Thomas Hardy — The Curates Kindness

I I thought they'd be strangers aroun' me,        &nbsp But she's to be there! Let me jump out o' waggon and go back and drown me At Pummery or Ten-Hatches Weir. II I thought: "Well, I've come to the Union -        &nbsp The workhouse at last - After honest hard work all the week, and Communion O' Zundays, these fifty years past. III "'Tis hard; but," I thought, "never mind it:        &nbsp There's gain in the end: And when I get used to the place I shall find it        &nbsp A home, and may find there a friend. IV "Life there will be better than t'other.        &nbsp For peace is assured. THE MEN IN ONE WING AND THEIR WIVES IN ANOTHER        &nbsp Is strictly the rule of the Board." V Just then one young Pa'son arriving        &nbsp Steps up out of breath To the side o' the waggon wherein we were driving        &nbspTo Union; and calls out and saith: VI "Old folks, that harsh order is altered,        &nbsp Be not sick of heart! The Guardians they poohed and they pished and they paltered        &nbsp When urged not to keep you apart. VII "'It is wrong,' I maintained, 'to divide them,        &nbsp Near forty years wed.' 'Very well, sir. We promise, then, they shall abide them        &nbsp In one wing together,' they said." VIII Then I sank—knew 'twas quite a foredone thing        &nbsp That misery should be To the end! . . . To get freed of her there was the one thing        &nbsp Had made the change welcome to me. IX To go there was ending but badly;        &nbsp 'Twas shame and 'twas pain; "But anyhow," thought I, "thereby I shall gladly        &nbsp Get free of this forty years' chain." X I thought they'd be strangers aroun' me,        &nbsp But she's to be there! Let me jump out o' waggon and go back and drown me        &nbsp At Pummery or Ten-Hatches Weir.