The Blackberry Girl

  "Why, Phebe, are you come so soon?     Where are your berries, child?   You cannot, sure, have sold them all,     You had a basket piled."   "No, mother, as I climbed the fence,     The nearest way to town,   My apron caught upon the stake,     And so I tumbled down.   "I scratched my arm and tore my hair,     But still did not complain;   And had my blackberries been safe,     Should not have cared a grain.   "But when I saw them on the ground.     All scattered by my side,   I picked my empty basket up,     And down I sat and cried.   "Just then a pretty little Miss     Chanced to be walking by;   She stopped, and looking pitiful,     She begged me not to cry.   "'Poor little girl, you fell,' said she,     'And must be sadly hurt;'   'Oh, no,' I cried; 'but see my fruit,     All mixed with sand and dirt.'   "'Well, do not grieve for that,' she said;     'Go home, and get some more,'   'Ah, no, for I have stripped the vines,     These were the last they bore.   "'My father, Miss, is very poor,     And works in yonder stall;   He has so many little ones,     He cannot clothe us all.   "'I always longed to go to church,     But never could I go;   For when I asked him for a gown,     He always answered, "No.   "'"There's not a father in the world     That loves his children more;   I'd get you one with all my heart,     But, Phebe, I am poor."   "'But when the blackberries were ripe,     He said to me one day,   "Phebe, if you will take the time     That's given you for play,    "'"And gather blackberries enough,     And carry them to town,   To buy your bonnet and your shoes,     I'll try to get a gown."   "'Oh, Miss, I fairly jumped for joy,     My spirits were so light;   And so, when I had leave to play,     I picked with all my might.   "'I sold enough to get my shoes,     About a week ago;   And these, if they had not been spilt,     Would buy a bonnet, too.   "'But now they're gone, they all are gone,     And I can get no more,   And Sundays I must stay at home,     Just as I did before.'   "And, mother, then I cried again     As hard as I could cry;   And looking up, I saw a tear     Was standing in her eye.   "She caught her bonnet from her head,     'Here, here,' she cried, 'take this!'   'Oh, no, indeed I fear your ma     Would be offended, Miss.'   "'My ma! no, never; she delights     All sorrow to beguile;   And 't is the sweetest joy she feels,     To make the wretched smile.   "'She taught me when I had enough,     To share it with the poor;   And never let a needy child,     Go empty from the door.   "'So take it, for you need not fear     Offending her, you see;   I have another, too, at home,     And one's enough for me,'   "So then I took it here it is      For pray what could I do?   And, mother, I shall love that Miss     As long as I love you." UNKNOWN