The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-08-08
Lazy WENTWORTH

And half resolved though he was past
his prime,
And rather damaged by the lapse OF
time,
To fall down at her feet and to de-
clare
The passion that had driven him to
despair;
For from his lofty station he had
seen
Stavers, her husband, dressed in bot
tie green
Drive his new flying stage coach four
in hand,
Down the long lane and out into the |
land.
Just then the meditations of the
earl,
Were interrupted by little girl
Bare-footed, ragged, with neglected
hair,
Eyes full of laughter, neck and shout
ders bare.
A thin slip of a girl like a new moon
Sure to be rounded into beauty soon,
A creature men should worship and
adore
Though now. in mean habiliments she
bore,
A pail of water dripping through the
street,
And bathing as she went her naked
feet;
And with uncommon feelings of de-
light,
The earl OF Halifax beheld the sight;
Not so Dame Stavers, for he heard
her say,
These words, or thought he did, as
plain as day,
ooh, Martha Hilton fie how dare you
go
About the town half dressed and
looking so?"
At which the gypsy laughed and
straight replied,
mo matter how | look; | yet shall
ride
In my own chariot ma'am "and on the
child,
The Earl of Halifax benignly smiled
AS with her heavy burden she passed
on,
Looked back, then turned the corner
and was gone.
What next upon the memorable day,
Arrested his attention was gay,
And brilliant equipage that flashed
and spun
The silver harness glittering in the
sun;
Ioutriders with red jackets 1.-THE and
lank,
Pounding the saddles as they rose
and sank.
While all alone within the chariot sat
Ia portly person with three-cornered
hat;
A crimson velvet coat, head high in
air,
Gold headed cane and nicely powder
ed hair
And diamond buckles sparkling at his
knees,
Dignifed, stately, norld, much at
ease;
Onward the pageant swept and as II
passed
Fair Mistress Stavers courtesied low
and fast,
For this was Governor Wentworth
driving down.
To Little Harbor just beyond the
town,
And now the ceaseless turning of the
mill
OF time that never for an hour stands
still,
Ground out the governors sixtieth
birthday,
And powdered his brown hair with
silver grey;
He gave splendid banquet served
on plate,
Such as became the governor OF the
state,
Who represented England and the
king,
And was magnificent in everything
When they had drunk the king with
many cheer,
The governor whispered in ser.
wants ear,
Who disappeared and presently there
stood,
Within the room in perfect woman.
| A maiden modest and yet self-poss'
essed
Youthful and beautiful and simply
dressed
Can this be Martha Hilton? II must
be,
Yes. Martha Hilton, and no other she
Yet scarce guest perceived that she
was there,
Until the governor rising from his
chair,
Played slightly with his rutiies theI
looked down,
, And said unto the Reverend Arthu
Brown
This is my birthday; II shall like
wise be
My wedding day and you shall MARI
me-"
The listening guests were greatl'
mystihed
None more than the rector who re
piled,
yes. that were n pleasant task;
Your excellency. but to whom ASK.
The governor answered ITO this lad
here
r. And beckoned Martha Hilton to draN
near
=" The rector read the service loud an
clear:
Dearly beloved we are gathere
- here"
: And so on to the end at his con
mand.
n on the fourth npger of her fair LEI
u hand,
, rho yoyernor nlaced the ring an