Kathleen's Charity. A BALLAD. "GOD bless the work," said young Kathleen. She bent her golden head, And in her cheek that was so pale The blood crept rosy red. Quick flew the humming spinning wheel, The thread was all but done, And like the pale shafts of a star The gleaming strands she spun. "And when the cloth is mine "—she smiled, The wheel sang soft and low "I'll make a robe all straight and white, That I a bride may go. "The world is good," she said, and laughed, A-turning of her wheel, Then by her stood a beggar maid, Who prayed with faint appeal. "I have not gold," sighed sweet Kathleen, "Nor silver you to give, Yet if you go so pale and wan I fear you scarce can live. "So take my thread, 'twill weave a gown The beggar kissed the giving hand, "My work is done," said poor Kathleen, And put her wheel aside, Yet like God's Mother sweet she looked, So fair and holy-eyed. "And though no silken gown I wear I yet can pray with grateful heart, "To-morrow in the bare, brown earth Now as she spoke beside her stood "I have not silver now nor gold, Yet should I giftless drive you forth She gave the sack of golden corn That was her father's store, And in her breast her frightened heart "Oh, woe is me," she turned and cried, Oh, cruel will he be to her She took the chaff in her two hands "Ahone," she said, "so to deceive She bent to weep, but by her side "And 'tis in vain," poor Kathleen cried, "For I have left no gifts to give, No cloth, no food, no gold; So I must drive you forth," she said, She took the child unto her heart, She set him down upon his way "I met a lady on the road," The little one replied, "She said this thread would weave a gown To robe a happy bride. "She bade me when I met with one "She said, 'Give her this silken thread "For I have robbed my father dear, And oh, what shall I answer him "And oh, what shall I say to him Who sowed the chaff upon the ground, And woeful looked she to the north, And there she saw a little child She looked into her father's field, Where once the chaff had been, "The world is good," said young Kathleen, And knelt her down to pray; "I know that some of God's sweet saints Did visit me to-day." To a Seamew. WHEN I had wings, my brother, As this when life seems other, Though sweet, than once was mine; When I had wings, my brother, Such wings were mine as thine. Such life as thrills and quickens With lordlier exultation Than man's, whose faint heart sickens With hopes and fears that blight Such life as thrills and quickens The silence of thy flight. Thy cry from windward clanging Round earth's most rapturous voice, Thy cry from windward clanging Makes all the cliffs rejoice. |