OCR Text |
Show BALLAD OF THE BANSHEE. (Bv Rev. James B. Dollard ("Sliav-na- n , mon.t Back thro' the hills 1 hurried home ..,iA'e.r my bodinst soul would nay Mother and sister bid thee come Long, too long, has been thy stay." Stars shone out. but the moon was pale Touched bv a black cloud's ragged rim buJen I heard the Banshee's wail here Malmor's war tower rises grim. Quickly I strode across thp slope Passtd t!rove and the Fairy Mound ((jloomv me moat where blind owls mope) Scarcely breathing. I glanced around. Mother of merev! there she sat A woman clad in a snow-white shroud Mreamed her hair to the damp mnss-mat White the face on her bosom bowed. "Spirit of woe." I eager cried. "Tell m none that I love has gone." "Cold is the grave" my accents died The Banshee lifted her face so wan. Pale and wan as a waning moon Seen when the sun-snears herald dawn Ceased all sudden her dreary croon Full on my own her wild eyes shone. Burned and seared mv inmost soul (When shall sorrow depart from me?) Black-winged terror upon me stole Blindly groping, I turned to flee. Back by the grove and haunted mound O'er the lone road I know not how Hearkened afar my baying hound Home at last at the low hill's brow. Lone, the cottaee the door flung wide Four lights burned oh. sight of dread! Breathing a prayer. I rushed inside. "Mercy. God'." 'twas my mother, dead! Dead and white as the fallen leaf (Kneeling, my sister prayed near by) Wild as I wrestled with my grief Far and faint came the Banshee's cry. |