John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892). The Poetical Works in Four Volumes. 1892.
Narrative and Legendary PoemsMabel Martin
VI. The Betrothal
H
His angel down? In flesh and blood,
Before her Esek Harden stood!
“Dear Mabel, this no more shall be;
Who scoffs at you must scoff at me.
And if he seems no suitor gay,
And if his hair is touched with gray,
His heart less warm than when she smiled,
Upon his knees, a little child!”
As, folded in his strong embrace,
She looked in Esek Harden’s face.
“God bless you for your kindly thought,
And make me worthy of my lot!”
Beside their happy pathway ran
The shadows of the maid and man.
To where the swinging lanterns glowed,
And through the doors the huskers showed.
“I ’m weary of this lonely life;
In Mabel see my chosen wife!
The past is past, and all offence
Falls harmless from her innocence.
You know what Esek Harden is;—
He brooks no wrong to him or his.
And let the sweetest songs be sung
That ever made the old heart young!
And a lone hearth shall brighter burn,
As all the household joys return!”
Between the shadow of the mows,
Looked on them through the great elm-boughs!
On Esek’s shaggy strength it fell;
And the wind whispered, “It is well!”