Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1868-11-06
Maud Muller.

Maud Muller on a summers day,
kaked the meadow sweet with hay;
Beneath her torn hat glow'd the wealth
of simple beauty and rustic health.
Singing, she wrought, and her merry glee
The mock-bird echoed from his tree.
But when she glanced to the far ofrtown
White rom Its hili-slope locking down,
The sweet song died, and vague unrest
And nameless longing filed her breast.
wish that she hardly dared to own,
For something better than she had known.
The Judge rode slowly down the lane
Smoothing his horse 3 ehesnut name.
He drew his bride In the shade
of the apple tree TO greet the maid
And asked a draught from the spring that flowed
Through the meadow, across the road
And fled for him, her small tin cup,
And blushed as she gave 1t, looking down,
oh her ieet 50 bare, and her tattered gown.
Thanks" said the Judge "a sweeter draught
from iairer hand was never quaffed
He spoke Of the grass, and flowers and trees,
ofthe singing birds and humming bees.
Then talked of the haying and wondered
. Inc cloud In the west would bring foul weather
And Maud forgot her brier torn gown,
And her graceful ancle bare and brown,
And listened, while pleased surprise
Looked from her long dashed hazel eyes.
At last, like one who for delay
Seeks vain excuse, he rode away.
Maud Muller looked and sighed "Ah, me ~
That 1.-THE Judges bride might be !"
,lIe would dress me mp in silks so fine,
And praise, and toast me at his wine.
my father should wear a broad cloth coat
My brother should sail painted boat.
I'D dress my mother so grand and gay
Ana the baby should have new toys each day,
And I'd feed the hungry and elothe the poor,
And all should bless me that left my door"
The Judge looked back as he climbed the hill
And saw Maud Muller standing still.
"A form more fair, face more sweet
Neer hath IL been my lot TO meet.
And her modest answer and graceful air
Show her wise and good AZ she IL fair.
Would she were mine and / to day
Like her harvester of hay.
mo doubtful balance of rights and wrongs
Nor weary lawyers with endless tongues.
But low of cattle and song of birds
And health and quiet and loving words"
But he thought of his sisters proud and cold,
Of his mother vain Of her rank and gold.
SO closing, his heart, the Judge rode on,
And Maud was left in the field alone.
But the lawyers smile that afternoon
When he hummed in court an old love tune.
And the young girl unused beside the well
iii the rain ON the un-raked clover fell.
lie welded a wife of richest dover,
VINO lived Tor fashion ~ he for power.
Yet of IN his marble hearth's bright glow,
lie watched picture come and go:
And sweet Maud Muner's hazel eyes,
Looked ont IN their innocent surprise.
OFT when the wine In his cup was red,
lie longed for the wayside well instead,
And closed his eyes on his garnshed rooms
10 dream OF meadows aud clover blooms,
And the proud man sighed with a secret pain
"Ah that were free again.
Free as when rode that day.
where the bare foot maiden raked the hay"
She welded man unlearned and poor
And many children played round her door,
But care and sorrow and toll and pain
Lett their traces on heart and brain.
And of when the summer sun shone hot
On the new mown hay in the meadow lot
And she heard the little spring brook fall
Over the roadside through the wall
In the shade of the apple tree again
She saw a rider draw his rein.
And Glancing down with timid grace
She felt his plsssed eye read her face.
Sometimes her narrow kitchen walls
Stretched away into stately halls.
The weary wheel spinnet turned,
The tallow candle an astral burned.
And for him who sat by the chimney Ing
Dosing ana grumbling DER pipe and mug,
manly form at her side she saw
And JOY was beauty and love was law.
Then she took up her burden OF life again
Saying only, ut might have beeh,"
Alas for maiden, alas for Judge,
For rich repiner and household drudge.
God pity them both and pity us all
Who yalnly the dreams of youth recall.
For OF all sad words OF tongue or pen
The saddest are 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.