;
She trembel'd for a parents lot,
She wept, she sobb'd, she cried.

25

Her Fathers heart, by fears opprest,
He stagger'd to a chair;
He falter'd, spoke, then on her breast,
He fell in wild dispair.

26

Oh! pitying Heav'n, preserve my child
Preserve her God from ill;
Then I in accents soft and mild
Will bear thy tortures still.

27

Then from his belt a fork and spoon
He plac'd before her view;
He paus'd, before he ask'd the boon,
While tears his cheeks bedew.

28

Take these sad relicks, all I hold,
The wreck of fortune lost;
And quick exchange them love for gold,
For one by fortune crost.

29

Thy form I must not see again,
Then mark my last decree;
The gold that these, my love obtain,
Convey to yonder tree.

30

This said, he vanished from her sight,
She sank, opprest with grief;
Her eyes were dim, tho' azure bright,
And tears bestow'd relief.

31

Her heart reliev'd, she sought with speed,
Her promise to pursue;
When chance directed in her need,
A wandering pedlar Jew.

32

Her Fathers wealth to him she sold,
But heav'd a bitter sigh;
And as she took the glittering gold,
A tear bedim'd her eye.

33

The Jew was gone! she rush'd with joy,
To seek the hollow tree;
Delighted that she'd soon destroy
His cares and set him free.

34

But fate denied her good intent,
Julianne came that way;
And stop'd her course, on virtue bent,
And caus'd a short delay.

35

Come hither child, the matron said,
I've business here for you;
'Tis fit the plate be instant laid,
Ere you your course pursue.

36

She counted o'er each massy spoon,
When dreadful to relate;
The one deficient, very soon,
She miss'd among her plate.

37

Dispair was mark'd in Annette's face
Which beam'd deep scarlet hue;
Where heav'nly innocence might trace,
A heart, both firm and true.

38

'Tis passing strange, Annette then sigh'd,
When Gerard reach'd the door;
But whose the Thief? the Magpie cry'd,
Annette, and said no more.

[Illustration: _Verse 51_]

39

'Tis laughable, old Gerard said,
And smiling as he spoke;
That Mag should call his fav'rite maid,
And well enjoy'd the joke.

40

It may be so, said Julianne too,
But ominous I wot;
But here's the justice--out she flew.
And brought him to the spot.

41

The case was told, he shook his head,
Annette was prov'd the thief;
Each eye was now with tears o'er shed,
With tears of poignant grief.

42