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"See my sheep and see the lambs,
Twin lambs which they bare.
All myself I offer you,

All my flocks and care,

Your sweet song hath moved me so."

In her fluttered heart young May

Mused a dubious while :

"If he loves me as he says”.

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Her lips curved with a smile:
"Where Margaret shines like the sun,
I shine but like a moon;

If sister Meggan makes her choice
I can make mine as soon;
At cockcrow we were sister-maids,
We may be brides at noon."

Said Meggan, "Yes"; May said not "No."

Fair Margaret stayed alone at home,

Awhile she sang her song, Awhile sat silent, then she thought

"My sisters loiter long."

That sultry noon had waned away,
Shadows had waxen great :
"Surely," she thought within herself,
"My sisters loiter late."

She rose, and peered out at the door,
With patient heart to wait,
And heard a distant nightingale
Complaining of its mate;

Then down the garden slope she walked,

Down to the garden gate,

Leaned on the rail and waited so.

The slope was lightened by her eyes
Like summer lightning fair,
Like rising of the haloed moon
Lightened her glimmering hair,
While her face lightened like the sun
Whose dawn is rosy white.

Thus crowned with maiden majesty

She peered into the night,
Looked up the hill and down the hill,
To left hand and to right,
Flashing like fire-flies to and fro.

Waiting thus in weariness

She marked the nightingale
Telling, if any one would heed,
Its old complaining tale.
Then lifted she her voice and sang,

Answering the bird:

Then lifted she her voice and sang,

Such notes were never heard
From any bird when Spring's in blow.

The king of all that country
Coursing far, coursing near,
Curbed his amber-bitted steed,
Coursed amain to hear;

All his princes in his train,
Squire, and knight, and peer,
With his crown upon his head,
His sceptre in his hand,
Down he fell at Margaret's knees
Lord king of all that land,
To her highness bending low.

Every beast and bird and fish

Came mustering to the sound, Every man and every maid

From miles of country round: Meggan on her herdsman's arm, With her shepherd, May,

Flocks and herds trooped at their heels

Along the hillside way;

No foot too feeble for the ascent,

Not any head too gray;

Some were swift and none were slow.

So Margaret sang her sisters home

In their marriage mirth; Sang free birds out of the sky,

Beasts along the earth,

Sang up fishes of the deep,

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All breathing things that move

Sang from far and sang from near

To her lovely love;

Sang together friend and foe;

Sang a golden-bearded king

Straightway to her feet,
Sang him silent where he knelt
In eager anguish sweet.
But when the clear voice died away,
When longest echoes died,
He stood up like a royal man

And claimed her for his bride.

So three maids were wooed and won
In a brief May-tide,
Long ago and long ago.

56

“J

JESSIE CAMERON.

ESSIE, Jessie Cameron,

Hear me but this once," quoth he. "Good luck go with you, neighbor's son,

But I'm no mate for you," quoth she. Day was verging toward the night

There beside the moaning sea,

Dimness overtook the light

There where the breakers be.

"O Jessie, Jessie Cameron,

I have loved you long and true." "Good luck go with you, neighbor's son, But I'm no mate for you."

She was a careless, fearless girl,
And made her answer plain;
Outspoken she to earl or churl,
Kind-hearted in the main,

But somewhat heedless with her tongue,
And apt at causing pain;
A mirthful maiden she and young,

Most fair for bliss or bane.

"O, long ago I told you so,

I tell you so to-day:

Go you your way, and let me go
Just my own free way."

The sea swept in with moan and foam
Quickening the stretch of sand;
They stood almost in sight of home;
He strove to take her hand.

“O, can't you take your answer then,
And won't you understand?

For me you 're not the man of men,
I've other plans are planned.
You're good for Madge, or good for Cis,
Or good for Kate, may be :

But what's to me the good of this
While you're not good for me?"

They stood together on the beach,
They two alone,

And louder waxed his urgent speech,
His patience almost gone:

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