To spin the yarn she early rose,
Ere gleam'd the morning sun ;
But wonder struck the lovely maid,
Behold, that task was done!

And soft a voice harmonious breath'd—

"My favour'd gentle maid, Don't curious be, nor let thy friend Be easily betray'd.

“Seek not to know: a friend sincere
On thee unknown doth gaze,

And with thy mother's love thou'lt gain
Esteem, unenvied praise.

"Meek is thy temper, kind, serene,

Industrious as fair;

And if not curious, shall be nam'd
The maiden good and rare.

"Ingenuous, thy spotless mind,
That others' woes can feel;

Yet I would pach thy artless breast
No secret to reveal.

"For one I knew was pure as thou,

With gossips, stories tell,

And soon her tongue, that lik'd to talk,

Did scandal relish well.

"Nightly I'll turn thy spinning wheel,

To prove my friendship true; Yet diligent thou still may be,

And other work pursue."

The

The voice it ceas'd, and Emma sigh'd

To know this friend so kind;

Her only fault, too curious maid,
A restless, prying mind.

Inquisitive, for many nights

She could not rest or sleep;

At length she thought 'twould be no harm,
To slyly take a peep.

All in the baron's castle slept,

The moon shone bright and clear,
Imprudent Emma softly creeps,
Though trembling, wan with fear.

In the great hall her wheel was plac'd,
Which quick a beauty plies,
Though tiny was her dazzling form,
Of azure blue her eyes.

The wings of butterflies composed

Her robe of texture rare,
A wreath of apple-blossom twin'd
Her light and silken hair.

Sweetly she warbled, gaily sung—
"Ah, little does she know,
My pretty mistress, that I'm nam'd

Hecate Peskadoe.

"For her I'll cull the scented flow'r,

The ripest fruit that grows;

Emma no curious lady is,
Or prattling slander knows.

D2

« Away,

"Away, ye cares! nor wound her breast,

Of candour, truth, the throne,
A virtuous youth, of noble birth,
Shall Emma call her own.

"Forewarn'd of curiosity

Was Emma, ne'er deceiv'd;

My watchful care→

"The fairy starts,

Her figure is perceiv'd.

Dim grew the light-a cloud obscur'd
The moon's soft splendid beams;
The warning fairy disappears,
Like fleet illusive dreams.

No wish could lure her back again,
Repentance or device;

But Emma ever lov'd the fay,

Observ'd her mild advice.

Felix and Rose thanked Dolly, and praised her singing and the old ballad, which they thought very interesting, they told her, but could not believe it was taken from a real history.

"If you don't believe me, I am sure you would believe what aunt says, if you heard her tell all about it. I believe she has seen the baron's daughter, when she was a little girl, and she was

as

as handsome a young lady then as you'd see on a summer's day. Bless you! I should have sung better if I had got a bit of lemon to suck first; it is such a good thing for the voice. When cousin Betty comes to see me, I ask her to sing, because she knows hundreds of songs, and she always says, 'have you a piece of lemon?' If I have, I give it to her, and when she has sucked it, she will begin to sing, till her voice echoes through the house; you may hear her a mile off."

Felix laughed, and said-" We are quite satisfied with the tone of your voice. I should not like, Dolly, to hear any one to sing so loud."

"It is enough to stun a body indeed," replied Dolly; "but it seems fine to hear such a clear voice."

"Yes, if you were lost in a wood, and wished to be heard," rejoined Miss Douglas; "and pray, Dolly, do not apply to lemon, if it is to have such a noisy effect. I suppose your aunt has left off singing

D3

singing songs now; but I should like to hear some of her tales. We will walk over to see her to-morrow evening, as we have no engagement, if it is agreeable to you, Felix; and Dolly must be one of the party, to introduce us to her aunt."

Felix replied "I thought we were going to Fairfield, to see doctor Wizzle and his lady; otherwise I like the plan of visiting aunt Brownson."

"That is only to be a morning visit," said Rose; "but I forgot-I have not yet asked my mother's permission. Is it far, Dolly, from Treharne ?”

"Only half a mile to the bottom of the hill where she lives, Miss."

Felix and Rose easily obtained leave to visit Dolly's aunt, and Jane requested to join them in their walk the next evening.

The following morning Mrs. Douglas, her son and daughters, walked to Fairfield, and directed their steps to doctor Wizzle's