"My little boy, which like you more," "And tell me, had you rather be," I said and held him by the arm, "At Kilve's smooth shore by the green sea, "Or here at Liswyn farm? In careless mood he looked at me, "Now, little Edward, say why so; "For, here are woods and green-hills warm; "There surely must some reason be Why you would change sweet Liswyn farm "For Kilve by the green sea." At this, my boy, so fair and slim, His head he raised—there was in sight, Then did the boy his tongue unlock, "At Kilve there was no weather-cock, Oh dearest, dearest boy! my heart For better lore would seldom yearn, Could I but teach the hundredth part Of what from thee I learn. WE ARE SEVEN. A simple child, dear brother Jim, What should it know of death? I met a little cottage girl, She was eight years old, she said; Her hair was thick with many a curl That cluster'd round her head. She had a rustic, woodland air, And she was wildly clad; Her eyes were fair, and very fair, —Her beauty made me glad. "Sisters and brothers, little maid, "How many may you be?" "How many? seven in all," she said, And wondering looked at me. "And where are they, I pray you tell?" She answered, "Seven are we, "And two of us at Conway dwell, "And two are gone to sea. "Two of us in the church-yard lie, "My sister and my brother, "And in the church-yard cottage, I "Dwell near them with my mother." "You say that two at Conway dwell, "And two are gone to sea, "Yet you are seven ; I pray you tell "Sweet Maid, how this may be ?" |