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Soon o'er the yellow fields； in silent and mournful procession；
Came from the neighboring hamlets and farms the Acadian women；
Driving in ponderous wains their household goods to the
sea…shore；
Pausing and looking back to gaze once more on their dwellings；
Ere they were shut from sight by the winding road and the
woodland。
Close at their sides their children ran； and urged on the oxen；
While in their little hands they clasped some fragments of
playthings。
Thus to the Gaspereau's mouth they hurried； and there on the
sea…beach
Piled in confusion lay the household goods of the peasants。
All day long between the shore and the ships did the boats ply；
All day long the wains came laboring down from the village。
Late in the afternoon； when the sun was near to his setting；
Echoed far o'er the fields came the roll of drums from the
churchyard。
Thither the women and children thronged。 On a sudden the
church…doors
Opened； and forth came the guard； and marching in gloomy
procession
Followed the long…imprisoned； but patient； Acadian farmers。
Even as pilgrims； who journey afar from their homes and their
country；
Sing as they go； and in singing forget they are weary and
wayworn；
So with songs on their lips the Acadian peasants descended
Down from the church to the shore； amid their wives and their
daughters。
Foremost the young men came； and； raising together their voices；
Sang with tremulous lips a chant of the Catholic Missions：
〃Sacred heart of the Saviour！ O inexhaustible fountain！
Fill our hearts this day with strength and submission and
patience！〃
Then the old men； as they marched； and the women that stood by
the wayside
Joined in the sacred psalm； and the birds in the sunshine above
them
Mingled their notes therewith； like voices of spirits departed。
Half…way down to the shore Evangeline waited in silence；
Not overcome with grief； but strong in the hour of affliction；
Calmly and sadly she waited； until the procession approached her；
And she beheld the face of Gabriel pale with emotion。
Team then filled her eyes； and； eagerly running to meet him；
Clasped she his hands； and laid her head on his shoulder； and
whispered；
〃Gabriel！ be of good cheer！ for if we love one another
Nothing； in truth； can harm us； whatever mischances may happen！〃
Smiling she spake these words； then suddenly paused； for her
father
Saw she slowly advancing。 Alas！ how changed was his aspect！
Gone was the glow from his cheek； and the fire from his eye； and
his footstep
Heavier seemed with the weight of the heavy heart in his bosom。
But with a smile and a sigh； she clasped his neck and embraced
him；
Speaking words of endearment where words of comfort availed not。
Thus to the Gaspereau's mouth moved on that mournful procession。
There disorder prevailed； and the tumult and stir of embarking。
Busily plied the freighted boats； and in the confusion
Wives were torn from their husbands； and mothers； too late； saw
their children
Left on the land； extending their arms； with wildest entreaties。
So unto separate ships were Basil and Gabriel carried；
While in despair on the shore Evangeline stood with her father。
Half the task was not done when the sun went down； and the
twilight
Deepened and darkened around； and in haste the refluent ocean
Fled away from the shore； and left the line of the sand…beach
Covered with waifs of the tide； with kelp and the slippery
sea…weed。
Farther back in the midst of the household goods and the wagons；
Like to a gypsy camp； or a leaguer after a battle；
All escape cut off by the sea； and the sentinels near them；
Lay encamped for the night the houseless Acadian farmers。
Back to its nethermost caves retreated the bellowing ocean；
Dragging adown the beach the rattling pebbles； and leaving
Inland and far up the shore the stranded boats of the sailors。
Then； as the night descended； the herds returned from their
pastures；
Sweet was the moist still air with the odor of milk from their
udders；
Lowing they waited； and long； at the well…known bars of the
farm…yard；
Waited and looked in vain for the voice and the hand of the
milkmaid。
Silence reigned in the streets； from the church no Angelus
sounded；
Rose no smoke from the roofs； and gleamed no lights from the
windows。
But on the shores meanwhile the evening fires had been kindled；
Built of the drift…wood thrown on the sands from wrecks in the
tempest。
Round them shapes of gloom and sorrowful faces were gathered；
Voices of women were heard； and of men； and the crying of
children。
Onward from fire to fire； as from hearth to hearth in his parish；
Wandered the faithful priest； consoling and blessing and
cheering；
Like unto shipwrecked Paul on Melita's desolate sea…shore。
Thus he approached the place where Evangeline sat with her
father；
And in the flickering light beheld the face of the old man；
Haggard and hollow and wan； and without either thought or
emotion；
E'en as the face of a clock from which the hands have been taken。
Vainly Evangeline strove with words and caresses to cheer him；
Vainly offered him food； yet he moved not； he looked not； he
spake not
But； with a vacant stare； ever gazed at the flickering
fire…light。
〃Benedicite！〃 murmured the priest； in tones of compassion。
More he fain would have said； but his heart was full； and his
accents
Faltered and paused on his lips； as the feet of a child on a
threshold；
Hushed by the scene he beholds； and the awful presence of sorrow。
Silently； therefore； he laid his hand on the head of the maiden；
Raising his tearful eyes to the silent stars that above them
Moved on their way； unperturbed by the wrongs and sorrows of
mortals。
Then sat he down at her side； and they wept together in silence。
Suddenly rose from the south a light； as in autumn the
blood…red
Moon climbs the crystal walls of heaven； and o'er the horizon
Titan…like stretches its hundred hands upon mountain and meadow；
Seizing the rocks and the rivers； and piling huge shadows
together。
Broader and ever broader it gleamed on the roofs of the village；
Gleamed on the sky and the sea； and the ships that lay in the
roadstead。
Columns of shining smoke uprose； and flashes of flame were
Thrust through their folds and withdrawn； like the quivering
hands of a martyr。
Then as the wind seized the gleeds and the burning thatch； and；
uplifting；
Whirled them aloft through the air； at once from a hundred
house…tops
Started the sheeted smoke with flashes of flame intermingled。
These things beheld in dismay the crowd on the shore and on
shipboard。
Speechless at first they stood； then cried aloud in their
anguish；
〃We shall behold no more our homes in the village of Grand…Pre！〃
Loud on a sudden the cocks began to crow in the farm…yards；
Thinking the day had dawned； and anon the lowing of cattle
Came on the evening breeze； by the barking of dogs interrupt