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Through the rags do the winds of the winter blow bleak
On her poor wither'd bosom, half bare; and her cheek
Has the deadly pale hue of despair!

Yet cheerful and happy-nor distant the day—
Poor Mary the maniac has been:

The traveller remembers, who journey'd this way,
No damsel so lovely, no damsel so gay,

As Mary, the Maid of the Inn!

Her cheerful address fill'd the guests with delight,
As she welcomed them in with a smile;
Her heart was a stranger to childish affright,
And Mary would walk by the Abbey at night,
When the wind whistled down the dark aisle..

She loved; and young Richard had settled the day,
And she hoped to be happy for life-
But Richard was idle and worthless; and they
Who knew him would pity poor Mary, and say,
That she was too good for his wife.

'Twas in Autumn, and stormy and dark was the night, And fast were the windows and door;

Two guests sat enjoying the fire that burn'd bright, And smoking in silence, with tranquil delight, They listen'd to hear the wind roar.

"'Tis pleasant," cried one," seated by the fire-side, To hear the wind whistle without."

"A fine night for the Abbey !" his comrade replied: "Methinks a man's courage would now be well tried, Who should wander the ruins about.

"I myself, like a school-boy, should tremble to hear
The hoarse ivy shake o'er my head;
And could fancy I saw, half persuaded by fear,
Some ugly old abbot's white spirit appear,
For this wind might awaken the dead."

"I'll wager a dinner," the other one cried,
"That Mary would venture there now :"
"Then wager, and lose," with a sneer he replied,
"I'll warrant she'd fancy a ghost by her side,
And faint if she saw a white cow!"

"Will Mary this charge on her courage allow ?" His companion exclaim'd with a smile :

"I shall win, for I know she will venture there now,
And earn a new bonnet, by bringing a bough
From the alder that grows in the aisle."
With fearless good humour did Mary comply,
And the way to the Abbey she bent-
The night it was gloomy, the wind it was high,
And, as hollowly howling it swept through the sky,
She shiver'd with cold as she went.

O'er the path, so well known, still proceeded the maid,
Where the Abbey rose dim on the sight;

Through the gateway she enter'd-she felt not afraid— Yet the ruins were lonely and wild, and their shade Seem'd to deepen the gloom of the night.

All around her was silent, save when the rude blast
Howl'd dismally round the old pile;

Over weed-cover'd fragments still fearless she pass'd,
And arrived at the innermost ruin at last,
Where the alder-tree grew in the aisle.

Well pleased did she reach it, and quickly drew near
And hastily gather'd the bough

When the sound of a voice seem'd to rise on her ear-
She paused, and she listen'd, all eager to hear,
And her heart panted fearfully now!

The wind blew, the hoarse ivy shook over her head
She listen'd;-nought else could she hear.
The wind ceas'd, her heart sunk in her bosom with dread,
For she heard in the ruins-distinctly-the tread
Of footsteps approaching her near.

Behind a wide column, half breathless with fear,
She crept, to conceal herself there;

That instant the moon o'er a dark cloud shone clear,
And she saw in the moon-light two ruffians appear,
And between them—a corpse did they bear!
Then Mary could feel her heart-blood curdle cold!
Again the rough wind hurried by—

It blew off the hat of the one, and behold!
Even close to the feet of poor Mary it roll'd!—
She fell and expected to die!

"Curse the hat!"-he exclaims-" Nay come on, and fast hide

The dead body!" his comrade replies.

She beheld them in safety pass on by her side,
She seizes the hat, fear her courage supplied,
And fast through the Abbey she flies!

She ran with wild speed, she rush'd in at the door,
She look'd horribly eager around:

Her limbs could support their faint burden no more;
But, exhausted and breathless, she sunk on the floor,
Unable to utter a sound.

Ere yet her pale lips could the story impart,
For a moment the hat met her view-
Her eyes from that object convulsively start,
For, Ó heaven! what cold horror thrill'd through her
heart

When the name of her Richard she knew!

Where the old Abbey stands, on the common hard by, His gibbet is now to be seen;

Not far from the inn it engages the eye,

The traveller beholds it, and thinks, with a sigh,
Of poor Mary, the Maid of the inn!

Confidence in God.

How are thy servants bless'd, O Lord!
How sure is their defence!
Eternal wisdom is their guide,

Their help-Omnipotence.

In foreign realms, and lands remote,
Supported by thy care,

Through burning climes I pass'd unhurt,
And breath'd in tainted air.

Thy mercy sweeten'd every soil,
Made every region please;
The hoary Alpine hills it warm'd,
And smooth'd the Tyrrhene seas.

Think, O my soul! devoutly think,
How with affrighted eyes

Southey.

Thou saw'st the wide-extended deep
In all its horrors rise!

Confusion dwelt in every face,

And fear in every heart,

When waves on waves, and gulfs in gulfs,
O'ercame the pilot's art!—

Yet then from all my griefs, O Lord!
Thy mercy set me free;
While in the confidence of prayer
My soul took hold on thee.

For though in dreadful whirls we hung
High on the broken wave,

I knew thou wert not slow to hear,
Nor impotent to save.

The storm was laid, the winds retired,
Obedient to thy will;

The sea, that roar'd at thy command,
At thy command was still.

In midst of dangers, fears, and deaths,
Thy goodness I'll adore;

And praise thee for thy mercies past.
And humbly hope for more.

My life if thou preserv'st my life,

Thy sacrifice shall be ;

And death-if death must be my

doom

Anon.

Shall join my soul to thee.

Lord Ullin's Daughter.

A Chieftain to the Highlands bound,
Cries," Boatman do not tarry,

And I'll give thee a silver pound,
To row us o'er the ferry !"—

"Now who be ye, would cross Lochgyle,
This dark and stormy water ?"

O, I'm the chief of Ulva's isle,
And this Lord Ullin's daughter :-

"And fast before her father's men,
Three days we've fled together;

For should he find us in the glen,
My blood would stain the heather-
"His horsemen hard behind us ride-
Should they our steps discover,
Then-who would cheer my bonny bride,
When they have slain her lover?"-
Outspoke the hardy Highland wight,
"I'll go, my chief-I'm ready :-
It is not for your silver bright,
But for your winsome lady!

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"And, by my word, the bonny bird
In danger shall not tarry;
So-though the waves are raging white-
I'll row you o'er the ferry!"

'By this the storm grew loud apace,
The water-wraith was shrieking,
And in the scowl of heaven, each face
Grew dark as they were speaking.

But still as wilder blew the wind,
And as the night grew drearer,
Adown the glen rode armed men

Their trampling sounded nearer !
"Oh! haste thee, haste!" the lady cries,
"Though tempests round us gather,
I'll meet the raging of the skies,

But not an angry father."

The boat has left a stormy land,

A stormy sea before her,—

When-oh! too strong for human hand !— The tempest gather'd o'er her

And still they row'd amidst the roar

Of waters fast prevailing :

Lord Ullin reach'd that fatal shore,

His wrath was changed to wailing

For sore dismay'd, through storm and shade, His child he did discover!

One lovely arm she stretch'd for aid,

And one was round her lover.

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