99.  The  Oxus,  which  was  the  great  river  of  Upper  Asia,
flc  wed  past  what  has  been  regarded  as  the  birthplace  of  Western
ooople,  who  emigrated  from  that  centre.  Some  of  the  riddles
and  plays  which  we  have  are  of  great  antiquity  and  may  have
Seen  handed  down  from  the  time  when  our  ancestors  were  still
Asiatics.
240  WHITTIER.
PART  III.
THE   WITCH'S   DAUGHTER.
But  still  the  sweetest  voice  was  mute
That  river- valley  ever  heard
From  lips  of  maid  or  throat  of  bird ;

For  Mabel  Martin  sat  apart,
i  io       And  let  the  hay-mow's  shadow  fall
Upon  the  loveliest  face  of  all.
She  sat  apart,  as  one  forbid,
Who  knew  that  none  would  condescend
To  own  the  Witch- wife's  child  a  friend.
115  The  seasons  scarce  had  gone  their  round,
Since  curious  thousands  thronged  to  see
Her  mother  at  the  gallows-tree ;

And  mocked  the  prison-palsied  limbs

That  faltered  on  the  fatal  stairs,

120       And  wan  lip  trembling  with  its  prayers!

Few  questioned  of  the  sorrowing  child,
Or,  when  they  saw  the  mother  die,
Dreamed  of  the  daughter's  agony.
They  went  up  to  their  homes  that  day,
[25       As  men  and  Christians  justified:

God  willed  it,  and  the  wretch  had  died!

117.  In  Upham's  History  of  Salem  Witchcraft  will  be  found
an  account  of  the  trial  and  execution  of  Susanna  Martin  fo»
witchcraft.
MABEL  MARTIN.  241

Dear  God  and  Father  of  us  all,
Forgive  our  faith  in  cruel  lies,  —
Forgive  the  blindness  that  denies !

130  Forgive  thy  creature  when  he  takes,
For  the  all-perfect  love  thou  art,
Some  grim  creation  of  his  heart.
