358 
MARY HOWITT. 
“ I’ve spun a piece of hempen cloth, 
And I want to spin another— 
A little sheet for Mary’s bed, 
And an apron for her mother!” 
‘ And with that I could not help but laugh, 
And I laughed out loud and free; 
And then on the top of Caldon-Low 
There was no one left but me. 
‘ And all, on the top of Caldon-Low, 
The mists were cold and gray, 
And nothing I saw but the mossy stones 
That round about me lay. 
‘ But as I came down from the hill-top, 
I heard, afar below, 
How busy the jolly miller was, 
And how merry the wheel did go I 
‘ And I peeped into the widow’s field; 
And, sure enough, was seen 
The yellow ears of the mildewed corn 
All standing stiff and green. 
‘ And down by the weaver’s croft I stole, 
To see if the flax was high ; 
But I saw the weaver at his gate 
With the good news in his eye I 
