14

THE OLD HAG.

Just entering Weller's Wood,-most strange,—

He met the hag again!

"Lord Stratford, stop! Lord Stratford, turn!

Lord Stratford, haste not so!

For, ere to-morrow's sun hath set,

Your baby's blood must flow!"

"Pooh! pooh! old dame!" She frown'd again, Then howl'd an Irish cry;

But still Lord Stratford smil'd, and sung,

"This day a stag must die."

"A curse light on thee, thoughtless Lord!"
While scowl'd her bloodshot eye;
“A stag!—No, no, Lord Stratford, no,
It is your babe must die!”

"And why, dame, those portentous words?

I prithee, beldame, say.”

But, as he spoke, the hounds swept by— "Tantivy! hark away!"

And off o'er hill and dale he flies,

Unmindful of her words;

When lo! again the hag appears

Behind a grove of firs!

She wav'd her hand, and cross'd her breast,
Then howl'd her Irish cry :-

"Your babe, unfeeling man, your babe

Must bleed-must groan-must die!"

He started! and, at length, appal'd,
He trembled much and fear'd;
But as he turn'd to ask the cause,
The hag had disappear'd!

And now, with fear oppress'd, his face
Became like death's pale hue:
All sport was o'er, and, turning round,
He homeward quickly flew.

And to fair Ellen he reveal'd
The strange, mysterious tale,
Who soon became as sad as he,
As anxious, and as pale.

And now the night came on; and now
The storm blew fierce and loud;
And now the blood-red moon was seen
All cross'd with many a cloud.

And now the raven wildly scream'd;
And now the tempest swell

Swept o'er the trees in Weller's Wood,
And mov'd the abbey bell.

The clock struck twelve.

"Come, Ellen, come,

"Tis time to go to rest;"

Then, snatching up his lovely boy,
He press'd him to his breast.

And now they all had sunk to sleep;
Yet still fair Ellen's dreams

16

THE OLD HAG.

Were sad she shriek'd, "Oh, Stratford !-no,
It is the moon that gleams."

She shriek'd again: for now she sees
The hag, with bloody knife,

Peep through the door, and then advance,
To take her baby's life!

'Twas but a dream-a frightful dream

Oh, Stratford, let's away!
For all the gold on India's shore
I'd not stay here a day!"

Then, hastening up, they took the babe,

And left their stately dome,

And straight to Dunstan town they went,
Full many a step from home.

But scarcely had they left the house,
And gone but half a mile,

When quickly to the castle-gates
Up comes a murderer vile!

And now, my readers, let us stop,

This mystery to reveal,

And tell why this poor babe should be
The hero of my tale.

One night, 'twas in November last,-
I think 'bout two o'clock,

A murderer to Lord Stratford's came,
And at the door did knock.

The butler had not gone to bed,
So to the hall he flew ;

But, just as he had op'd the door,
The ruffian shot him through.

And then he rush'd into the house,
And darted up the stairs:
Lord Stratford seiz'd a gun-too late!
The booty off he bears!

Lord Stratford now, with vengeance fir'd,
Pursued and took his prey,
And at the next assizes town
He swore his life away.

A few weeks after this event,
The brother of the thief
Was in a wood, expressing loud
His vengeance and his grief.

With desperate look, he paus'd, and said, "By yonder sun I swear,

Before it sets to-morrow eve,

Shall die Lord Stratford's heir!

"His life !—No, no! that would not do !— "Twould not my vengeance cloy !

But I'll prepare a lasting grief,
By murdering his lov'd boy!"

The hag by chance was in the wood,
And heard the ruffian's threat,

18

SISTER JANE.

When, hastening on, with quicken'd step,
Lord Stratford soon she met.

And now, remark how very much
Appearance may deceive;

You see, twas not her wish to harm,
She only meant to save.

And by her warning voice was spar'd
Lord Stratford's lovely boy,
Who liv'd for many a circling year
In health, and wealth, and joy!

And, searching out, the crone he found
Hard by the forest side;

Then kindly brought her to his home,
And there she liv'd and died.

SISTER JANE.

SEARCH England and Ireland and Scotland all

over,

Then sit down again, for your search will be vain,

Because you can never, no, never, discover

A sister like mine, my own sweet sister Jane!