DORA.

WITH farmer Allan at the farm abode

William and Dora. William was his son,

And she his niece. He often look'd at them,

And often thought "I'll make them man and wife.”

Now Dora felt her uncle's will in all,

And yearn'd towards William; but the youth, because He had been always with her in the house,

Thought not of Dora.

Then there came a day

When Allan call'd his son, and said, "My son,

I married late; but I would wish to see

My grandchild on my knees before I die :

And I have set my heart upon a match.

Now therefore look to Dora; she is well

To look to ; thrifty too beyond her age.
She is my brother's daughter: he and I
Had once hard words, and parted, and he died
In foreign lands; but for his sake I bred
His daughter Dora: take her for your wife;
For I have wish'd this marriage, night and day,
For many years." But William answer'd short,
"I cannot marry Dora; by my life,

I 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 ! my time a father's word was law, And so it shall be now for me. Look to't.

But in

Consider take a month to think, and give
An answer to my wish; or by the Lord

That made me, you shall pack, and nevermore
Darken my doors again." And William heard,
And answer'd something madly; bit his lips,

The more he look'd at her

And broke away.
The less he liked her; and his

But Dora bore them meekly.

The month was out he left his father's house, And hired himself to work within the fields; And half in love, half spite, he woo'd and wed A labourer's daughter, Mary Morrison.

Then, when the bells were ringing, Allan call'd His niece and said, "My girl, I love

you

well;

But if you speak with him that was my son,
Or change a word with her he calls his wife,
My home is none of yours. My will is law."
And Dora promised, being meek. She thought,
"It cannot be my uncle's mind will change!"

And days went on, and there was born a boy
To William; then distresses came on him;
And day by day he pass'd his father's gate,
Heart-broken, and his father help'd him not.
But Dora stored what little she could save,
And sent it them by stealth, nor did they know
Who sent it; till at last a fever seized

On William, and in harvest time he died.

Then Dora went to Mary. Mary sat

And look'd with tears upon her boy, and thought Hard things of Dora. Dora came and said,

36

DORA.

“I have obey'd my uncle until now, And I have sinn'd, for it was all thro' me This evil came on William at the first.

But, Mary, for the sake of him that's gone,
And for your sake, the woman that he chose,
And for this orphan, I am come to you :

You know there has not been for these five

years

So full a harvest let me take the boy,

And I 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 Dora took the child and went her way
Across the wheat, and sat upon a mound
That was unsown, where many poppies grew.

Far off the farmer came into the field

And spied her not; for none of all his men
Dare tell him Dora waited with the child;
And Dora would have risen and gone to him,
But her heart fail'd her; and the reapers reap'd,
And the sun fell, and all the land was dark.

But when the morrow came, she rose and took

The child once more, and sat upon the mound;
And made a little wreath of all the flowers
That grew about, and tied it round his hat
To make him pleasing in her uncle's eye.
Then when the farmer pass'd into the field
He spied her, and he left his men at work
And came and said, "Where were you yesterday?
Whose child is that? What are you doing here?"
So Dora cast her eyes upon the ground

And answer'd softly,

"This is William's child !"

"And did I not," said Allan, "did I not

Forbid you, Dora ?" Dora said again,

"Do with me as you will, but take the child

And bless him for the sake of him that's gone!"

And Allan said, "I see it is a trick

Got up betwixt you

and the woman there.

I must be taught my duty, and by you!

You knew my word was law, and yet you dared
To slight it. Well-for I will take the boy;
But go you hence, and never see me more.”
So saying, he took the boy, that cried aloud
And struggled hard. The wreath of flowers fell