"So in the churchyard she was laid;
And, when the grass was dry,
Together round her grave we played,
My brother John and I.

"And when the ground was white with snow, And I could run and slide,

My brother John was forced to go,

And he lies by her side."

"How many are you, then," said I,

If they two are in heaven?"

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!"

THE IDLE SHEPHERD-BOYS.

A PASTORAL.

THE valley rings with mirth and joy;
Among the hills the echoes play

A never, never ending song,

To welcome in the May.

The magpic chatters with delight;

through the glittering vapors dart
very wantonness of heart.

eneath a rock, upon the grass,
wo boys are sitting in the sun;
eir work, if any work they have,
out of mind, or done.

pipes of sycamore they play
e fragments of a Christmas hymn;
- with that plant which in our dale
e call stag-horn, or fox's tail,
eir rusty hats they trim:

nd thus, as happy as the day,
Lose Shepherds wear the time away.

ong the river's stony marge
e sand-lark chants a joyous song;
e thrush is busy in the wood,
d carols loud and strong.
thousand lambs are on the rocks,
I newly born both earth and sky
ep jubilee, and more than all,

ose boys with their green coronal;
ey never hear the cry,

at plaintive cry! which up the hill

mes from the depth of Dungeon-Ghyll.

Said Walter, leaping from the ground, "Down to the stump of yon old yew

We'll for our whistles run a race."

-Away the shepherds flew;

They leapt, they ran,—and when they came
Right opposite to Dungeon-Ghyll,

Seeing that he should lose the prize,
"Stop!" to his comrade Walter cries.
James stopped with no good will:
Said Walter then, exulting, "Here
You'll find a task for half a year.

"Cross, if you dare, where I shall cross,-
and tread where I shall tread."

Come on,

The other took him at his word,

And followed as he led.

It was a spot which you may see

If ever you to Langdale go;

Into the 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.

With staff in hand across the cleft

The challenger pursued his march;

And now, all eyes and feet, hath gained

The middle of the arch.

When list! he hears a piteous moan

mb, that in the pool is pent
in that black and frightful rent.

lamb had slipped into the stream, safe without a bruise or wound

cataract had borne him down
the gulf profound.

dam had seen him when he fell,
saw him down the torrent borne;
, while with all a mother's love
from the lofty rocks above
forth a cry forlorn,

lamb, still swimming round and round, e answer in that plaintive sound.

en he had learnt what thing it was
sent this rueful cry, I ween
boy recovered heart, and told
sight which he had seen.

a gladly now deferred their task;
was there wanting other aid:
oet, one who loves the brooks
better than the sages' books,
chance had hither strayed;

And there the helpless lamb he found
By those huge rocks encompassed round.

He drew it from the troubled pool,

And brought it forth into the light:

The Shepherds met him with his charge,
An unexpected sight!

Into their arms the lamb they took,

Whose life and limbs the flood had spared;

Then up the steep ascent they hied,

And placed him at his mother's side;

And gently did the Bard

Those idle shepherd-boys upbraid,

And bade them better mind their trade.

THE PET LAMB.

A PASTORAL.

THE dew was falling fast, the stars began to blink;

I heard a voice; it said, "Drink, pretty creature, drink!" And, looking o'er the hedge, before me I espied

A suow-white mountain-lamb with a Maiden at its side.

Nor sheep nor kine were near; the lamb was all alone,
And by a slender cord was tethered to a stone;
With one knee on the grass did the little Maiden kneel,
While to that mountain-lamb she gave its evening meal.