That drifts adown the steep, But colder far this clammy shroud Which will not let me sleep." The wind had swept away the clouds, But still its laugh was wild; Before the father slept, he pray'd The saints to ban his child. Ah! who shall help a houseless soul? What refuge shall it win? Again the hand tapp'd on the door: "O mother, let me in." Quick was her ear to catch the cry, Her foot upon the floor, Her hand to draw away the bolt, And open wide the door. "Come in, come in, thou child of mine, Right welcome unto me, Come in, and warm thee in the breast That erewhile suckled thee." She took him up within her arms Or ere a word was said, She set him down before the hearth, All wan and damp and dead. "Cold was the snow that beat on me, The grave that let me out, O take away this wet wet shroud That wraps me round about. "Your tears fall on my face, mother, Your tears fall on my feet, Your tears drip through the coffin-lid Upon my winding-sheet. "Now weep no more for me, mother, It lets me in my rest, But wrap me in another shroud And warm me in thy breast." The sister peep'd from out her bed, Her face was pale with fear,-- "O mother, give him nought of mine Or I shall die this year." [Illustration: 0092] Out spoke the father from his bed, Harsh was his voice and wild,-- "O woman, take not aught of mine, To wrap about the child." A strange strange smile was on her lips, But ne'er a word she said; Her best seem'd hardly good enough To wrap around the dead. She bore him to and fro, and sang Old songs and lullabies; He laid his hands upon her cheeks And smiled into her eyes. 'Twas good St John's, and the mountain woods Were gay with summer sheen, The mother slept with her little Willie All in the grave so green. ----Charles Grant. THE BALLAD OF JUDAS ISCARIOT |Twas the body of Judas Iscariot Lay in the Field of Blood; 'Twas the soul of Judas Iscariot Beside the body stood. Black was the earth by night, And black was the sky; Black, black were the broken clouds, Tho' the red moon went by. 'Twas the body of Judas Iscariot Strangled and dead lay there; 'Twas the soul of Judas Iscariot Look'd on it in despair. [Illustration: 0094] The breath of the world came and went Like a sick man's in rest; Drop by drop on the world's eyes The dews fell cool and blest. Then the soul of Judas Iscariot Did make a gentle moan-- "I will bury underneath the ground My flesh and blood and bone. "I will bury deep beneath the soil, Lest mortals look thereon, And when the wolf and raven come The body will be gone! "The stones of the field are sharp as steel, And hard and cold, God wot; And I must bear my body hence Until I find a spot!"