At this the father raised his hook, He plied his work ; and Lucy took The lantern in her hand. Not blither is the mountain roe: Her feet disperse the powdery snow, That rises up like smoke. The storm came on before its time: And many a hill did Lucy climb: The wretched parents all that night Went shouting far and wide; But there was neither sound nor sight To serve them for a guide. At day-break on the hill they stood That overlooked the moor; And thence they saw the bridge of wood, A furlong from their door. They wept, and, turning homeward, cried, "In heaven we all shall meet "; When in the snow the mother spied The print of Lucy's feet. Then downwards from the steep hill's edge They tracked the footmarks small; And then an open field they crossed: They tracked them on, nor ever lost; They followed from the snowy bank And further there were none ! Yet some maintain that to this day She is a living child; That you may see sweet Lucy Gray Upon the lonesome wild. O'er rough and smooth she trips along, And never looks behind; And sings a solitary song That whistles in the wind. 1799. X. WE ARE SEVEN. A simple Child, That lightly draws its breath, I met a little cottage Girl: She was eight years old, she said; That clustered round her head. She had a rustic, woodland air, Her eyes were fair, and very fair; Her beauty made me glad. "Sisters and brothers, little Maid, How many may you be?" "How many? Seven in all,” she said, And wondering looked at me. "And where are they? I pray you tell." She answered, "Seven are we ; And two of us at Conway dwell, And two are gone to sea. "Two of us in the churchyard lie, "You say that two at Conway dwell, Yet ye are seven! I pray you tell, Then did the little Maid reply, "You run about, my little Maid, Your limbs they are alive; If two are in the churchyard laid, Then ye are only five." "Their graves are green, they may be seen," The little Maid replied, Twelve steps or more from my mother's door, And they are side by side. "My stockings there I often knit, My kerchief there I hem; And there upon the ground I sit, And sing a song to them. “And often after sunset, Sir, "The first that died was sister Jane; In bed she moaning lay, Till God released her of her pain; And then she went away. "So in the churchyard she was laid; And, when the grass was dry, Together round her grave we played, My brother John and I. "And when the ground was white with snow, And I could run and slide, My brother John was forced to go, And he lies by her side.” "How many are you, then," said I, "If they two are in heaven?” Quick was the little Maid's reply, "O Master! we are seven." "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!" |