Mary Lee

Twas all on a cold winter’s night
When the winds blew across the wild moor
That Mary came wand’ring along with her child
Till she came to her own father’s door
«O why did I leave this dear spot
Where once I was happy and free?
And now doomed to roam without friends or a home
And none to take pity on me?
«O father, dear father,» she cried
«Do come downstairs and open the door!
For the child in my arms will perish and die
From the winds that blow 'cross the wild moor.»
But the old man was deaf to her cries
Not a sound of her voice did he hear
But the watchdog did howl and tAe village bell tolled
And the winds blew across the wild moor
O how must the old man have felt
When he came to the door the next morn
And found Mary dead, but the child was alive
Closely clasped in its dead mother’s arms
With anguish he tore his gray hair
While the tears down his cheeks they did roll
Saying, «There Mary died, once the gay village bride
From the winds that blew 'cross the wild moor.»
The old man with grief pined away
And the child to its mother went soon;
There’s no one, they say, has lived there to this day
And the cottage to ruin has gone
The villagers point out the spot
Where the willows droop over the door
Saying, «There Mary died, once the gay village bride
From the winds that blew 'cross the wild moor.»