The Child, as if the thunder's voice spake But who shall show, to waking sense gleam of light that broke with articulate call, ΙΟ Bowed meekly in submissive fear, before Forth from his eyes, when first the the Lord of All; looked down on that huge oak, His lips were moving; and his eyes, up- For length of days so much revered raised to sue for grace, famous where it stands With soft illumination cheered the dim- For twofold hallowing-Nature's c ness of that place. and work of human hands? How beautiful is holiness!-what wonder Strong as an Eagle with my charg glided round and round if the sight, Almost as vivid as a dream, produced a The wide-spread boughs, for view of d dream at night? It came with sleep and showed the Boy, no cherub, not transformed, 15 But the poor ragged Thing whose ways my human heart had warmed. window, and stair that wound Gracefully up the gnarled trunk; left we unsurveyed The pointed steeple peering forth f the centre of the shade. Me had the dream equipped with wings, I lighted-opened with soft touch so I took him in my arms, chapel's iron door, And lifted from the grassy floor, stilling Past softly, leading in the Boy; his faint alarms, while from roof to floor, And bore him high through yielding air From floor to roof, all round his eyes Child with wonder cast, my debt of love to pay, By giving him, for both our sakes, an Pleasure on pleasure crowded in, e hour of holiday. livelier than the last. 20 I whispered, "Yet a little while, dear For, deftly framed within the trunk, Child! thou art my own, sanctuary showed, To show thee some delightful thing, in By light of lamp and precious stor country or in town. What shall it be? a mirthful throng? or that holy place and calm St. Denis, filled with royal tombs, or the "St. Ouen's golden Shrine? Or choose 26 that glimmered here, there glow Shrine, Altar, Image, Offerings hung sign of gratitude; Sight that inspired accordant though And, kneeling, supplication make to "My Mother," said the Boy, "was born What mournful sighs have here b near to a blessed Tree, heard, and, when the voice was st The Chapel Oak of Allonville; good By sudden pangs; what bitter tears h Angel, show it me!" on this pavement dropt! On wings from broad and steadfast poise "Poor Shepherd of the naked Down let loose by this reply, For Allonville, o'er down and dale, away then did we fly; 30 O'er town and tower we fled, and fields in May's fresh verdure drest; The wings they did not flag; the Child, though grave, was not deprest. favoured lot is thine, Far happier lot, dear Boy, than bri Thy hours as they flow on are spent Then offer up thy heart to God in thankfulness and praise, ive to Him prayers, and many thoughts, in thy most busy days; And in His sight the fragile Cross, on thy small hut, will be Holy as that which long hath crowned 60 the Chapel of this Tree; Holy as that far seen which crowns the sumptuous Church in Rome There thousands meet to worship God under a mighty Dome; He sees the bending multitude, He hears the choral rites, Tet, not the less, in children's hymns and lonely prayer delights. God for His service needeth not proud work of human skill; 65 By please Him best who labour most let us strive to live, and to our Spirits The Boy no answer made by words, but, eep fled, and with it fled the dreamrecorded in this book, 70 tall that passed should melt away in silence from my mind, XX. THE WESTMORELAND GIRL. TO MY GRANDCHILDREN. SEEK who will delight in fable, 5 ΙΟ Peace and rest, as seems, before them 15 Oh! it was a frightful current Saved by courage that with danger visions still more bright have done, Grew, by strength the gift of love, and left no trace behind. But oh! that Country-man of thine, whose eye, loved Child, can see pledge of endless bliss in acts of early piety, verse, which to thy ear might come, would treat this simple theme, For leave untold our happy flight in that 75 adventurous dream. Alas the dream, to thee, poor Boy! to thee from whom it flowed, as nothing, scarcely can be aught, yet 'twas bounteously bestowed, I may dare to cherish hope that gentle eyes will read Not loth, and listening Little-ones, hearttouched, their fancies feed1. 1 See Note, p. 897 80 And belike a guardian angel PART II. Now, to a maturer Audience, 20 25 30 So, unwatched by love maternal, 35 Dear caresses given in pity, Time passed on; the Child was happy, Scarcely less than sacred passions, Anglers, bent on reckless pastime, Merciful protectress, kindling Many a captive hath she rescued, Yes, the wild Girl of the mountains 50 To control the froward impulse Easily a pious training And a steadfast outward power Thus the fearless Lamb-deliv❜rer, Watchful as a wheeling eagle, Should the country need a heroine, 60 She might prove our Maid of Arc. Leave that thought; and here be utte POEMS FOUNDED ON THE AFFECTIONS. I. THE BROTHERS. Composed (in or about) February, 1800.-Pub lished 1800.] Her large round wheel was turning. To wards the field THESE Tourists, heaven preserve us! In which the Parish Chapel stood alone, Girt round with a bare ring of mossy needs must live Perched on the forehead of a jutting crag, wall, While half an hour went by, the Priest Many a long look of wonder: and at last, ridge 31 Of carded wool which the old man had piled He laid his implements with gentle care, Until a man might travel twelve stout Each in the other locked; and down the miles, Or reap an acre of his neighbour's corn. 10 neither epitaph nor monument, Tombstone nor name-only the turf we tread And a few natural graves." To Jane, his wife, Thus spake the homely Priest of Ennerdale. was a July evening; and he sate 16 path, That from his cottage to the church-yard led, 35 He took his way, impatient to accost 'Twas one well known to him in former days, A Shepherd-lad; who ere his sixteenth year 41 Had left that calling, tempted to entrust pon the long stone-seat beneath the A fellow-mariner; and so had fared Through twenty seasons; but he had been reared Between the tropics filled the steady When Leonard had approached his ho Over the vessel's side, and gaze and His family were laid, he thence mi gaze; And, while the broad blue wave and sparkling foam 56 Flashed round him images and hues that wrought learn If still his Brother lived, or to the file Another grave was added.-He had for Another grave,-near which a full h hour In union with the employment of his He had remained; but, as he gazed, th heart, He, thus by feverish passion overcome, Even with the organs of his bodily eye, Below him, in the bosom of the deep, 61 Saw mountains; saw the forms of sheep that grazed grew Such a confusion in his memory, That he began to doubt; and even hope That he had seen this heap of turf fore, On verdant hills-with dwellings among That it was not another grave; but one He had forgotten. He had lost trees, And shepherds clad in the same country |