A kind and a good Father: and herein I but repay a gift which I myself Received at others' hands; for, though now old Beyond the common life of man, I still Remember them who loved me in my youth. Both of them sleep together; here they lived, As all their Forefathers had done; and when At length their time was come, they were not loth To give their bodies to the family mould.
I wished that thou shouldst live the life they lived. But, 'tis a long time to look back, my Son, And see so little gain from threescore years. These fields were burthened when they came to me Till I was forty years of age, not more
Than half of my inheritance was mine.
I toiled and toiled; God blessed me in my work, And till these three weeks past the land was free. It looks as if it never could endure
Another Master. Heaven forgive me, Luke,
If I judge ill for thee, but it seems good
That thou shouldst go." At this the Old Man paused: Then, pointing to the Stones near which they stood, Thus, after a short silence, he resumed: "This was a work for us; and now, my Son,
It is a work for me. But, lay one Stone Here, lay it for me, Luke, with thine own hands. Nay, Boy be of good hope; we both may live To see a better day. At eighty-four
I still am strong and hale; do thot thy part! I will do mine. I will begin again With many tasks that were resigned to thee: Up to the heights, and in among the storms, Will I without thee go again, and do
All works which I was wont to do alone,
Before I knew thy face. Heaven bless thee, Boy!
Thy heart these two weeks has been beating fast With many hopes. It should be so - yes, yes- I knew that thou couldst never have a wish
To leave me, Luke: thou hast been bound to me Only by links of love: when thou art gone, What will be left to us? But, I forget My purpose. Lay now the corner-stone, As I requested; and hereafter, Luke, When thou art gone away, should evil men Be thy companions, think of me, my Son, And of this moment; hither turn thy thoughts, And God will strengthen thee: amid all fear And all temptation, Luke, I pray that thou Mayst bear in mind the life thy Fathers lived, Who, being innocent, did for that cause Bestir them in good deeds. Now, fare thee well When thou returnest, thou in this place wilt see A work which is not here: a covenant "Twill be between us. But, whatever fate
Befall thee, I shall love thee to the last,
And bear thy memory with me to the grave."
The Shepherd ended here; and Luke stooped down, And, as his Father had requested, laid
The first stone of the Sheep-fold. At the sight, The Old Man's grief broke from him; to his heart He pressed his Son, he kissed him, and wept; And to the house together they returned.
Hushed was that house in peace, or seeming peace, Ere the night fell:- with morrow's dawn the Boy Began his journey, and when he had reached The public Way, he put on a bold face And all the Neighbors, as he passed their doors, Came forth with wishes and with farewell prayers, That followed him till he was out of sight.
A good report did from their Kinsman come Of Luke and his well-doing: and the Boy Wrote loving letters, full of wondrous news, Which, as the Housewife phrased it, were throughout "The prettiest letters that were ever seen.” Both parents read them with rejoicing hearts.
So, many months passed on: and once again The Shepherd went about his daily work With confident and cheerful thoughts; and now Sometimes when he could find a leisure hour He to that Valley took his way, and there Wrought at the Sheep-fold. Meantime Luke began To slacken in his duty; and, at length, He in the dissolute city gave himself To evil courses; ignominy and shame Fell on him, so that he was driven at last To seek a hiding-place beyond the seas.
There is a comfort in the strength of Love; 'Twill make a thing endurable, which else Would overset the brain, or break the heart: I have conversed with more than one who well Remember the Old Man, and what he was Years after he had heard this heavy news. His bodily frame had been from youth to age Of an unusual strength. Among the rocks He went, and still looked up towards the sun, And listened to the wind; and, as before, Performed all kinds of labor for his Sheep, And for the land his small inheritance. And to that hollow Dell from time to time Did he repair, to build the Fold of which His flock had need. "Tis not forgotten yet, The pity which was then in every heart- For the Old Man and 'tis believed by all
That many and many a day he thither went, And never lifted up a single stone.
There, by the Sheep-fold, sometimes was he seen Sitting alone, with that his faithful Dog; Then old, beside him, lying at his feet.
The length of full seven years, from time to time, He at the building of this Sheep-fold wrought, And left the work unfinished when he died.
Three years, or little more, did Isabel Survive her Husband: at her death the estate Was sold, and went into a Stranger's hand. The Cottage which was named the EVENING STAR Is gone - the ploughshare has been through the ground On which it stood; great changes have been wrought In all the neighborhood: yet the Oak is left That grew beside their Door; and the remains Of the unfinished Sheep-fold may be seen Beside the boisterous brook of Green-head Ghyll.
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