Page:The Seaside and the Fireside.djvu/135

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The Blind Girl of Castel-Cuille.
113
  “ Paul, lay thy noisy rattle by!
Thus Margaret said. “ Where are we? we ascend!
  “ Yes; seest thou not our journey's end?
Hearest not the osprey from the belfry cry?
The hideous bird, that brings ill luck, we know!
Dost thou remember when our father said,
  The night we watched beside his bed,
  ' O daughter, I am weak and low;
Take care of Paul; I feel that I am dying!'
And thou, and he, and I, all fell to crying?
Then on the roof the osprey screamed aloud;
And here they brought our father in his shroud.
There is his grave; there stands the cross we set;
Why dost thou clasp me so, dear Margaret?
  Come in! The bride will be here soon:
Thou tremblest! O my God! thou art going to swoon!