The poetical works of Robert Stephen Hawker Edited from the original manuscripts and annotated copies together with a prefatory notice and bibliography by Alfred Wallis |
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A BALLAD FOR A COTTAGE WALL. |
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 | The poetical works of Robert Stephen Hawker |  |
A BALLAD FOR A COTTAGE WALL.
“Thou shalt fasten them upon the lintels of thy doors.”
A child sate by the meadow-gate,
A tender girl and young;
With many a tear her eyes were wet,
And thus she sate and sung:—
A tender girl and young;
With many a tear her eyes were wet,
And thus she sate and sung:—
“Ah! woe is me! for I have no grace,
Nor goodness as I ought;
I never shall go to the happy place,
And 'tis all my parents' fault.
Nor goodness as I ought;
I never shall go to the happy place,
And 'tis all my parents' fault.
“To this bad world they brought me in,
A place where all must grieve;
With flesh of misery and sin,
From Adam and from Eve.
A place where all must grieve;
With flesh of misery and sin,
From Adam and from Eve.
“And then they shunned the churchyard path,
Where holy angels haunt;
They would not bear their child of wrath
To yonder blessèd font.
Where holy angels haunt;
They would not bear their child of wrath
To yonder blessèd font.
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“They kept me from that second birth,
Which God to baptism gave;
And now I have no hope on earth,
Nor peace beyond the grave.
Which God to baptism gave;
And now I have no hope on earth,
Nor peace beyond the grave.
“Yet a thought is in my mind to-day—
It came I know not how:
I will go to the font at church, and say
I seek my baptism now.
It came I know not how:
I will go to the font at church, and say
I seek my baptism now.
“Yes! God is kind: I shall then have grace
And goodness as I ought.
For oh! if I lose the happy place
'Twill be my poor parents' fault.”
And goodness as I ought.
For oh! if I lose the happy place
'Twill be my poor parents' fault.”
'Twas a child of meek and gentle kind,
A tender girl and young;
And angels put into her mind
The solemn words she sung.
A tender girl and young;
And angels put into her mind
The solemn words she sung.
| The poetical works of Robert Stephen Hawker | |