MAUDE CLARE

Out of the church she followed them

With a lofty step and mien:

His bride was like a village maid,

Maude Clare was like a queen.

"Son Thomas," his lady mother said,

With smiles, almost with tears:

"May Nell and you but live as true

As we have done for years;

"Your father thirty years ago

Had just your tale to tell;

But he was not so pale as you,

Nor I so pale as Nell."