  Hannah gazing out of the window, surrounded by a decorative border of flowers Poor lone Hannah, Sitting at the window binding shoes. Faded, wrinkled, Sitting, stitching, in a mournful muse. Bright-eyed beauty once was she, When the bloom was on the tree; Spring and winter, Hannah’s at the window binding shoes. Not a neighbor Passing, nod or answer will refuse To her whisper, “Is there from the fishers any news?” Oh, her heart’s adrift with one On an endless voyage gone! Night and morning, Hannah’s at the window binding shoes. Fair young Hannah, Ben, the sunburnt fisher, gayly woos; Hale and clever, For a willing heart and hand he sues. May-day skies are all aglow, And the waves are laughing so! For her wedding Hannah leaves her window and her shoes. May is passing; Mid the apple-boughs a pigeon coos. Hannah shudders, For the mild south-wester mischief brews. Round the rocks of Marblehead, Outward bound a schooner sped; Silent, lonesome, Hannah’s at the window binding shoes. ’Tis November; Now no tear her wasted cheek bedews. From Newfoundland Not a sail returning will she lose, Whispering hoarsely: “Fishermen, Have you—have you heard of Ben?” Old with watching, Hannah’s at the window binding shoes. Twenty winters Bleach and tear the ragged shore she views. Twenty seasons! Never one has brought her any news. Still her dim eyes silently Chase the white sails o’er the sea: Hopeless, faithful, Hannah’s at the window binding shoes. Word Exercise.
Phrase Exercise.1. In a mournful muse.—2. Her heart’s adrift.—3. Hale and clever.—4. Skies aglow.—5. No tear her wasted cheek bedews.—6. Old with watching.—7. Bleach the ragged shore.—8. Silently chase.—9. Twenty seasons.—10. Hopeless Hannah. |
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