Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard

by Eleanor Farjeon

  Gillian looked up from his shoulder. "I always meant to find that some day," she said, "with some one to help me."

  "I'll help you," said Martin.

  "Do children play there now?"

  "Children with names as lovely as Sylvia, who are even lovelier than their names. They are the only spirits who haunt it. And at the source of it is a mystery so beautiful that one day, when you and I have discovered it together, we shall never come back again. But this will be after long years of gladness, and a life kept always young, not only by our children, but by the child which each will continually rediscover in the other's heart."

  "What is this you are telling me?" whispered Gillian, hiding her face again.

  "The Seventh Story."

  "I'm glad it ends happily," said Gillian. "But somehow, all the time, I thought it would."

  "I rather thought so too," said Martin Pippin. "For what does furniture matter as long as Sussex grows bedstraw for ladies to sleep on?"

  And tuning his lute he sang her his very last song.

  My Lady sha'n't lie between linen, My Lady sha'n't lie upon down, She shall not have blankets to cover her feet Or a pillow put under her crown; But my Lady shall lie on the sweetest of 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.

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  End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard

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  Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard

  by Eleanor Farjeon

  A free ebook from http://manybooks.net/