Mabel Martin: A Harvest Idyl | ||
VI. THE BETROTHAL
[Description: Part VI title page. A man and woman walk slowly along a path.]
[Description: Flowering branches.]
[Description: Seated Mabel looks up at a man, whose head is bowed. ]
Had then God heard her ? Had He sent
His angel down ? In flesh and blood,
Before her Esek Harden stood !
His angel down ? In flesh and blood,
Before her Esek Harden stood !
He laid his hand upon her arm :
"Dear Mabel, this no more shall be :
Who scoffs at you must scoff at me.
"Dear Mabel, this no more shall be :
Who scoffs at you must scoff at me.
"You know rough Esek Harden well ;
And if he seems no suitor gay,
And if his hair is touched with gray,
And if he seems no suitor gay,
And if his hair is touched with gray,
[Description: A woman and small girl play with yarn.]
"The maiden grown shall never find
His heart less warm than when she smiled,
Upon his knees a little child !"
His heart less warm than when she smiled,
Upon his knees a little child !"
Her tears of grief were tears of joy,
As, folded in his strong embrace,
She looked in Esek Harden's face.
As, folded in his strong embrace,
She looked in Esek Harden's face.
[Description: A seated man holds a knealing woman.]
"O truest friend of all !" she said,
"God bless you for your kindly thought,
And make me worthy of my lot !"
"God bless you for your kindly thought,
And make me worthy of my lot !"
[Description: A man and woman walk in the woods arm and arm.]
He led her forth, and, blent in one,
Beside their happy pathway ran
The shadows of the maid and man.
Beside their happy pathway ran
The shadows of the maid and man.
He led her through his dewy fields,
To where the swinging lanterns glowed,
And through the doors the huskers showed.
To where the swinging lanterns glowed,
And through the doors the huskers showed.
[Description: Man and woman stand together arm and arm among a crowd of huskers.]
"Good friends and neighbors !" Esek said
"I'm weary of this lonely life ;
In Mabel see my chosen wife !
"I'm weary of this lonely life ;
In Mabel see my chosen wife !
"She greets you kindly, one and all ;
The past is past, and all offence
Falls harmless from her innocence.
The past is past, and all offence
Falls harmless from her innocence.
"Henceforth she stands no more alone ;
You know what Esek Harden is ;-
He brooks no wrong to him or his.
You know what Esek Harden is ;-
He brooks no wrong to him or his.
"Now let the merriest tales be told,
And let the sweetest songs be sung
That ever made the old heart young !
And let the sweetest songs be sung
That ever made the old heart young !
"For now the lost has found a home ;
And a lone hearth shall brighter burn,
As all the household joys return !"
And a lone hearth shall brighter burn,
As all the household joys return !"
[Description: Moon rise framed by two tall trees.]
Oh, pleasantly the harvest-moon,
Between the shadow of the mows,
Looked on them through the great elmboughs !
Between the shadow of the mows,
Looked on them through the great elmboughs !
On Mabel's curls of golden hair,
On Esek's shaggy strength it fell ;
And the wind whispered, "It is well !"
On Esek's shaggy strength it fell ;
And the wind whispered, "It is well !"
Mabel Martin: A Harvest Idyl | ||