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nancy's brook.
There came the hour of worldly care,—
As come it will to tenderest heart:
He must go forth to earn them bread,
And they must weep, for they must part.
As come it will to tenderest heart:
He must go forth to earn them bread,
And they must weep, for they must part.
They made no vow of deathless love:
Ah! who can speak that feels as they?
These hills shall crumble into dust,
Ere love like theirs shall pass away.
Ah! who can speak that feels as they?
These hills shall crumble into dust,
Ere love like theirs shall pass away.
Far from his Nancy, William went;
Sore was his bosom's silent strife:
He lived and labored for that day
When Nancy should become his wife.
Sore was his bosom's silent strife:
He lived and labored for that day
When Nancy should become his wife.
Now winter comes; through stiffen'd trees
The north wind sweeps with angry roar;
All shivering with cold there stands
A traveller at the cottage door.
The north wind sweeps with angry roar;
All shivering with cold there stands
A traveller at the cottage door.
Who is it opens it for him?
Who takes the letter from his hands?
'T is Nancy; see, she reads;—and see,
White as the drifted snow she stands.
Who takes the letter from his hands?
'T is Nancy; see, she reads;—and see,
White as the drifted snow she stands.
"William is ill; may die,"—she cries;
"'T is I alone can soothe his pain;
He sends for me, and I will go;"
And now her color comes again.
"'T is I alone can soothe his pain;
He sends for me, and I will go;"
And now her color comes again.
