 | Tales in Verse for Young People |  |
143
ALICE FLEMING.
They sat upon the green hillside,
Sweet Alice Fleming and her brother;
“Now tell me, Alice,” said the youth,
“And tell me in sincerest truth—
Thy thoughts no longer smother—
Sweet Alice Fleming and her brother;
“Now tell me, Alice,” said the youth,
“And tell me in sincerest truth—
Thy thoughts no longer smother—
“Wherefore I should not go to sea?
Dost fear that evil will befall—
Dost think I surely must be drowned,
Or that our ship will run aground,
And each wind blow a squall?
Dost fear that evil will befall—
Dost think I surely must be drowned,
Or that our ship will run aground,
And each wind blow a squall?
“Dear Alice, be not faint of heart,
Thou needst not have a fear for me;
I know we're orphans—but despite
Our homely lot, in God's good sight,
I'll be a father unto thee!
Thou needst not have a fear for me;
I know we're orphans—but despite
Our homely lot, in God's good sight,
I'll be a father unto thee!
144
“Cheer up, cheer up! the ship is stout;
A well-built ship and beautiful—
I know the crew, all brave and kind
As e'er spread canvas to the wind—
‘The Adventure,’ bound from Hull;
A well-built ship and beautiful—
I know the crew, all brave and kind
As e'er spread canvas to the wind—
‘The Adventure,’ bound from Hull;
“A whaler to the northern seas;
And think what joy to meet again!
Dear Alice, when we next sit here,
Thou'lt laugh at every idle fear—
Wilt know all fear is idle then.
And think what joy to meet again!
Dear Alice, when we next sit here,
Thou'lt laugh at every idle fear—
Wilt know all fear is idle then.
“Three voyages I'll only take,
As a poor ship-boy—thou shalt see
So well the seaman's craft I'll learn,
That not a man from stem to stern,
But shall be proud of me!
As a poor ship-boy—thou shalt see
So well the seaman's craft I'll learn,
That not a man from stem to stern,
But shall be proud of me!
“Ay, Alice, and some time or other
I'll have a ship—nay, it is true,
Though thou mayst smile; and for thy sake
I'll call it by thy name, and make
A fortune for us two.”
I'll have a ship—nay, it is true,
Though thou mayst smile; and for thy sake
I'll call it by thy name, and make
A fortune for us two.”
145
The boy went to the sea, and Alice,
In a sweet dale by Simmer Water,
Where dwelt her parents there dwelt she
With a poor peasant's family,
And was among them as a daughter.
In a sweet dale by Simmer Water,
Where dwelt her parents there dwelt she
With a poor peasant's family,
And was among them as a daughter.
Each day she did her household part,
Singing like some light-hearted bird;
Or sat upon the lonely fells
Whole days among the heather-bells,
To keep the peasant's little herd.
Singing like some light-hearted bird;
Or sat upon the lonely fells
Whole days among the heather-bells,
To keep the peasant's little herd.
Poor Alice, she was kind and good;
Yet oft upon the mountains lone
Her heart was sad, and 'mong the sheep,
When no eye saw her, she would weep
For many sorrows of her own.
Yet oft upon the mountains lone
Her heart was sad, and 'mong the sheep,
When no eye saw her, she would weep
For many sorrows of her own.
Sweet maiden—and she yet must weep!
Her brother meantime far away
Sailed in that ship so stout and good,
With hopeful spirit unsubdued,
Beyond the furthest northern bay.
Her brother meantime far away
Sailed in that ship so stout and good,
With hopeful spirit unsubdued,
Beyond the furthest northern bay.
146
The voyage was good, his heart was light;
He loved the sea—and now once more
He sailed upon another trip
With the same captain, the same ship,
In the glad spring, for Elsinore.
He loved the sea—and now once more
He sailed upon another trip
With the same captain, the same ship,
In the glad spring, for Elsinore.
Again, unto the Bothnian Gulf—
But 'twas a voyage of wreck and sorrow;
The captain died upon the shore
Where he was cast, and twenty more
Were left among the rocks of Snorro.
But 'twas a voyage of wreck and sorrow;
The captain died upon the shore
Where he was cast, and twenty more
Were left among the rocks of Snorro.
The boy was picked up by a boat
Belonging to a Danish ship;
And as they touched at Riga Bay,
They left him there—for what could they
Do with a sick boy on the deep?
Belonging to a Danish ship;
And as they touched at Riga Bay,
They left him there—for what could they
Do with a sick boy on the deep?
