Читать книгу The Lonely Crossing And Other Poems - Louisa Lawson - Страница 11

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The waratah has stained her cheek,

Her lips are even brighter;

Like virgin quartz without a streak

Her teeth are, but far whiter.

Her eyes are large, and soft, and dark,

And clear as running water;

And straight as any stringy bark

Is Lil, the digger’s daughter.

She’ll wash a prospect quick and well,

And deftly use the ladle;

The weight of gold at sight she’ll tell,

And work with tub and cradle.

She was her father’s only mate,

And wound up wash and water;

She worked all day and studied late,

And all she knows he taught her.

She stood alone above the shaft —

A test for woman, rather —

When I sprang to the windlass haft

And helped her land her father.

She turned her pretty face to me

To thank me, and I thought her

The grandest girl of all her race —

Sweet Lil, the digger’s daughter.

And when my luck began to change

I grew a trifle bolder

And told my love, but thought it strange

She knew before I told her.

She said that she would be my wife;

Then home I proudly brought her,

To be my loving mate for life, —

But still the digger’s daughter.