Then downward from the steep hill's edge | "What ails you, child?" She sobbed, They track the footmarks small; And through the broken hawthorn hedge, And by the long stone-wall; And then an open field they crossed: They followed from the snowy bank Yet some maintain that to this day She is a living child; That you may see sweet Lucy Gray Upon the lonesome wild. O'er rough and smooth she trips along, And never looks behind; And sings a solitary song That whistles in the wind. ALICE FELL; or, POVERTY. THE post-boy drove with fierce career, When suddenly I seemed to hear As if the wind blew many ways, I heard the sound-and more and more : At length I to the boy called out; The boy then smacked his whip, and fast Said I, alighting on the ground, "My cloak!" the word was last and first, "Look here!" I saw it in the wheel entangled, 'Twas twisted between nave and spoke, She sate like one past all relief; The chaise drove on; our journey's end Up to the tavern door we post ; WE ARE SEVEN. A SIMPLE child, That lightly draws its breath, And feels its life in every limb, 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 clustered round her head. My boy was by my side, so slim "Now tell me, had you rather be," In careless mood he looked at me, "Now, little Edward, say why so; green [sea, At this my boy hung down his head, His head he raised-there was in sight, Then did the boy his tongue unlock; O dearest, dearest boy! my heart RURAL ARCHITECTURE. THERE'S George Fisher, Charles Fleming, and Reginald Shore, Three rosy-cheeked school-boys, the high est not more Than the height of a counsellor's bag, To the top of Great How were once tempted to climb; Great How is a single and conspicuous hill, which rises towards the foot of Thirlmere, on No other sheep was near, the lamb was all alone, [stone; And by a slender cord was tethered to a With one knee on the grass did the little maiden kneel, [evening meal. While to that mountain lamb she gave its The lamb, while from her hand he thus his supper took, Seemed to feast with head and ears; and his tail with pleasure shook. the western side of the beautiful dale of Legberthwaite, along the high road between Keswick and Ambleside. Towards the lamb she looked; and from that shady place [her face: I unobserved could see the workings of If nature to her tongue could measured numbers bring, Thus, thought I, to her lamb that little maid might sing: "What ails thee, young one? what? Why pull so at thy cord? {and board? Is it not well with thee? well both for bed Thy plot of grass is soft, and green as grass can be; [aileth thee? Rest, little young one, rest; what is't that "What is it thou would'st seek? What is wanting to thy heart? Thy limbs, are they not strong? And beautiful thou art: This grass is tender grass; these flowers they have no peers; [thy ears! And that green corn all day is rustling in "If the sun be shining hot, do but stretch thy woollen chain, [canst gain; This beech is standing by, its covert thou For rain and mountain storms? the like thou need'st not fear it is and new. Thy limbs will shortly be twice as stout as they are now, [in the plough; Then I'll yoke thee to my cart like a pony My playmate thou shalt be; and when the wind is cold [be thy fold. Our hearth shall be thy bed, our house shall 'It will not, will not rest!-poor creature, can it be [ing so in thee? That 'tis thy mother's heart which is workThings that I know not of belike to thee are dear, [neither see nor hear. And dreams of things which thou canst Alas, the mountain tops that look so green and fair! " I've heard of fearful winds and darkness that come there; [and all play, The little brooks that seem all pastime When they are angry, roar like lions for their prey. "Here thou need'st not dread the raven in the sky; [is hard by. Night and day thou art safe,—our cottage Why bleat so after me? Why pull so at thy chain? [thee again!" Sleep-and at break of day I will come to As homeward through the lane I went with lazy feet, This song to myself did I oftentimes repeat; And it seemed, as I retraced the ballad line by line, [of it was mine. The rain and storm are things that scarcely That but half of it was hers, and one half can come here. "Rest, little young one, rest; thou hast forgot the day [far away, When my father found thee first in places Man; flocks were on the hills, but thou wert owned by none, And thy mother from thy side for evermore was gone. "He took thee in his arms, and in pity brought thee home. A blessed day for thee! then whither wouldst thou roam? A faithful nurse thou hast; the dam that did thee yean [have been. Upon the mountain tops no kinder could Again, and once again, did I repeat the song; (damsel must belong, Nay," said I, "more than half to the For she looked with such a look, and she spake with such a tone, [my own." That I almost received her heart into THE IDLE SHEPHERD-BOYS; OR, DUNGEON-GHYLL-FORCE.* A PASTORAL. THE valley rings with mirth and joy; * Ghyll, in the dialect of Cumberland and |