THAT OTHER MAUD MULLER

Maud Muller worked at making hay,

And cleared her forty cents a day.

Her clothes were coarse, but her health was fine,

And so she worked in the sweet sunshine

Singing as glad as a bird in May

“Barbara Allen” the livelong day.

She often glanced at the far-off town,

And wondered if eggs were up or down.

And the sweet song died of a strange disease,

Leaving a phantom taste of cheese,

And an appetite and a nameless ache

For soda-water and ginger cake.

The judge rode slowly into view —

Stopped his horse in the shade and threw

His fine-cut out, while the blushing Maud

Marveled much at the kind he “chawed.”

“He was dry as a fish,” he said with a wink,

“And kind o’ thought that a good square drink

Would brace him up.” So the cup was filled

With the crystal wine that old spring spilled;

And she gave it him with a sun-browned hand.

“Thanks,” said the judge in accents bland;

“A thousand thanks! for a sweeter draught,

From a fairer hand” — but there he laughed.

And the sweet girl stood in the sun that day,

And raked the judge instead of the hay.