RACHEL

IT chanced we walk'd upon the heath, and met
A wandering woman; her thin clothing wet
With morning fog; the little care she took
Of things like these, was written in her look.
Not pain from pinching cold was in her face,
But hurrying grief, that knows no resting-place,—
Appearing ever as on business sent,

The wandering victim of a fix'd intent;
Yet in her fancied consequence and speed,
Impell'd to beg assistance for her need.

me,

with eye

When she beheld my friend and
And pleading hand, she sought our charity.

"Where art thou wandering, Rachel? whither stray,

"From thy poor heath in such unwholesome day?”
Ask'd my kind friend, who had familiar grown
With Rachel's grief, and oft compassion shown;
Oft to her hovel had in winter sent

The means of comfort-oft with comforts went.
Him well she knew, and with requests pursued,
Though too much lost and spent for gratitude.

"They ask'd of her 'experience,' and they bred "In her weak mind a melancholy dread

"Of something wanting in her faith, of some"She knew not what-'acceptance,' that should

come;

"And, as it came not, she was much afraid

"That she in vain had served her God and pray'd.

"She thought her Lover dead. In prayer she named

The erring Youth, and hoped he was reclaim'd. "This she confess'd; and trembling, heard them say, "Her prayers were sinful-So the papists pray. "Her David's fate had been decided long, "And prayers and wishes for his state were wrong.'

"Had these her guides united love and skill, "They might have ruled and rectified her will; "But they perceived not the bewilder'd mind, "And show'd her paths that she could never find : "The weakness that was Nature's they reproved, "And all its comforts from the Heart removed.

"Ev'n in this state, she loved the winds that sweep

"O'er the wild heath, and curl the restless deep; "A turf-built hut beneath a hill she chose,

"And oft at night in winter storms arose,

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Hearing, or dreaming, the distracted cry

"Of drowning seamen on the breakers by:

"For there were rocks, that when the tides were low

RACHEL

IT chanced we walk'd upon the heath, and met
A wandering woman; her thin clothing wet
With morning fog; the little care she took
Of things like these, was written in her look.
Not pain from pinching cold was in her face,
But hurrying grief, that knows no resting-place,—
Appearing ever as on business sent,

The wandering victim of a fix'd intent;
Yet in her fancied consequence and speed,
Impell'd to beg assistance for her need.

When she beheld my friend and me, with eye And pleading hand, she sought our charity.

"Where art thou wandering, Rachel? whither stray,

"From thy poor heath in such unwholesome day?"
Ask'd my kind friend, who had familiar grown
With Rachel's grief, and oft compassion shown;
Oft to her hovel had in winter sent

The means of comfort-oft with comforts went.
Him well she knew, and with requests pursued,
Though too much lost and spent for gratitude.

"They ask'd of her 'experience,' and they bred "In her weak mind a melancholy dread

"Of something wanting in her faith, of some"She knew not what 'acceptance,' that should

66

come;

'And, as it came not, she was much afraid

"That she in vain had served her God and pray'd.

"She thought her Lover dead. In prayer she named

The erring Youth, and hoped he was reclaim'd. "This she confess'd; and trembling, heard them say, "Her prayers were sinful-So the papists pray. 666 'Her David's fate had been decided long, "And prayers and wishes for his state were wrong.'

66

"Had these her guides united love and skill,

They might have ruled and rectified her will; "But they perceived not the bewilder'd mind, "And show'd her paths that she could never find : "The weakness that was Nature's they reproved, "And all its comforts from the Heart removed.

"Ev'n in this state, she loved the winds that sweep

"O'er the wild heath, and curl the restless deep; “A turf-built hut beneath a hill she chose,

"And oft at night in winter storms arose,

'Hearing, or dreaming, the distracted cry

"Of drowning seamen on the breakers by:

"For there were rocks, that when the tides were low "Appear'd, and vanish'd when the waters flow;