted reins go high To the crumbling coachman's bony hand On his knees awry.