And half-pennies, wherewith the neighbours bought A basket, which they fill'd with pedlar's wares; And with this basket on his arm, the lad Who out of many chose the trusty boy To go and overlook his merchandise Beyond the seas, where he grew wondrous rich, With marble, which he sent from foreign lands." To stop her in her work; for, when she lay By Michael's side, she through the two last nights Heard him, how he was troubled in his sleep : And when they rose at morning, she could see That all his hopes were gone. That day at noon She said to Luke, while they two by themselves For if thou leave thy father, he will die." Next morning Isabel resumed her work; And all the ensuing week the house appear'd As cheerful as a grove in spring; at length The expected letter from their kinsman came, With kind assurances that he would do His utmost for the welfare of the boy; To which requests were added that forthwith He might be sent to him. Ten times or more Went forth to show it to the neighbours round; Near the tumultuous brook of Greenhead Ghyll, In that deep valley, Michael had design'd To build a sheepfold; and, before he heard The tidings of his melancholy loss, For this same purpose he had gather'd up A heap of stones, which by the streamlet's edge With Luke that evening thitherward he walk'd; I look upon thee, for thou art the same Of our two histories; 'twill do thee good When thou, a feeding babe, didst in thy joy And in the open fields my life was pass'd, And on the mountains, else I think that thou That these are things of which I need not speak. -Even to the utmost I have been to thee A kind and a good father; and herein. I but repay a gift which I myself Received at others' hands; for, though now old Beyond the common life of man, I still I wish'd that thou shouldst live the life they lived. And see so little gain from sixty years. These fields were burthen'd when they came to me; Till I was forty years of age, not more Than half of mine inheritance was mine. I toil'd and toil'd; God bless'd me in my work, And till these three weeks past the land was free. -It looks as if it never could endure |