Wit and humor > Hodge of the mill, or, An old woman clothed in grey

Three years 8c more had courted been
At laft file prov’d with child to him,
By her fome hours in tears were Ipent,
When he to others courting went.
One ev’ning (he went to the park.
She met her love with aching heart;
She faid, O dear, what fhall 1 do.
You know I am with child by you.
I will not marry yet, faid he,
For while I’m (ingle l am free,
And thus from’s tide a durk he drew,
He pierc’d her tender body thro’.
He cut her up immediatly.
Into her womb the babe did cry,
And there he laid them ’mong the thorns
And the fweet babie in her arms.
The neighbours that did hear the cry
They came to her immediately.
There they found her among the thorns.
Her babie crawling in her arms.
The neighbours flocked all around,
And quickly who (he was they found,
And told her father and mother dear,
Which caufed them ihed many a tear.
They took the man before ’twas long,
And bound hina in a prifon ftrong;
And foon he was condemn'd to die.
Upon the gallows-tree fo high.