Queen of a day, by flatterers caressed, The one puts on her cross and crown, Has neither crown nor flower's persume; That in a drawer's recess doth lie, Convulsive clasps it to her heart. The one, fantastic, light as air, 'Mid kisses ringing, And joyous singing, The other, with cold drops upon her brow, Joins her two hands, and kneels upon the floor, And whispers, as her brother opes the door, “O God! forgive me now!” And then the orphan, young and blind, With tranquil air, her way doth wind. Round her at times exhale, And in the sky as yet no sunny ray, But brumal vapors gray. Near that castle, fair to see, Marvels of nature and of art, And proud of its name of high degree, Above each jealous cottage roof, And its blackened steeple high in air, 66 as Paul, 1.1y thy noisy rattle by!” cend !" “Yes ; seest thou not our journey's end ? Hearest not the osprey from the belfry cry? The hideous bird, that brings ill luck, we know ! Dost thou remember when our father said, The night we watched beside his bed, O daughter, I am weak and low; Take care of Pa:il ; 1 feel that I am dying!' And thou, and he, and I, all fell to crying? Then on the roof the osprey scream :d aloud; And here they brought our father in his shroud. There is his grave; there stands the cross we set ; Why dost thou clasp me so, dear Margaret? Come in ! The bride will be here soon : Thou tremblest! O my God! thou art going to swoon!" She could no more, the blind girl, weak and weary! A voice seemed crying from that grave so dreary, "What wouldst thou do, my daughter?” -- and she started; And quick recoiled, aghast, faint-hearted; Her steps towards the open door ; Touches the crown of filigrane She walks, as for a feast arrayed, They both are lost to sight. At length the bell, Sends forth, resounding round, It is broad day, with sunshine and with rain ; And yet the guests delay not long, In sooth, deceit maketh no mortal gay, Mute as an idiot, sad as yester-morning, And Angela thinks of her cross, I wis ; But she must calm that giddy head, At the holy table stands the priest ; He must pronounce one word at least ! 'T is spoken ; and sudden at the groomsman's side “ 'T is he!” a well-known voice has cried. And while the wedding guests all hold their breath, Opes the confessional, and the blind girl, see! “ Baptiste,” she said, "since thou hast wished my death, For anguish did its work so well, Lifeless she fell ! At eve, instead of bridal verse, Decked with flowers a simple hearse Nowhere was a smile that day, “The road should mourn and be veiled in gloom, A CHRISTMAS CAROL FROM THE NOEI BOURGUIGNON DE GUI BARÔZAI I HEAR along our street Pass the minstrel throngs; Let us by the fire Ever higher In December ring |