WE ARE SEVEN.-Southey. A SIMPLE child, dear brother Sim, 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, "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 answer'd, "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, "And yet you are seven, I pray you tell, "Sweet maid how this may be." Then did the little maid reply, "You run about my little maid, "My stockings there I often knit, 66 My 'kerchief there I hem, "And there upon the ground I sit, "I sit and sing to them; "And often after supper, sir, "When it is light and fair, "I take my little porringer, "And eat my supper there. The first that died was little Jane, " 'Till GOD released her of her pain, "So in the church-yard she was laid, "And, all the summer day, -66 Together round her grave we play'd, 66 "And when the ground was white with snow, "And I could run and slide, 66 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 ?" The little maiden did reply, 66 'Oh, master, we are seven." "But they are dead, those two are dead, LOUISA. "O LEND your wings, ye fav'ring gales, "And gently wave the sea, "And swell my husband's spreading sails, "His toils and dangers all are past,` "And with him comes the faithful youth, May all the graces wait around, "And heighten all her charms! "He comes with wealth and glory crown'd, "To my Louisa's arms. Now fancy flies to distant days, "And views the lovely pair, "And hears the voice of general praise, "Their matchless worth declare. "How shall thy mother's heart expand, "With joys unknown before, “When thousands bless the bounteous hand "That gave thee wealth and power! Do I not see a distant sail "O'er yonder waves appear? ** Our ardent vows at length prevail, My heart proclaims them near. 66 "With us in every joy to share, "Our much-lov'd heroes come*Propitious Heaven, O hear our pray'r, "And guide them safely home!" "Propitious Heaven, O hear our pray'r,” Louisa trembling cried, For ah! the chill blast wav'd her hair, Near and more near the tempest drew, And now they dash against the shore, Ah! who can paint Louisa's fear, The shrieks of death assail her ear, At length, the raging tempest o'er, N |