Page:The poems of George Eliot (Crowell, 1884).djvu/348

318 Swiftly through the wood down hill,

Run till you can hear the mill

Toni's ghost is wandering now,

Shaped just like a snow-white cow.

Heart of Mary, morning star,

Ward off danger, near or far!

Toni's wagon with its load

Fell and crushed him in the road

'Twixt these pine-trees. Never fear!

Give a neighbor's ghost good cheer.

Holy Babe, our God and Brother,

Bind us fast to one another!

Hark! the mill is at its work,

Now we pass beyond the murk

To the hollow, where the moon

Makes her silvery afternoon.

Good Saint Joseph, faithful spouse.

''Help us all to keep our vows! ''

Here the three old maidens dwell,

Agatha and Kate and Nell;

See, the moon shines on the thatch.

We will go and shake the latch.

Heart of Mary, cup of joy,

Give us mirth without alloy!

Hush, 't is here, no noise, sing low,

Rap with gentle knuckles—so!

Like the little tapping birds,

On the door; then sing good words.

Meek Saint Anna, old and fair,

Hallow all the snow-white hair!