Judas Flower. 
119 
occupation was to aid passing travellers, to “ loose the bridle, 
and tend the weary steed.” One bright May day, the sun¬ 
burnt boy beheld 
“A train of horsemen, nobler 
Than he had seen before; 
They from the distance galloped, 
And halted at the door. 
Upon a milk-white pony, 
Fit for a faery queen, 
Was the loveliest little damsel 
His eyes had ever seen. 
***** 
“Her sunny ringlets round her 
A golden cloud had made, 
While her large hat was keeping 
Her calm blue eyes in shade; 
One hand held fast the silken reins 
To keep her steed in check; 
The other pulled his tangled mane, 
Or stroked his glossy neck. 
“And as the boy brought water, 
And loosed the rein, he heard 
The sweetest voice, that thanked him 
In one low, gentle word; 
She turned her blue eyes from him, 
Looked up, and smiled to see 
The hanging purple blossoms 
Upon the Judas-tree; 
“And showed it with a gesture, 
Half pleading, half command, 
Till he broke the fairest blossom, 
And laid it in her hand; 
And she tied it to her saddle 
With a ribbon from her hair, 
While her happy laugh rang gaily 
Like silver on the air.” 
But the steeds and the riders were rested, and moved on 
down the dusty highway and vanished. Many years passed 
away, but the little milk-white pony and the child returned no 
more. “ Many summers had fled, and the spreading apple- 
branches a deeper shadow shed,” when the news of a lordly 
wedding was borne on the western breeze. Amongst the eager 
watchers to see the bridal train pass by, once more stands 
Maurice: 
“They come, the cloud of dust draws nea; 
’Mid all the state and pride. 
He only sees the golden hair 
And blue eyes of the bride. 
Her shy and smiling eyes looked round, 
Unconscious of the place, 
Unconscious of the eager gaze 
He fixed upon her face. 
' He plucked a blossom from the tree— 
The Judas-tree—and cast 
Its purple fragrance towards the bride, 
A message from the Past. 
The signal came, the horses plunged; 
Once more she smiled around; 
The purple blossom in the dust 
Lay trampled on the ground.” 
Again the slow years fleeted away, and one winter morning 
once more Maurice beheld the lady pass by ; but grief had 
wrought its sign upon her and had dimmed the glory of her 
bright blue eyes, 
“ That watched with the absent spirit 
That looks, yet does not see 
The dead and leafless branches 
Upon the Judas-tree.” 
