The Apparition.
’Twas silence all, the rising moon
With clouds had veil’d her light,
The clock struck twelve, when, lo! I saw
A very chilling sight.
Pale as a snow-ball was its face,
Like icicles its hair;
For mantle, it appeared to me
A sheet of ice to wear.
Tho’ seldom given to alarm,
I’ faith, I’ll not dissemble,
My teeth all chatter’d in my head,
And every joint did tremble.
At last, I cried, “Pray who are you,
And whither do you go?”
Methought the phantom thus replied,
“My name is Sally Snow;
“My father is the Northern Wind,
My mother’s name was Water;
Old parson Winter married them,
And I’m their hopeful Daughter.
“I have a lover—Jackey Frost,
My dad the match condemns;
I’ve run from home to-night to meet
My love upon the Thames.”
I stopp’d Miss Snow in her discourse,
This answer just to cast in,
“I hope, if John and you unite,
Your union wo’n’t be lasting!
“Besides, if you should marry him,
But ill you’d do, that I know;
For surely Jackey Frost must be
A very slippery fellow.”
She sat her down before the fire,
My wonder now increases;
For she I took to be a maid,
Then tumbled into pieces!