Read "The Colour" by Thomas Hardy online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
(_The following lines are partly made up_, _partly remembered from a / Wessex folk-rhyme_)
"WHAT shall I bring you? / Please will white do / Best for your wearing / The long day through? " / "-White is for weddings, / Weddings, weddings, / White is for weddings, / And that won't do."
"What shall I bring you? / Please will red do / Best for your wearing / The long day through? " / " -Red is for soldiers, / Soldiers, soldiers, / Red is for soldiers, / And that won't do."
"What shall I bring you? / Please will blue do / Best for your wearing / The long day through? " / "-Blue is for sailors, / Sailors, sailors, / Blue is for sailors, / And that won't do.
"What shall I bring you? / Please will green do / Best for your wearing / The long day through? " / "-Green is for mayings, / Mayings, mayings, / Green is for mayings, / And that won't do."
"What shall I bring you / Then? Will black do / Best for your wearing / The long day through? " / "-Black is for mourning, / Mourning, mourning, / Black is for mourning, / And black will do. "