Susan’s Story by Charlotte Alington Pye Barnard (Claribel)

Oh mother take the wheel away and put it out of sight,
For I am heavy-hearted, and I cannot spin to-night;
Come nearer, nearer yet, I have a story for your ear,
So come and sit beside me, come and listen, mother dear;
You heard the village bells to-day, his wedding bells they were,
And Mabel is his happy wife, and I am lonely here;
A year ago to-night, I mind, he woo’d me for his bride,
And who so glad at heart as I that happy easter-tide.

But Mabel came among us, and her face was fair to see,
What wonder was it, mother, that he thought no more of me;
When first he said fair words to her, I know she would not hear,
But in the end she listen’d, could she help it, mother dear?

And afterwards we met, and we were friendly all the same,
For ne’er a word I said to them of anger or of blame;
Till both believed I did not care, and may be they were right,
But mother put the wheel away, I cannot spin to-night.

From: Claribel, Fireside Thoughts, Ballads, Etc., Etc., 1865, James Nisbet and Co: London, pp. 67-68.

(http://books.google.com.au/books?pg=PA72)

Date: 1865

By: Charlotte Alington Pye Barnard (Claribel) (1830-1869)

Tags: 1865, charlotte alington pye barnard, claribel, oh mother take the wheel away and put it out of sight, poetry, susan's song