f beds
That ever a lady saw,
For my Lady, my beautiful Lady,
My Lady shall lie upon straw.
Strew the sweet white straw, he said,
Strew the straw for my Lady's bed--
Two ells wide from foot to head,
Strew my Lady's bedstraw.

My Lady sha'n't sleep in a castle,
My Lady sha'n't sleep in a hall,
She shall not be sheltered away from the stars
By curtain or casement or wall;
But my lady shall sleep in the grassiest mead
That ever a Lady saw,
Where my Lady, my beautiful Lady,
My Lady shall lie upon straw.
Strew the warm white straw, said he,
My arms shall all her shelter be,
Her castle-walls and her own roof-tree--
Strew my Lady's bedstraw.

When he had done Martin Said, "Will you go traveling, Gillian?"

And Gillian answered, "With joy, Martin. But before I go traveling, I
will sing to you."

And taking the lute from him she sang him her very first song.

I saw an Old Man by the wayside
Sit down with his crutch to rest,
Like the smoke of an angry kettle
Was the beard puffed over his breast.

But when I tugged at the Old Man's beard
He turned to a beardless boy,
And the boy and myself went traveling,
Traveling wild with joy.

With eyes that twinkled and hearts that danced
And feet that skipped as they ran--
Now welcome, you blithe young Traveler!
And fare you well, Old Man!

When she had done Martin caught her in his arms and kissed her on the
mouth and on the eyes and on both cheeks and on her two hands, and on
the back of the neck where babies are kissed; and standing her up on
the barrel and himself on the ground, he kissed her feet, one after the
other. Then he cried, "Jump, lass! jump when I tell you!" and Gillian
jumped. And as happy as children they ran hand-in-hand out of the
Malthouse and down the road to Hardham.

Overhead the sun was running away from the clouds with all his might,
and they were trying to catch hold of him one by one, in vain; for he
rolled through their soft grasp, leaving their hands bright with
gold-dust.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard, by
Eleanor Farjeon

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARTIN PIPPIN IN THE APPLE ORCHARD ***

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