The pony, Betty, and her boy, That hobbles up the steep rough road? Long time lay Susan lost in thought, And as her mind grew worse and worse, She turned, she tossed herself in bed, "Alas! what is become of them? I'll to the wood."-The word scarce said, Away she posts uphill and down, She spies her friends, she shouts a greeting; The owls have hardly sung their last, For while they all were travelling home, Now Johnny all night long had heard And thus, to Betty's question, he "The cocks did crow to-whoo, to-whoo, MICHAEL. A PASTORAL POEM. IF from the public way you turn your steps; Up the tumultuous brook of Green-head Ghyll, You will suppose that with an upright path Your feet must struggle; in such bold ascent The pastoral mountains front you, face to face. [brook But, courage! for around that boisterous The mountains have all opened out themselves, And made a hidden valley of their own. That overhead are sailing in the sky. Nor should I have made mention of this dell Or for the summer shade. It was the first hills Where was their occupation and abode. On man, the heart of man, and human life. Upon the forest-side in Grasmere Vale There dwelt a shepherd, Michael was his name; [limb. An old man, stout of heart, and strong of His bodily frame had been from youth to age Of an unusual strength: his mind was keen, Intense, and frugal, apt for all affairs, And in his shepherd's calling he was prompt And watchful more than ordinary men. Hence had he learned the meaning of all winds, Of blasts of every tone; and, oftentimes, When others heeded not, he heard the south Make subterraneous music, like the noise Of bagpipers on distant Highland hills. The shepherd, at such warning, of his flock Bethought him, and he to himself would say. "The winds are now devising work for me!' And, truly, at all times, the storm-that drives pose The traveller to a shelter-summoned him Up to the mountains: he had been alone Amid the heart of many thousand mists, That came to him and left him on the heights. So lived he till his eightieth year was past. And grossly that man errs, who should sup[rocks, That the green valleys, and the streams and Were things indifferent to the shepherd's thoughts. [breathed Fields, where with cheerful spirits he had The common air; the hills, which he so oft Had climbed with vigorous steps; which had impressed So many incidents upon his mind Of hardship, skill or courage, joy or fear; Strong hold on his affections, were to him His days had not been passed in single With two brave sheep-dogs tried in many a storm, The one of an inestimable worth, Their labour did not cease; unless when all Each with a mess of pottage and skimmed Sat round their basket piled with oaten cakes, [when their meal And their plain home-made cheese. Yet Was ended, Luke (for so the son was named) And his old father both betook themselves To such convenient work as might employ Their hands by the fire-side; perhaps to card Wool for the housewife's spindle, or repair Some injury done to sickle, flail, or scythe, Or other implement of house or field. Down from the ceiling by the chimney's That in our ancient uncouth country style High into Easedale, up to Dunmail-Raise, years, [needs The shepherd, if he loved himself, must Have loved his helpmate; but to Michael's heart Thus living on through such a length of | With iron, making it throughou. in all Due requisites a perfect shepherd's staff, And gave it to the boy; wherewith equipt He as a watchman oftentimes was placed At gate or gap, to stem or turn the flock; And, to his office prematurely called, There stood the urchin, as you will divine, Something between a hindrance and a help; This son of his old age was yet more dear- And stirrings of inquietude, when they Old Michael, while he was a babe in arms, And, in a later time, ere yet the boy Had put on boy's attire, did Michael love, Albeit of a stern unbending mind, To have the young one in his sight, when he Had work by his own door, or when he sat With sheep before him on his shepherd's stool, [door Beneath that large old oak, which near their Stood, and, from its enormous breadth of shade, Chosen for the shearer's covert from the sun, Thence in our rustic dialect was called The CLIPPING TREE, a name which yet it bears. [shade, There, while they two were sitting in the With others round them, earnest all and blithe, Would Michael exercise his heart with looks Of fond correction and reproof bestowed Upon the child, if he disturbed the sheep By catching at their legs, or with his shouts Scared them, while they lay still beneath the shears. And when by Heaven's good grace the boy grew up A healthy lad, and carried in his cheek Two steady roses that were five years old, Then Michael from a winter coppice cut With his own hand a sapling, which he hooped And for this course not always, I believe, Receiving from his father hire of praise; Though nought was left undone which. staff or voice, [perform. Cr looks, or threatening gestures could But soon as Luke, full ten years old, could stand [heights, Against the mountain blasts; and to the Not fearing toil, nor length of weary ways, He with his father daily