These things just served to stir the torpid sense, Nor pain nor pity in my bosom raised.

Memory, though slow, returned with strength; and

thence

Dismissed, again on open day I gazed,

At houses, men, and common light, amazed. The lanes I sought, and as the sun retired, Came, where beneath the trees a faggot blazed ; ; The wild brood saw me weep, my fate enquired, And gave me food, and rest, more welcome, more desired.

My heart is touched to think that men like these,
The rude earth's tenants, were my first relief:
How kindly did they paint their vagrant ease!
And their long holiday that feared not grief,
For all belonged to all, and each was chief.
No plough their sinews strained; on grating road
No wain they drove, and yet, the yellow sheaf
In every vale for their delight was stowed:

For them, in nature's meads, the milky udder flowed.

F

Semblance, with straw and panniered ass, they

made

Of potters wandering on from door to door:
But life of happier sort to me pourtrayed,
And other joys my fancy to allure;

The bag-pipe dinning on the midnight moor
In barn uplighted, and companions boon
Well met from far with revelry secure,

In depth of forest glade, when jocund June
Rolled fast along the sky his warm and genial

moon.

But ill it suited me, in journey dark

O'er moor and mountain, midnight theft to hatch; To charm the surly house-dog's faithful bark,

Or hang on tiptoe at the lifted latch;

The gloomy lantern, and the dim blue match,
The black disguise, the warning whistle shrill,
And ear still busy on its nightly watch,

Were not for me, brought up in nothing ill;

Besides, on griefs so fresh my thoughts were brooding still.

What could I do, unaided and unblest?

Poor Father! gone was every friend of thine :
And kindred of dead husband are at best

Small help, and, after marriage such as mine,

With little kindness would to me incline.

Ill was I then for toil or service fit:

With tears whose course no effort could confine, By high-way side forgetful would I sit

Whole hours, my idle arms in moping sorrow knit.

I lived upon the mercy of the fields,
And oft of cruelty the sky accused ;

On hazard, or what general bounty yields,
Now coldly given, now utterly refused.

The fields I for my bed have often used:
But, what afflicts my peace with keenest ruth
Is, that I have my inner self abused,

Foregone the home delight of constant truth,

And clear and open soul, so prized in fearless youth.

Three years a wanderer, often have I view'd,
In tears, the sun towards that country tend
Where my poor heart lost all its fortitude:
And now across this moor my steps I bend-
Oh! tell me whither for no earthly friend
Have I.She ceased, and weeping turned away,
As if because her tale was at an end

She wept ;-because she had no more to say

Of that perpetual weight which on her spirit lay.

GOODY BLAKE,

AND

HARRY

GILL,

A TRUE STORY.

OH! what's the matter? what's the matter?
What is't that ails young Harry Gill?

That evermore his teeth they chatter,
Chatter, chatter, chatter still.

Of waistcoats Harry has no lack,
Good duffle grey, and flannel fine;
He has a blanket on his back,

And coats enough to smother nine.