"How many are you then," said I, "O master! we are seven." "But they are dead; those two are dead! "Twas throwing words away: for still 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; His limbs are cast in beauty's mould, One morn we strolled on our dry walk, And held such intermitted talk My thoughts on former pleasures ran; A day it was when I could bear To think-and think-and think again; My boy was by my side, so slim The young lambs ran a pretty race; And so is Liswyn farm. My little boy, which like you more," "Our home by Kilve's delightful shore, Or here at Liswyn farm? And tell me, had you rather be," I said, and held him by the arm, "At Kilve's sinooth shore by the green sea. Or here at Liswyn farm ?" In careless mood he looked at me, While still I held him by the arm, And said, "At Kilve I'd rather be Why, this is strange," said I. 66 For, here are woods, and green hills warm: Why you would change sweet Liswyn farm At this, my boy hung down his head, He blushed with shame, nor made reply; His head he raised-there was in sight, Then did the boy his tongue unlock; O dearest, dearest boy! my heart Of what from thee learn. RURAL ARCHITECTURE. THERE'S George Fisher, Charles Fleming, and Reginald Shore, Three rosy-cheeked schoolboys, the highest not more Than the height of a Counsellor's bag; To the top of GREAT HOW* did it please them to climb; A man on the peak of the crag. 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, 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. And what did these schoolboys?-The very next day They went and they built up another. 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. THE PET LAMB. A PASTORAL. THE dew was falling fast, the stars began to blink; A snow-white mountain lamb, with a maiden at its side. No other sheep were near, the lamb was all alone, The lamb, while from her hand he thus his supper took, "Drink, pretty creature, drink," she said in such a tone "Twas little Barbara Lewthwaite, a child of beauty rare! If Nature to her tongue could measured numbers bring, "What ails thee, young one? What? Why pull so at thy cord? "What is it thou wouldst seek? What is wanting to thy heart? "If the sun be shining hot, do but stretch thy woollen chain, "Rest, little young one, rest; thou hast forgot the day "He took thee in his arms, and in pity brought thee home: "Thou know'st that twice a day I have brought thee in this can Fresh water from the brook, as clear as ever ran; And twice in the day, when the ground is wet with dew, And dreams of things which thou canst neither see nor hear. 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." THE IDLE SHEPHERD-BOYS; OR, DUNGEON-GHYLL FORCE.* A PASTORAL. I. The valley rings with mirth and joy; To welcome in the May: The magpie chatters with delight; The mountain raven's youngling brood And they go rambling east and west In search of their own food; Or through the glittering vapours dart Force is the Ghyll, in the dialect of Cumberland and Westmoreland, is a short, and for the most part, a steep narrow valley, with a stream running through it. word universally employed in these dialects for waterfall. II. Beneath a rock, upon the grass. III. Along the river's stony marge A thousand lambs are on the rocks, That plaintive cry! which up the hill IV. Said Walter, leaping from the ground, They leapt they ran-and when they came Right opposite to Dungeon-Ghyll, Seeing that he should loose the prize, "Stop!" to his comrade Walter criesJames stopped with no good will: Said Walter then, "your task is here, "Twill keep you working half a year. V. "Now cross where I shall cross-come on, And follow me where I shall lead " The other took him at his word; But did not like the deed. It was a spot, which you may see If ever you to Langdale go: Into a chasm a mighty block Hath fallen, and made a bridge of rock: The gulf is deep below; And in a basin black and small Receives a lofty waterfall. VI. With staff in hand across the cleft The challenger began his march; 1 |