They wept-and, turning homeward, cried In heaven we all shall meet;" Then downwards from the steep hill's edge And then an open field they crossed: That you may see sweet Lucy Gray O'er rough and smooth she trips along, And never looks behind; And sings a solitary song That whistles in the wind. 1799. X. WE ARE SEVEN. A simple Child, That lightly draws its breath, I met a little cottage Girl: She was eight years old, she said; She had a rustic, woodland air, Her eyes were fair, and very fair; "How many? Seven in all," she said, "And where are they? I pray you tell." Two of us in the church-yard lie, My sister and my brother; And, in the church-yard cottage, I "You say that two at Conway dwell, Yet ye are seven !-I pray you tell, may Then did the little Maid reply, "Seven boys and girls are we Two of us in the church-yard lie, Beneath the churchyard tree.” "You run about, my little Maid, Your limbs they are alive; If two are in the church-yard laid, Then ye are only five." "Their graves are green, they may be seen” The little Maid replied, "Twelve steps or more from my mother's door, And they are side by side. My stockings there I often knit, I take my little porringer, The first that died was sister Jane: Till God released her of her pain; So in the church-yard she was laid ; Together round her grave we played, And when the ground was white with snow, My brother John was forced to go "How many are you, then," said I, Quick was the little Maid's reply. O Master! we are seven.' "But they are dead; those two are dead! Their spirits are in heaven!" 'Twas throwing words away for still The little Maid would have her will, And said, "Nay, we are seven!" 1798. * XI. THE IDLE SHEPHERD-BOYS; OR, DUNGEON-GHYLL FORCE.* THE.Valley rings with mirth and joy; dart On pipes of sycamore they play 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. Force is the word universally employed in these dialects for waterfall. |