the last of the gascoignes.
153
With a tear-drop glistening in his dark eye,
Sadly prefaced with a heart-felt sigh:—
"Mother used to sing in that gentle strain;
And when I sing I ever think of her again;
When I am on the wild and stormy sea,
She will never forget to pray for me."
He paused, and Gascoigne, sighing, said,
"My Mother, Allan, is mingled with the dead;—
I alone am left of all my noble race!"
A cloud then passed o'er Gascoigne's downcast face.
"Oh! Allan, all my short and youthful life,
Unhappily spent midst care and strife.
There's a fearful curse upon our fated race,
That even denotes the time—the very place
Where the last Gascoigne shall early die!"
He then ceased to speak, with a long drawn sigh.
"Gascoigne, I know not what you mean to say,"
Exclaimed the much startled Allan Grey.
"Allan, it is to thee alone that I will tell
All that weird and most fatal spell!
They say that many long years ago,
A Gascoigne fought a much hated foe,
His proud rival's fair and lovely bride
Received a fearful wound in her side,
Striving in vain her husband's life to save!
Alas! both now lie buried in one grave;—
Sadly prefaced with a heart-felt sigh:—
"Mother used to sing in that gentle strain;
And when I sing I ever think of her again;
When I am on the wild and stormy sea,
She will never forget to pray for me."
He paused, and Gascoigne, sighing, said,
"My Mother, Allan, is mingled with the dead;—
I alone am left of all my noble race!"
A cloud then passed o'er Gascoigne's downcast face.
"Oh! Allan, all my short and youthful life,
Unhappily spent midst care and strife.
There's a fearful curse upon our fated race,
That even denotes the time—the very place
Where the last Gascoigne shall early die!"
He then ceased to speak, with a long drawn sigh.
"Gascoigne, I know not what you mean to say,"
Exclaimed the much startled Allan Grey.
"Allan, it is to thee alone that I will tell
All that weird and most fatal spell!
They say that many long years ago,
A Gascoigne fought a much hated foe,
His proud rival's fair and lovely bride
Received a fearful wound in her side,
Striving in vain her husband's life to save!
Alas! both now lie buried in one grave;—
