I loved a little maiden br In the golden years gone by; br She lived in a mill, as they all do br (There is doubtless a reason why). br But she faded in the autumn br When the leaves began to fade, br And the night before she faded, br These words to me she said: br 'Do not forget me, Henry, br Be noble and brave and true; br But I must not bide, for the world is wide, br And the sky above is blue.' br br So I said farewell to my darling, br And sailed away and came back; br And the good ship Jane was in port again, br And I found that they all loved Jack. br But Polly and I were sweethearts, br As all the neighbours know, br Before I met with the mill-girl br Twenty years ago. br So I thought I would go and see her, br But alas, she had faded too! br She could not bide, for the world was wide, br And the sky above was blue. br br And now I can only remember br The maid—the maid of the mill, br And Polly, and one or two others br In the churchyard over the hill. br And I sadly ask the question, br As I weep in the yew-tree's shade br With my elbow on one of their tombstones, br 'Ah, why did they all of them fade?' br And the answer I half expected br Comes from the solemn yew, br 'They could none of them bide, for the world was wide, br And the sky above was blue.