went, and they Were as companions, why should I relate That objects which the shepherd loved before [came Were dearer now? that from the boy there Feelings and emanations-things which were Light to the sun and music to the wind; And that the old man's heart seemed born again. Thus in his father's sight the boy grew up; And now when he had reached his eighteenth year, He was his comfort and his daily hope. While in this sort the simple household lived [came From day to day, to Michael's ear there Distressful tidings. Long before the time Of which I speak, the shepherd had been bound In surety for his brother's son, a man now At the first hearing, for a moment took That he could look his trouble in the face- Clipping is the word used in the North of A portion of his patrimonial fields, Such was his first resolve; he thought again, And his heart failed him." Isabel," said he, And in the open sunshine of God's love Far more than we have lost is left us yet. To-morrow, or the next day, or to-night: Here Michael ceased, and to the fields went Was restless morn and night, and all day pare see Things needful for the journey of her son. But Isabel was glad when Sunday came We have, thou know-To stop her in her work: for, when she lay est, By Michael's side, she through the two last Another kinsman-he will be our friend nights [sleep: In this distress. He is a prosperous man, Heard him, how he was troubled in his Thriving in trade-and Luke to him_shall | And when they rose at morning she could go, [thrift [noon And with his kinsman's help and his own That all his hopes were gone. That day at He quickly will repair this loss, and then She said to Luke, while they two by themMay come again to us. If here he stay, selves [go: What can be done? Where every one is Were sitting at the door, "Thou must not poor, [paused, We have no other child but thee to lose, What can be gained?" At this the old man None to remember-do not go away, And Isabel sat silent, for her mind For if thou leave thy father he will die." Was busy, looking back into past times. The youth made answer with a jocund There's Richard Bateman, thought she to herself, He was a parish-boy-at the church-door wares; And with this basket on his arm, the lad, And left estates and moneys to the poor, voice; And Isabel, when she had told her fears, Did she bring forth, and all together sat With daylight Isabel resumed her work; And all the ensuing week the house appeared As cheerful as a grove in spring: at length came, With kind assurances that he would do Nor was there at that time on English land A prouder heart than Luke's. When Isabel | Lack any pleasure which a boy can know." Had to her house returned, the old man Luke had a manly heart; but at these said, words [his hand, He sobbed aloud. The old man grasped And said, "Nay, do not take it so-I see That these are things of which I need not speak. [word "He shall depart to-morrow." To this The housewife answered, talking much of things Which, if at such short notice he should go, Would surely be forgotten. But at length She gave consent, and Michael was at ease. Near the tumultuous brook of Greenhead Ghyll, In that deep valley, Michael had designed To build a sheep-fold; and, before he heard The tidings of his melancholy loss, For this same purpose he had gathered up A heap of stones, which by the streamlet's edge son, Lay thrown together, ready for the work. With Luke that evening thitherward he walked ; [stopped, And soon as they had reached the place he And thus the old man spake to him."My [heart To-morrow thou wilt leave me: with full I look upon thee, for thou art the same That wert a promise to me ere thy birth, And all thy life hast been my daily joy. I will relate to thee some little part Of our two histories; 'twill do thee good When thou art from me, even if I should speak [After thou Of things thou canst not know of.First cam'st into the world-as oft befalls To new-born infants-thou didst sleep away [tongue Two days, and blessings from thy father's Then fell upon thee. Day by day passed on, And still I loved thee with increasing love. Never to living ear came sweeter sounds Than when I heard thee by our own fireside [tune; First uttering, without words, a natural When thou, a feeding babe, didst in thy joy [lowed month, Sing at thy mother's breast. Month folAnd in the open fields my life was passed And on the mountains, else I think that thou [knees. Hadst been brought up upon thy father's But we were playmates, Luke: among these hills, [young As well thou know'st, in us the old and Have played together, nor with me didst thou Even to the utmost I have been to thee 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 loath 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, [was free. And till these three weeks past the land 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; [they stood, Then, pointing to the stones near which 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- I will do mine.-I will begin again 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! [ing fast Thy heart these two weeks has been beatWith many hopes-It should be so-Yesyes |