What ails you, Child?" she sobb'd, "Look here!" I saw it in the wheel entangled, A weather beaten Rag as e'er From any garden scare-crow dangled. 'Twas twisted betwixt nave and spoke; And whither are you going, Child, To night along these lonesome ways?” "To Durham" answer'd she half wild"Then come with me into the chaise." - She sate like one past all relief; My Child, in Durham do you dwell?" She check'd herself in her distress, And said, "My name is Alice Fell; I'm fatherless and motherless. And I to Durham, Sir, belong." And then, as if the thought would choke Her very heart, her grief grew strong; And all was for her tatter'd Cloak, The chaise drove on; our journey's end Up to the Tavern-door we post; And let it be of duffil grey, As warm a cloak as man can sell!" Proud Creature was she the next day, The little Orphan, Alice Fell! 5. RESOLUTION AND INDEPENDENCE. There was a roaring in the wind all night; All things that love the sun are out of doors; The grass is bright with rain-drops; on the moors And with her feet she from the plashy earth I was a Traveller then upon the moor; And all the ways of men, so vain and melancholy. But, as it sometimes chanceth, from the might As high as we have mounted in delight |