My stockings there I often knit, My kerchief there I hem; And there upon the ground I sit I sit and sing to them. And often after sunset, Sir, The first that died was little Jane; In bed she moaning lay, Till God released her of her pain; And then she went away. So in the church-yard she was laid; And when the ground was white with snow, My brother John was forced to go, "How many are you, then," said I, "If they two are in Heaven?" "But they are dead, those two are dead! Their spirits are in Heaven!" "T was throwing words away: for still The little Maid would have her will, And said, "Nay, we are seven! ANECDOTE FOR FATHERS, SHOWING HOW THE PRACTICE OF LYING MAY BE TAUGHT I HAVE a boy of five years old; His face is fair and fresh to see; One morn we strolled on our dry walk, My thoughts on former pleasures ran; I thought of Kilve's delightful shore, A day it was when I could bear "For, here are woods, and green-hills warm At this, my Boy hung down his head, His head he raised-there was in sight, Then did the Boy his tongue unlock; O dearest, dearest Boy! my heart RURAL ARCHITECTURE. THERE's George Fisher, Charles Fleming, and Regi nald Shore, Three rosy-cheeked School-boys, the highest not more Than the height of a Counsellor's bag; To the top of GREAT HOW* did it please them to climb: They built him of stones gathered up as they lay: And so without scruple they called him Ralph Jones. Just half a week after, the wind sallied forth, From the peak of the crag blew the Giant away. -Some little I've seen of blind boisterous works At remembrance whereof my blood sometimes will flag; THE PET-LAMB. A PASTORAL. HE dew was falling fast, the stars began to blink; I heard a voice; it said, "Drink, pretty Creature, drink!" And, looking o'er the hedge, before me I espied A snow-white mountain Lamb with a Maiden at its side. No other sheep were near, the Lamb was all alone, Right towards the Lamb she looked; and from a shady I unobserved could see the workings of her face: sing: "What ails thee, Young One? what? Why pull so a Is it not well with thee? well both for bed and board? "What is it thou wouldst seek? What is wanting to Thy limbs are they not strong? And beautiful thou art: And that green corn all day is rustling in thy ears! "If the Sun be shining hot, do but stretch thy woollen This beech is standing by, its covert thou canst gain; not fear The rain and storm are things that scarcely can come here. "Rest, little Young One, rest; thou hast forgot the day When my Father found thee first in places far away; Many flocks were on the hills, but thou wert owned by none, And thy mother from thy side for evermore was gone. "He took thee in his arms, and in pity brought thee home: A blessed day for thee! then whither wouldst tho A faithful Nurse thou hast; the dam that did thee yean "Thou knowest that twice a day I brought thee in this Can Fresh water from the brook, as clear as ever ran; The Lamb, while from her hand he thus his supper And twice in the day, when the ground is wet with took, dew, Seemed to feast with head and ears; and his tail with I bring thee draughts of milk, warm milk it is and new pleasure shook. "Drink, pretty Creature, drink," she said in such a tone"Thy limbs will shortly be twice as stout as they are That I almost received her heart into my own. 'Twas little Barbara Lewthwaite, a Child of beauty rare! I watched them with delight, they were a lovely pair. * GREAT How is a single and conspicuous hill, which rises towards the foot of Thirlmere, on the western side of the beautiful dale of Legberthwaite, along the high road between Kes wick and Ambleside. -As homeward through the lane I went with lazy feet, Again, and once again, did I repeat the song; "Nay," said I, "more than half to the Damsel must belong, For she looked with such a look, and she spake with such a tone, That I almost received her heart into my own." |