323 This is the very spirit in which they deal Kindred mutations; for themselves create Like angels stopped upon the wing by sound Them the enduring and the transient both Serve to exalt; they build up greatest things ΙΟΥ From least suggestions; ever on the watch, To rouse them; in a world of life they By sensible impressions not enthralled, To hold fit converse with the spiritual world, come, Age after age, till Time shall be no more. That flesh can know is theirs - the con sciousness Of Whom they are, habitually infused thought, And all affections by communion raised And to that simple object appertains A story 20 unenriched with strange events, Yet not unfit, I deem, for the fireside, Or for the summer shade. It was the first Of those domestic tales that spake to me Of shepherds, dwellers in the valleys, men Whom I already loved; not verily For their own sakes, but for the fields and hills Where was their occupation and abode. 30 (At random and imperfectly indeed) boy grew up A healthy Lad, and carried in his cheek With iron, making it throughout in all Or looks, or threatening gestures, could perform. But soon as Luke, full ten years old, could stand Against the mountain blasts; and to the heights, Not fearing toil, nor length of weary ways, In surety for his brother's son, a man Than half his substance. This unlooked-for claim, At the first hearing, for a moment took More hope out of his life than he supposed That any old man ever could have lost. 220 As soon as he had armed himself with strength To look his trouble in the face, it seemed The Shepherd's sole resource to sell at once A portion of his patrimonial fields. Such was his first resolve; he thought again, And his heart failed him. "Isabel," said he, Two evenings after he had heard the news, I have been toiling more than seventy Had been no sorrow. I forgive him; - but And with his kinsman's help and his own thrift He quickly will repair this loss, and then He may return to us. If here he stay, What can be done? Where every one is poor, What can be gained?" At this the old Man paused, And Isabel sat silent, for her mind Was busy, looking back into past times. There's Richard Bateman, thought she to herself, He was a parish-boy-at the church-door They made a gathering for him, shillings, Here Michael ceased, and to the fields went forth With a light heart. The Housewife for five days Was restless morn and night, and all day long She said to Luke, while they two by them selves Were sitting at the door, "Thou must not go: We have no other Child but thee to lose And Isabel, when she had told her fears, Recovered heart. That evening her best fare 301 Did she bring forth, and all together sat Like happy people round a Christmas fire. With daylight Isabel resumed her work; And all the ensuing week the house appeared As cheerful as a grove in Spring: at length The expected letter from their kinsman came, With kind assurances that he would do 310 He might be sent to him. Ten times or more The letter was read over; Isabel |