'One minute now will ease my fears-- Or, still more wretched must I be? No: surely Heaven has spar'd our tears: I see him, cloath'd in snow;--'_tis_ he.-- 'Where have you stay'd? put down your load. How have you borne the storm, the cold? What horrors did I not forebode-- That Beast is worth his weight in gold.' Thus spoke the joyful Wife;--then ran And hid in grateful steams her head: Dapple was hous'd, the hungry Man With joy glanc'd o'er the Children's bed. 'What, all asleep!--so best;' he cried: O what a night I've travell'd through! Unseen, unheard, I might have died; But Heaven has brought me safe to you. 'Dear Partner of my nights and days, That smile becomes thee!--Let us then Learn, though mishap may cross our ways, It is not ours to reckon when.' THE FAKENHAM GHOST. A Ballad. The Lawns were dry in Euston Park; (Here Truth [1] inspires my Tale) The lonely footpath, still and dark, Led over Hill and Dale. [Footnote 1: This Ballad is founded on a fact. The circumstance occurred perhaps long before I was born: but is still related by my Mother, and some of the oldest inhabitants in that part of the country. R.B.] Benighted was an ancient Dame, And fearful haste she made To gain the vale of Fakenham, And hail its Willow shade. Her footsteps knew no idle stops, But follow'd faster still; And echo'd to the darksome Copse That whisper'd on the Hill; Where clam'rous Rooks, yet scarcely hush'd, Bespoke a peopled shade; And many a wing the foliage brush'd, And hov'ring circuits made. The dappled herd of grazing Deer That sought the Shades by day, Now started from her path with fear, And gave the Stranger way. Darker it grew; and darker fears Came o'er her troubled mind; When now, a short quick step she hears Come patting close behind. She turn'd; it stopt;--nought could she see Upon the gloomy plain! But, as she strove the Sprite to flee, She heard the same again. Now terror seiz'd her quaking frame; For, where the path was bare, The trotting Ghost kept on the same! She mutter'd many a pray'r. Yet once again, amidst her fright She tried what sight could do; When through the cheating glooms of night, A MONSTER stood in view. Regardless of whate'er she felt, It follow'd down the plain! She own'd her sins, and down she knelt, And said her pray'rs again. Then on she sped: and Hope grew strong, The white park gate in view; Which pushing hard, so long it swung That _Ghost_ and all pass'd through. Loud fell the gate against the post! Her heart-strings like to crack: For, much she fear'd the grisly Ghost Would leap upon her back. Still on, pat, pat, the Goblin went, As it had done before:-- Her strength and resolution spent, She fainted at the door. Out came her Husband much surpris'd: Out came her Daughter dear: Good-natur'd Souls! all unadvis'd Of what they had to fear.