(An Incident Of Froom Valley) "Thy Husband Poor, Poor Heart! Is Dead Dead, Out By Moreford Rise; A Bull Escaped The Barton-Shed, Gored Him, And There He Lies!" - "Ha, Ha Go Away! 'Tis A Tale, Methink, Thou Joker Kit!" Laughed She. "I've Known Thee Many A Year, Kit Twink, And Ever Hast Thou Fooled Me!" - "But, Mistress Damon I Can Swear Thy Goodman John Is Dead! And Soon Th'Lt Hear Their Feet Who Bear His Body To His Bed." So Unwontedly Sad Was The Merry Man'S Face - That Face Which Had Long Deceived - That She Gazed And Gazed; And Then Could Trace The Truth There; And She Believed. She Laid A Hand On The Dresser-Ledge, And Scanned Far Egdon-Side; And Stood; And You Heard The Wind-Swept Sedge And The Rippling Froom; Till She Cried: "O My Chamber'S Untidied, Unmade My Bed Though The Day Has Begun To Wear! 'What A Slovenly Hussif!' It Will Be Said, When They All Go Up My Stair!" She Disappeared; And The Joker Stood Depressed By His Neighbour'S Doom, And Amazed That A Wife Struck To Widowhood Thought First Of Her Unkempt Room. But A Fortnight Thence She Could Take No Food, And She Pined In A Slow Decay; While Kit Soon Lost His Mournful Mood And Laughed In His Ancient Way. 1894.