The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-02-03
1)octru.
NEassl Muller.
BY j. G. WHITTIER.

BY J. G. WHITTIER
Maud Muller. on summers day,
Rakel the meadow sweet with hay.
beneath her torn hat g'owcl the wealth
OF simple hra;.ty and rt:s,c health.
Singing. she wrought. and her Il. 'rry giee
The mock bird echoed from his tree.
But. when she glanced to he inr-oi' 'own,
White with its hill slope looking down,
The sweet song died and vague unrest
and Il namclcs. longing filed her breast
A wish. that she hardly dared to own
For something better than shc had known
The judge rode slowly down the lane,
Smoothing his horses chestnut inane.
lie drew his bride in the shade
VI the apple trees, to greet the maid,
And ask II draught from the spring that flowed
Through the meadow, across the road.
She so opcd where the cool spring dubbed up.
And filled for him her small tin cnp,
And b!ushcd H. she g.vc it. looking down
"Thauks," said the Judge "a swcefer drausht
From faircr hand was never quaffed.
lie spoke of the grass and flowers and trees,
of the singing birds and the hunming bees;
Then liked ofrhc hayins aud wondered whether
The cloud of the west would bring foul weather.
And Maud forgot her brar-torn gown,
And her graceful ankles bare nAd brown;
And listened. while a pleased surprise
Looked from her long laShed hazel eyes.
At last, Ike one who for delay
Seeks Il vain excuse he rode away.
Maud Muller looked and sighed All me-
That the Judges bride might he
ole would dress me up in silks so fine,
And praise and toast me at his wine.
My father should wear broadcoth cont
My brother should s,il Il printed boat.
"I'd dr.. IS my mother grand and gay,
And the baby should I've new toys each day
and I'd fed he hungry and clothc the poor,
ana al Sllouii DltS- me VINO icil our uoOr.
The Judge looked back .s be climbed the hill
And saw Maud Muller standing sill.
a form more fair, face more sweet.
Ne'cr had been my lot to meet.
".ind her modest answer AMI graceful air
Show her wise and good as she is fair
Would she were mine. and today
Like her harvester Of hay:
mo Doubtful balance Of rights and wrongs
Nor weary lawyers wi h endless tongues,
Put low Of cattle and song Of birds.
And heath and quiet and loving words
Eu' he Thought Of his siat ,rs proud and col |,
And his mother vain Of her rank and god.
So. closing his hcort the Judge rode on,
And 81 aud was left in the field a'one.
Ru' the Lawyers SIN led that afternoon.
When he hummrd in court an old love tune;
And the young girl missed beside :hc well,
Till the rain ON the unr kcl clover f.ll.
He wooded wife of richest dover.
Who lived for fl h on, rs he for power.
Yet Oft in hi. marble hcalth's bright glow,
lie watched "A p.cturs come AMI go:
And sweet Maud Mullols yla.r eyes
Looked out in their innoc, nj surprise.
Of when the wine in his glass was red
He longctl for the wayslc we'll instead;
And he clos ii his eyes on his garnlshcd rooms
To dream Of meadows and clorer-bloOms
And the proud IN IN sighel. with a secret pain
"Ah, that were free again
"Frce as when rode that day.
Where The barefoot I'M den rakel her hay.
She welded n m IN un'carncd and poor,
And many children played round her door.
But c ire and sorrow. and chi'd-b'r Ii pain,
Left their traces on heart and brain.
And oft, when the summer sun 'hono hot
On he ncw-;nown hJy in he meadow lot,
And she heard he little spring brook fa,l
over the roadside, through the wall,
In the shade Of the apple-trce again
She saw rider draw his rein
And gazing down with timii grace,
She lit his pleased eyes read her face
Some ines her narrow kitchen walls
Stretched away in'o stately halls;
The weary wheel 70 a spnpct thrntd
The hi ow candle an astral burned,
And Cor him who sat by the chimncy-lug
Doing and grumbling O. r pipe and lpug
a manly form at her side she saw.
And joy was duty and love was law.
Then she took up her burden of life again,
Saying only, lit might have been,
Alas for IN idea, alas for Judge,
For rich rcpner and household drudge,
God pity them both and pity us ALL
Who vanly the dreams of youth recall.
For of all the sad words of tongue or pen.
The saddcst arc these 1T might have been =,
All well for us all some sweet hope lies
Deeply buried from human eyes;
And in the hereafter angels may
Roll the stone from its grave away,
National Era.
llABIr.-''l trust everything, under God -
al 7 ,r1p AL, II,