XXIII. THE THORN. I. "THERE is a Thorn, it looks so old, In truth, you'd find it hard to say Not higher than a two years' child It stands erect, and like a stone II. "Like rock or stone, it is o'ergrown Up from the earth these mosses creep, And all have joined in one endeavor III. "High on a mountain's highest ridge, Where oft the stormy winter gale Cuts like a scythe, while through the clouds Not five yards from the mountain path, Though but of compass small, and bare IV. "And, close beside this aged Thorn, All lovely colors there you see, V. "Ah me! what lovely tints are there Green, red, and pearly white! This heap of earth o'crgrown with moss, As like as like can be: But never, never anywhere, An infant's grave was half so fair. VI. "Now would you see this aged Thorn, This pond, and beauteous hill of moss, You must take care and choose your time The mountain when to cross. For oft there sits between the heap So like an infant's grave in size, And that same pond of which I spoke, A Woman in a scarlet cloak, And to herself she cries, 'O misery! O misery! O woe is me! O misery!' VII. "At all times of the day and night And there, beside the Thorn, she sits Or frosty air is keen and still, 'O misery! O misery! O woe is me! O misery!" VIII. "Now wherefore thus, by day and night, And why sits she beside the Thorn And wherefore does she cry? O wherefore? wherefore? tell me why Does she repeat that doleful cry?" IX. "I cannot tell; I wish I could; I never heard of such as dare Approach the spot when she is there.” X. But wherefore to the mountain-top Full twenty years are past and gone While friends and kindred all approved XI. And they had fixed the wedding day, The morning that must wed them both; But Stephen to another Maid Had sworn another oath ; And, with this other Maid, to church Unthinking Stephen went. Poor Martha! on that woful day Into her soul was sent ; A fire was kindled in her breast, XII. "They say, full six months after this, While yet the summer leaves were green, She to the mountain-top would go, |