Text
GOSSIP
In the withy pool I sit
Weaving water-rushes:
When she sets her foot on them,
Out the water gushes;
So that when she walks again,
Tread she gently;
Tread she gently
When she walks again.
'Tis a riddle that that you read -
When my neighbor sees it,
She may, knowing of the hurt,
Then begin to ease it;
So that when she talks again,
Tread she gently;
Tread she gently
When she talks again.
James Guthrie
WILLY LEONARD
It was early one morning that Willy Leonard arose,
And straight to his comrade's bed-chamber he goes,
Saying, rise loyal comrade and let nobody know
It is a fine morning and on a bathing we will go.
Young Willy stripped off and swam the lake round,
He swam to an island but not finding any ground,
He cries loyal comrade I do feel very weak,
And that was the last word young WIlly did speak.
It was early next morning and his mother came there,
She ringing her hands and tearing at her hair,
Saying murder, cruel murder, was there nobody by,
That would venture their lives to save my fine boy?
The day of his funeral it was the grandest sight,
There were four and twenty young men all dressed in white,
They carried him along and laid him in the clay,
Saying, adieu Willy Leonard, and they all marched away.