But now the passionate lament,

Which from the crowd on shore was sent,

The cries which broke from old and young In Gaelic, or the English tongue,

Are stifled-all is still.

And quickly with a silent crew

A Boat is ready to pursue;

And from the shore their course they take,
And swiftly down the running Lake
They follow the blind Boy.

But soon they move with softer pace,
So have ye seen the fowler chase
On Grasmere's clear unruffled breast

A Youngling of the wild-duck's nest
With deftly-lifted oar.

Or as the wily Sailors crept

To seize (while on the Deep it slept)
The hapless Creature which did dwell
Erewhile within the dancing Shell,

They steal upon their prey.

With sound the least that can be made They follow, more and more afraid, More cautious as they draw more near; But in his darkness he can hear,

And guesses their intent.

Lei-gha-Lei-gha"-then did he cry "Lei-gha-Lei-gha"-most eagerly;

Thus did he cry, and thus did pray,
And what he meant was, "Keep away,
And leave me to myself!"

Alas! and when he felt their hands-
You've often heard of magic Wands,

That with a motion overthrow

A palace of the proudest shew,
Or melt it into air.

So all his dreams, that inward light

With which his soul had shone so bright,

All vanish'd;-'twas a heartfelt cross

To him, a heavy, bitter loss,

As he had ever known.

But hark! a gratulating voice
With which the very hills rejoice:
"Tis from the crowd, who tremblingly

Had watch'd the event, and now can see
That he is safe at last.

And then, when he was brought to land, Full sure they were a happy band, Which gathering round did on the banks Of that great Water give God thanks, And welcomed the poor Child.

And in the general joy of heart

The blind Boy's little Dog took part;
He leapt about, and oft did kiss
His master's hands in sign of bliss,
With sound like lamentation.

But most of all, his Mother dear,
She who had fainted with her fear,
Rejoiced when waking she espies
The Child; when she can trust her eyes,
And touches the blind Boy.

She led him home, and wept amain,

When he was in the house again : Tears flowed in torrents from her eyes; She could not blame him, or chastise: She was too happy far.

Thus, after he had fondly braved
The perilous Deep, the Boy was saved;
And, though his fancies had been wild,
Yet he was pleased, and reconciled
To live in peace on shore.

And in the lonely Highland Dell
Still do they keep the Turtle shell;
And long the Story will repeat
Of the blind Boy's adventurous feat,
And how he was preserved.*

• See note at the end of this Volume.

JUVENILE PIECES.