"The Witch! The Witch! Let her come hence! . . . Accuse her ye who will!"
"Yon cross's shadow marks her whence it falls from Gallows Hill!"
"Yon cross's shadow marks her whence it falls from Gallows Hill!"
Yet, at the sill my wheel it turned, my fingers flew and spun apace,
But from the West the sunset burned above a watching face.
"Daughter, thy wheel I harken well; methinks 'twere time thy task was o'er,--
Alack, mine ears cannot foretell whose steps approach the door!"
But from the West the sunset burned above a watching face.
"Daughter, thy wheel I harken well; methinks 'twere time thy task was o'er,--
Alack, mine ears cannot foretell whose steps approach the door!"
"Mother, our neighbors halt and pass, I bid them all a right good-day."
"Nay other feet are on the grass, and storm is threatening far away."
Outside that door they gathered round,--it were full strange a sight, I ween!
--The murmuring of gloomy sound, the rope they bare between,--
"Nay other feet are on the grass, and storm is threatening far away."
Outside that door they gathered round,--it were full strange a sight, I ween!
--The murmuring of gloomy sound, the rope they bare between,--
And one stepped forth with lifted hand, and held. a written paper high,
Pointing to where that cross did stand against a darkening sky.
Then twirled my wheel, and singing I did close the door, the latch let fall,
And past the hazel waving high, went forth to face them all.
Pointing to where that cross did stand against a darkening sky.
Then twirled my wheel, and singing I did close the door, the latch let fall,
And past the hazel waving high, went forth to face them all.
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