University of Virginia Library

THE MAGICAL VILLAGE

THE PATIENT WITCH.

A LADY CALLED THE PATIENT WITCH,
LIVED NEAR US LONG AGO.
OUR SERVANTS GAVE HER OFF AND ON
A BIT OF COIN OR SO,
TO TELL THEM WHAT THEIR DREAMS COULD MEAN,
AND IF THEIR LOVES WERE TRUE;
TO STUDY OUT THEIR PALMS AND SAY—
“A PALACE WAITS FOR YOU.”
AND THEN SHE ALWAYS WAS POLITE,
AND SAID, “HOW DO YOU FARE?
I HOPE YOUR LITTLE GIRL IS WELL,”
WITH A MOST PLEASANT AIR.
SHE MUMBLED MUCH, WE KNEW NOT WHAT—
EACH AFTERNOON WOULD WAIT
BESIDE THE GUIDE-POST TO THE WEST
FOR SOME EXALTED FATE.
SHE LOOKED DOWN EVERY ROAD AS THOUGH
A STATELY COACH WAS DUE,
TO BEAR HER HOME TO SOMEWHERE ELSE,
TO FOLKS SHE REALLY KNEW.
“ONE EVENING,” SAID A LITTLE BOY,
THE ONLY ONE ANIGH,
“SHE TOLD ME PRETTY STORIES, AND
SHE KISSED MY CURLS GOODBY,
AND TURNED INTO A SWAN AND SPREAD
HER WHITE WINGS BIG AND WIDE.
AND FLEW AND FLEW INTO THE SKY!
AND I CAME HOME AND CRIED.”