And there within a hospital
Fevered he lay, and worn and weak,
Bowed with great pain, a stranger lad,
Who not a friend to soothe him had,
And not a word of Russ could speak.
Fevered he lay, and worn and weak,
Bowed with great pain, a stranger lad,
Who not a friend to soothe him had,
And not a word of Russ could speak.
147
Amid that solitude and pain
He begged some paper, and he wrote
To Alice; 'twas a letter long—
But then he used his English tongue,
And every sorrow he poured out.
He begged some paper, and he wrote
To Alice; 'twas a letter long—
But then he used his English tongue,
And every sorrow he poured out.
Poor Alice! did she weep?—ah, yes,
She wept, indeed, one live-long day;
But then her heart was strong and true,
And calmly thus she spoke—“I too
Will go to Riga Bay!”
She wept, indeed, one live-long day;
But then her heart was strong and true,
And calmly thus she spoke—“I too
Will go to Riga Bay!”
“To that wild place!” the people said,
“Where none can English understand!
Oh! go not there—depend upon't,
He's dead ere now—he does not want
Your aid—leave not your native land!”
“Where none can English understand!
Oh! go not there—depend upon't,
He's dead ere now—he does not want
Your aid—leave not your native land!”
'Twas vain; each word they spoke was vain;
She took with her the little store
Left at her father's dying day,
And for the Baltic sailed away:
Such steadfast love that maiden bore!
She took with her the little store
Left at her father's dying day,
And for the Baltic sailed away:
Such steadfast love that maiden bore!
148
Is this the boy so stout and bold,
That on the green hill sat with her?
Is this the brother, blithe of cheer,
The careless heart without a fear?
Is this the joyful mariner?
That on the green hill sat with her?
Is this the brother, blithe of cheer,
The careless heart without a fear?
Is this the joyful mariner?
The same—for in that hospital
There is no English boy but he—
The same—the very same, none other,
Sweet Alice Fleming, than thy brother—
And well he knoweth thee!
There is no English boy but he—
The same—the very same, none other,
Sweet Alice Fleming, than thy brother—
And well he knoweth thee!
Ay, though the boy with suffering bowed,
Was changed indeed, and feeble grown,
Better to him than oil and wine,
Better by far than doctors nine,
Was his kind sister's cheering tone.
Was changed indeed, and feeble grown,
Better to him than oil and wine,
Better by far than doctors nine,
Was his kind sister's cheering tone.
And soon 'twas told through Riga town
What love an English sister bore
Her brother—how she left her home
Among the mountains, and had come
To tend him on this distant shore.
What love an English sister bore
Her brother—how she left her home
Among the mountains, and had come
To tend him on this distant shore.
149
And she a maiden scarce sixteen!—
'Twas a sweet tale of tenderness,
That all were happy to repeat;
The women passing in the street
Spoke of it, and they spoke to bless.
'Twas a sweet tale of tenderness,
That all were happy to repeat;
The women passing in the street
Spoke of it, and they spoke to bless.
So did the merchants on the quay;
So did all people old and young;
And when into the street she went,
All looked a kindly sentiment,
And blessed her in their Russian tongue.
So did all people old and young;
And when into the street she went,
All looked a kindly sentiment,
And blessed her in their Russian tongue.
But now the youth grew strong and stout,
And as he to the sea was bent,
And ne'er in toil or danger quailed,
So, light of heart and proud, he sailed
Mate of a ship from Riga sent.
And as he to the sea was bent,
And ne'er in toil or danger quailed,
So, light of heart and proud, he sailed
Mate of a ship from Riga sent.
Its owner was Paul Carlowitz,
A merchant and of Russian birth,
As rich as Crœsus; and this same,
Despite his ships, and wealth, and name,
For of an ancient line he came,
Loved Alice Fleming for her worth.
A merchant and of Russian birth,
As rich as Crœsus; and this same,
Despite his ships, and wealth, and name,
For of an ancient line he came,
Loved Alice Fleming for her worth.
150
He was no merchant old and gruff,
Sitting 'mong money-bags in state;
Not he!—a handsome man and kind
As you in any land would find,
Or choose for any maiden's mate.
Sitting 'mong money-bags in state;
Not he!—a handsome man and kind
As you in any land would find,
Or choose for any maiden's mate.
And if you sail to Riga town,
You'll find it true, upon my life;
And any child will shew you where
Lives Carlowitz, who took the fair
Poor English maiden for his wife.
You'll find it true, upon my life;
And any child will shew you where
Lives Carlowitz, who took the fair
Poor English maiden for his wife.
| Tales in Verse for Young People | |