TnE GEJMZ^ FAVrN. 21 1 



And the orphan Gemz^ follows. 



Calling her with plaintive bleat, 

 O'er the knolls and through the hollows. 



Trotting on with trembling feet. 



See, the cabin latch is raised 



By a small and gentle hand, 

 And the face that upward gazed 



Had a smile serene and bland ; 

 Bertha was the Switzer's daughter. 



And herself an orphan child ; 

 But her sorrows all had taught her 



To be gentle, kind, and mild. 

 You might see a tear-drop quivering 



In her honest eye of blue. 

 As she took the stranger, shivering. 



To her heart so warm and true. 

 " / will be thy mother, sweetest," 



To the fawn she whisper'd low ; 

 " I will heed thee when thou bleatest. 



And will solace all thy woe." 

 Then the tottering Gemze, stealing 



Towards her, seem'd to understand, 

 Gazing on her face, and kneeling, 



Placed his nose within her hand ! 



Every day the Switzer maiden 



Shared with him her milk and bread. 

 Every night the fawn is laid on 



Moss and ling beside her bed. 

 Blue as mountain periwinkle 



Is the ribbon round his throat, 

 Where a little beU doth tinkle 



With a shrill and silvery note. 

 "When the morning light is flushing 



Wetterhom so cold and pale. 

 Or when evening shades are hushing 



All the voices of the vale, 

 You might hear the maiden singing 



To her happy Gemz^ fawn, 



