Maud Muller

Maud Muller on a summer's day
Raked the meadow ______ with hay.

Beneath her torn hat glowed the wealth
______ simple beauty and rustic health.

Singing, she wrought, and ______ merry glee
The mock-bird echoed from his tree.

But ______ she glanced to the far-off town
White from its hill-slope looking down,

The sweet song died, and a vague ______
And a nameless longing filled her breast,-

A ______ that she hardly dared to own,
For something better ______ she had known.

The Judge rode slowly down the lane,
Smoothing his horse's chestnut mane.

He drew his bridle ______ the shade
Of the apple-trees, to greet the maid,

______ asked a draught from the spring that flowed
Through ______ meadow across the road.

She stooped where the cool ______ bubbled up,
And filled for him her small tin cup,

And blushed as she gave it, looking down
On ______ feet so bare, and her tattered gown.

"Thanks!" ______ the Judge; "a sweeter draught
From a fairer hand ______ never quaffed."

He spoke of the grass and ______ and trees,
Of the singing birds and the humming bees;

Then talked of the haying, and wondered whether
The ______ in the west would bring foul weather.

And Maud ______ her brier-torn gown
And her graceful ankles bare and brown;

And listened, while a pleased surprise
Looked from her long-lashed hazel eyes.

At last, like one who for delay
______ a vain excuse, he rode away.

Maud Muller looked ______ sighed: "Ah me!
That I the Judge's bride might be!

"He would dress me up in silks so fine,
______ praise and toast me at his wine.

"My father ______ wear a broadcloth coat;
My brother should sail a ______ boat.

"I'd dress my mother so grand and gay,
______ the baby should have a new toy each day.

"And I'd feed the hungry and clothe the poor,
And ______ should bless me who left our door."

The ______ looked back as he climbed the hill,
And saw ______ Muller standing still.

"A form more fair, a face ______ sweet,
Ne'er hath it been my lot to meet.

"And her modest answer and graceful air
Show her wise ______ good as she is fair.

"Would she were mine, ______ I to-day,
Like her, a harvester of hay.

"No ______ balance of rights and wrongs,
Nor weary lawyers with ______ tongues,

"But low of cattle and song of birds,
______ health and quiet and loving words."

But he ______ of his sisters, proud and cold,
And his mother, ______ of her rank and gold.

So, closing his heart, ______ Judge rode on,
And Maud was left in the ______ alone.

But the lawyers smiled that afternoon,
When he ______ in court an old love-tune;

And the young girl ______ beside the well
Till the rain on the unraked ______ fell.

He wedded a wife of richest dower,
Who ______ for fashion, as he for power.

Yet oft, in ______ marble hearth's bright glow,
He watched a picture come ______ go;

And sweet Maud Muller's hazel eyes
Looked out ______ their innocent surprise.

Oft, when the wine in his ______ was red,
He longed for the wayside well instead;

______ closed his eyes on his garnished rooms
To dream ______ meadows and clover-blooms.

And the proud man sighed, and ______ a secret pain,
"Ah, that I were free again!

"Free as when I rode that day,
Where the barefoot ______ raked her hay."

She wedded a man unlearned ______ poor,
And many children played round her door.

But ______ and sorrow, and childbirth pain,
Left their traces on ______ and brain.

And oft, when the summer sun shone ______
On the new-mown hay in the meadow lot,

And ______ heard the little spring brook fall
Over the roadside, ______ a wall,

In the shade of the apple-tree again
______ saw a rider draw his rein;

And, gazing down ______ timid grace,
She felt his pleased eyes read her face.

Sometimes her narrow kitchen walls
Stretched away into stately halls;

The weary wheel to a spinet turned,
The tallow ______ an astral burned,

And for him who sat by ______ chimney lug,
Dozing and grumbling o'er pipe and mug,

______ manly form at her side she saw,
And joy ______ duty and love was law.

Then she took up ______ burden of life again,
Saying only, "It might have been."

Alas for the maiden, alas for the Judge,
______ rich repiner and household drudge!

God pity them both ______ pity us all,
Who vainly the dreams of youth recall.

For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
______ saddest are these: "It might have been!"

Ah, well! for us all some sweet hope lies
Deeply buried ______ human eyes;

And, in the hereafter, angels may
Roll ______ stone from its grave away!

A And And And And And For Judge Maud Of Seeks She The all and and and and and and candle care cloud clover doubtful endless field flowers forgot from glass heart her her her his hot hummed in in lived maiden more mused of pointed said she should spring sweet than the the the the thought through unrest vain was was when wish with with