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To have the young one in his sight, when he

Wrought in the field, or on his shepherd's

stool

Sate with a fettered sheep before him

stretched

Under the large old oak, that near his door Stood single, and, from matchless depth of shade

Chosen from the shearer's covert from the

sun,

Thence in our rustic dialect was called The Clipping Tree, a name which yet it bears.

There, while they two were sitting in the shade,

170 With others round them, earnest all and blithe,

Would Michael exercise his heart with looks

Of fond correction and reproof bestowed Upon the child, if he disturbed the sheep By catching at their legs, or with his shouts

Scared them, while they lay still beneath the shears.

And when by Heaven's good grace the boy grew up

A healthy lad, and carried in his cheek Two steady roses that were five years old; Then Michael from a winter coppice cut With his own hand a sapling, which he hooped 181

With iron, making it throughout in all Due requisites a perfect shepherd's staff, And gave it to the boy; wherewith equipped

He as a watchman oftentimes was placed At gate or gap, to stem or turn the flock; And, to his office prematurely called, There stood the urchin, as you will divine, Something between a hindrance and a help;

189

And for this cause not always, I believe, Receiving from his father hire of praise; Though nought was left undone which staff, or voice,

Or looks, or threatening gestures, could perform.

But soon as Luke, full ten years old, could stand

Against the mountain blasts, and to the heights,

Not fearing toil, nor length of weary ways, He with his father daily went, and they Were as companions, why should I relate That objects which the shepherd loved before

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There are ten thousand to whom loss like this

239 Had been no sorrow. I forgive him;—but 'Twere better to be dumb than to talk thus. When I began, my purpose was to speak Of remedies and of a cheerful hope. Our Luke shall leave us, Isabel; the land Shall not go from us, and it shall be free; He shall possess it, free as is the wind That passes over it. We have, thou know'st,

Another kinsman-he will be our friend In this distress. He is a prosperous man, Thriving in trade-and Luke to him shall go,

250 And with his kinsman's help and his own thrift

He quickly will repair this loss, and then He may return to us. If here he stay, What can be done? Where everyone is

poor, What can be gained?"

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Hadst been brought up upon thy father's knees. But we were playmates, Luke; among these hills,

As well thou knowest, in us the old and young

Have played together, nor with me didst thou

Lack any pleasure which a boy can know." Luke had a manly heart; but at these words

He sobbed aloud. The old man grasped his hand,

And said, "Nay, do not take it so I see That these are things of which I need not speak. 360

Even to the utmost I have been to thee
A kind and a good father; and herein
I but repay a gift which I myself
Received at others' hands; for, though
now old

Beyond the common life of man, I still Remember them who loved me in my youth.

Both of them sleep together: here they lived,

As all their forefathers had done; and when

At length their time was come, they were not loth

To give their bodies to the family mould. I wished that thou shouldst live the life they lived:

371

But 'tis a long time to look back, my

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Then, pointing to the stones near which they stood,

Thus, after a short silence, he resumed: "This was a work for us; and now, my

son,

It is a work for me. But, lay one stoneHere, lay it for me, Luke, with thine own hands.

Nay, boy, be of good hope;-we both may live

To see a better day. At eighty-four

I still am strong and hale;-do thou thy part; 390

I will do mine. I will begin again With many tasks that were resigned to thee:

Up to the heights, and in among the storms,

Will I without thee go again, and do

All works which I was wont to do alone, Before I knew thy face. Heaven bless thee, boy!

Thy heart these two weeks has been beating fast

With many hopes; it should be so-yesyes

I know that thou couldst never have a wish

To leave me, Luke: thou hast been bound to me 400 Only by links of love: when thou art gone, What will be left to us!-But I forget My purposes. Lay now the cornerstone, As I requested; and hereafter, Luke, When thou art gone away, should evil

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Who, being innocent, did for that cause Bestir them in good deeds. Now fare thee well

When thou return'st, thou in this place wilt see

A work which is not here: a covenant 'Twill be between us; but, whatever fate Befall thee, I shall love thee to the last, And bear thy memory with me to the grave."

The shepherd ended here; and Luke stooped down,

And, as his father had requested, laid The first stone of the sheepfold. At the sight 420

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Performed all kinds of labor for his sheep,

And for the land, his small inheritance. And to that hollow dell from time to time Did he repair, to build the fold of which His flock had need. 'Tis not forgotten yet 462

The pity which was then in every heart For the old man—and 'tis believed by all That many and many a day he thither went,

And never lifted up a single stone.

There, by the sheep fold, sometimes was he seen

Sitting alone, or with his faithful dog,
Then old beside him lying at his feet.
The length of full seven years, from time
to time,

470

He at the building of this sheepfold wrought,

And left the work unfinished when he died. Three years, or little more, did Isabel Survive her husband: at her death the estate

Was sold, and went into a stranger's hand. The cottage which was named The Evening Star

Is gone the ploughshare has been through the ground

On which it stood; great changes have been wrought

In all the neighborhood:-yet the oak is left

That grew beside their door; and the remains

480 Of the unfinished sheepfold may be seen Beside the boisterous brook of Greenhead Ghyll.

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