Our late old Vicar, a kind man, 290 Once, Sir, he said to me, He wished that service was clean out Of our good Liturgy. The mother walked into the church-- To Ellen's seat she went: 295 Though Ellen always kept her church All church-days during Lent. And gentle Ellen welcomed her With courteous looks and mild: Thought she, 'What if her heart should melt, 300 And all be reconciled!' The day was scarcely like a day-- The clouds were black outright: And many a night, with half a moon, I've seen the church more light. 305 The wind was wild; against the glass The rain did beat and bicker; The church-tower swinging over head, You scarce could hear the Vicar! And then and there the mother knelt, 310 And audibly she cried-- 'Oh! may a clinging curse consume This woman by my side! 'O hear me, hear me, Lord in Heaven. Although you take my life-- 315 O curse this woman, at whose house Young Edward woo'd his wife. 'By night and day, in bed and bower, O let her curséd be!!!' So having prayed, steady and slow, 320 She rose up from her knee! And left the church, nor e'er again The church-door entered she. I saw poor Ellen kneeling still, So pale! I guessed not why: 325 When she stood up, there plainly was A trouble in her eye. And when the prayers were done, we all Came round and asked her why: Giddy she seemed, and sure, there was 330 A trouble in her eye. But ere she from the church-door stepped She smiled and told us why: 'It was a wicked woman's curse,' Quoth she, 'and what care I?' 335 She smiled, and smiled, and passed it off Ere from the door she stept-- But all agree it would have been Much better had she wept. And if her heart was not at ease, 340 This was her constant cry-- 'It was a wicked woman's curse-- God's good, and what care I?' There was a hurry in her looks, Her struggles she redoubled: 345 'It was a wicked woman's curse, And why should I be troubled?' These tears will come--I dandled her When 'twas the merest fairy-- Good creature! and she hid it all: 350 She told it not to Mary. But Mary heard the tale: her arms Round Ellen's neck she threw; 'O Ellen, Ellen, she cursed me, And now she hath cursed you!' 355 I saw young Edward by himself Stalk fast adown the lee, He snatched a stick from every fence, A twig from every tree.