Then did the Boy his tongue unlock;

And thus to me he made reply: "At Kilve there was no weather-cock, And that's the reason why."

O dearest, dearest Boy! my heart For better lore would seldom yearn, Could I but teach the hundredth part Of what from thee I learn.

X.

RURAL ARCHITECTURE.

FROM the meadows of ARMATH, on THIRLMERE's wild shore,
Three rosy-cheek'd School-boys, the highest not more
Than the height of a Counsellor's bag;

To the top of GREAT How were once tempted to climb;
And there they built up, without mortar or lime,
A Man on the peak of the crag.

They built him of stones gathered up as they lay;
They built him and christen'd him all in one day,
An Urchin both vigorous and hale;

And so without scruple they called him Ralph Jones.
Now Ralph is renown'd for the length of his bones;
The Magog of Legberthwaite dale.

Just half a week after, the wind sallied forth,

And, in anger or merriment, out of the North
Coming on with a terrible pother,

From the peak of the crag blew the Giant away.

very

And what did these School-boys? The next day They went and they built up another.

Some little I've seen of blind boisterous works

By Christian Disturbers more savage than Turks,
Spirits busy to do and undo:

At remembrance whereof my blood sometimes will flag;
Then, light-hearted Boys, to the top of the crag;
And I'll build up a Giant with you.

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 Keswick and Ambleside.

XI.

THE PET-LAMB.

A Pastoral.

THE 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,
And by a slender cord was tether'd to a stone;
With one knee on the grass did the little Maiden kneel,
While to that Mountain Lamb she gave its evening meal.

The Lamb, while from her hand he thus his supper took, Seem'd to feast with head and ears; and his tail with pleasure shook.

"Drink, pretty Creature, drink," she said in such a tone That I almost received her heart into my own.

'Twas little Barbara Lewthwaite, a Child of beauty rare! I watch'd them with delight, they were a lovely pair.

Now with her empty Can the Maiden turn'd away;
But ere ten yards were gone her footsteps did she stay.

Towards the Lamb she look'd; and from that shady place I unobserved could see the workings of her face:

If Nature to her tongue could measured numbers bring, Thus, thought I, to her Lamb that little Maid might sing:

"What ails thee, Young One? what? Why pull so at thy cord?

Is it not well with thee? well both for bed and board? Thy plot of grass is soft, and green as grass can be; Rest, little Young One, rest; what is't that aileth thee?

"What is it thou wouldst seek? What is wanting to thy heart? Thy limbs are they not strong? And beautiful thou art: This grass is tender grass; these flowers they have no peers; And that green corn all day is rustling in thy ears!

"If the Sun be shining hot, do but stretch thy woollen chain, This beech is standing by, its covert thou canst gain; For rain and mountain storms! the like thou need'st not

fear

The rain and storm are things that scarcely can come here.