Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-03-04
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DORA


nv ALFRED rESNYsoN.
with Farmer Allan, At the farm, abode
william and Dora William was his son,
And she his niece. lie often looked at them.
And often thought, "I'll make them man and wife.
Now, Dora felt her uneles will in all,
And yearned towards William; but the youth, becau
/ He had been always with her in the house,
/ Thought not Of Dora. Then there came a day
When Allan called his son. and said, "My son,
| married late, bat would wish to sec
/ My grandchild On my knees before die,
| And have set my heart upon metch.
| Now, therefore, look to Dora; she Is well
To look to; thrifty, too, beyond her age.
She is my brothers daughter. He and
Had once hard words, and parted; and he died
In foreign lands; but for his sake bred
His daughter Dora Take her for your wife;
For have wished this marriage night and day,
For many yeara' But William answered short,
will not marry Dora" Then the old man
Was wroth, and doubled up his hands, and said.
" You will not, boy you dare TO answer thus
But in my time, fathers word was law;
And 40 It shall be now for me. Look to It;
Consider, William. Take month TO think,
And let me have an answer 10 my wish;
Or, by the Lord that made me, you shall pack,
And never more darken my doors again
But William answered madly, bit his lips,
Aud broke away. The more he looked at herr
The less he liked her and his ways were harshi
But Dora bore them meekly. Then, before
The month was out, he left his fathers house,
And hired himself to work within the helds
Ana h&lf IN love, nall IN spite, ne WOOed anu wei
A laborer's daughter, Mary Morrison.
Then, when the bells we're ringing, Allan called
His niece, and said, My girl, love you well;
But il you speak with him that was my son,
Or change a word with her be calls his wife,
My home is none Of yours. My will is law
And Dora promised, being meek She thought,
" II cannot be; my uncle's mind will change"
And days went on, and there was born boy
To William then distress came on him,
Aud day by day he passed his fathers gate,
Hesrt-broksn, and his father helped him not.
But Dora stored what little she could save,
And sent il them by stealth, nor did they know
Who sent it; till at last fever seized
On William, and in harvest time he died.
Then Dora went to Mary. Mary sat
And looked With tears upon her boy, and thought
Hard things Of Dora Dora came, and said,
d" l have obeyed my uncle until now;
And have sinned, for il was all through me
This evil come on W illism at the first,
But, Mary, for the sake of him that's gone,
And for your sake, the woman that he chose,
Aud for this orphan, am come to you,
You know there has not been, for these five years,
So full a harvest let me take the boy,
And will set him in my uncle's eye
Among the wheat, that, when his heart is glad
OF the full harvest, he may see the boy,
And bless him for the sake Of him that's gone"
And Dors took the child, and went her way
Across the wheat, and sat upon mound
That was unknown, where many peoples grew.
Far off the farmer came into the field,
And spied her not; for none Of all his men
Dare tell him DORIS waited with the child.
And Dora would have risen and gone to him;
But her heart failed her. And the respers reaped,
Aud the sun fell, and all the land was dark.
Bat, when the morrow came, she rose and took
The child once more and sat upon the mound;
And made little wreath of sll the flowers
That grew about, and tied it round his hat
10 make him pleasing in her uncle's eye.
Then, when the farmer passed into the field,
lie spied her, and he left his men at work,
And came and said, "Where were you yesterday
Whose child is thatl What are you doing herel''
So Dora cast her eyes upon the ground,
4 I.s.. tltoa. al
And did not" said Allan, dld not
Forbid you Dora7' Dora sAd again,
$ Do with me as you will; but take the child,
And bless him for the ssko Of him that's gone"
And Allan said, " see IL is a trick
Got up betwixt you and the woman there.
must be taught my duty and by you
You knew my word was Law. and yet you dared
To slight II. Well-for will take the boy;
But you 90 hence, and never see more
SO saying, he took the boy, that cried aloud
And struggled hard. The wreath Of flowers fell
Az D9rs,s feet. She bowed upon her hands,
And the boys cry came to her from the field,
More and more distant She bowed down her hesd
Remembering the day when first she came,
And all the things that had been. She bowed down
And wept in secret; and the reapers reaped,
And the sun fell, and all the land was dark.
Then Dora went to Mary's houte, aud stood
Upon the threshold Mary the boy
Was not with Dora. She broke out in praise
To God. that helped her in her widowhood.
And Dora said, :" My uncle took the boy;
But Nary, let me live and work with you.
He says he will never see me more"
Then answered Mary, " This shall never be-
That thou should st take my trouble on thyself;
And, now think, be shall not have the boy;
For he will teach him hardness, and to slight
His mother. Therefore thou and will go
And will have my boy, and bring him home;
And will beg of him to take thee back
| But, il he will not take thee back again,
| Then thou aud will live within one house,
And work for Williams child until he grows
/ OF age to help u.s. 50 the women kissed
1 Each other, and set out, and reached the farm
The door was off the latoh they peepei, and saw
The boy set up betwi ixt his grandsire's knees,
| Who thrust him in the kolloWs of his arm,
And clapped him the hands and on the cheeks,
Like one that loved him; and the lad stretched out
And babbed for the golden seal that hung
! From Allan's watch, and sparkled by the FIRE.
| Then they came in; but, when the boy beheld
His mother. he cried out to come TO her;
And Allan set him down. And Mary said,
father!-if you will let me call you SO,
| never came begging for myself,
| Or William, or this child but nov come
For Dora. Take her back; she loves you well.
o sir when William died, he died at peace
With all men; for asked him, and he said
He could not rue his marrying me-
| had been patient wife. But, sir, he said
That he was wrong to cross his father thus.
God bless him. he saidi may he never know
The troubles have gone through Then he turned
His face, and passed-unhappy that am!
| But now sir let me have my boy; for you
win make him hard, and he viii learn to slight
His fathers memory; and take Dora back,
And let all this be as 1t was before"
SO Mary said, and Dora hid her face
| by Mary. There was silence Ia the room;
And all at once the old man burst In sobs.
81 have been TO blame-to blame-hsve killed my &c
| have killed him; but loved hm-my dear son!
May God forgive me | have been to blame.
Kiss me- my children" Then they clung about
The old man neck, and kissed bin many times
And all the man WAS broken with remorse;
And all his love came back hundred fold;
And for three hours he sobbed oer Williams child,
Thinking Of William So those four abode
Within one house together and, years
Went forward, Mary took another mate
But Dora lived unmarried till her death.