CHAPTER LXXIX. A RURAL SKETCH. 1. By the way-side, on a mossy stone, Oft I marked him sitting there alone, By the way-side, on a mossy stone. 2. Buckled knee and shoe, and broad-rimmed hat, Coat as ancient as the form 't was "folding, Silver buttons, queue, and crimped cravat, Oaken staff his feeble hand upholding, There he sat ; Buckled knee and shoe, and broad-rimmed hat. 3. Seemed it pitiful he should sit there, No one sympathizing, no one heeding ; Seemed it pitiful he should sit there. 4. It was summer, and we went to school, Dapper country lads and little maidens, 5. Still, in sooth, our tasks we seldom tried; Still, in sooth, our tasks we seldom tried. 6. When the stranger seemed to mark our play, (Some of us were joyous, some sad-hearted,) I remember well-too well-that day! Oftentimes the tears unbidden started Would not stay, When the stranger seemed to mark our play. 7. When we cautiously adventured nigh, We could see his lip with anguish quiver; Seemed in mournful converse with the river When we cautiously adventured nigh. 8. One sweet spirit broke the silent spell- Isabel! One sweet spirit broke the silent spell. 9. Softly asked she, with a voice divine, Why so lonely hast thou wandered hither? Hast no mother?. - There's our cottage, let me lead thee thither; Why repine? Softly asked she with a voice divine. 10. Angel, said he sadly, I am old; Earthly hope no longer hath a morrow; Angel, said he sadly, I am old. 11. I have tottered here to look once more In the careless, happy days of yore, I have tottered here to look once more. 12. All the picture now to me how dear! E'en this gray old rock, where I am seated, All the picture now to me how dear! 13. Old stone school-house! -it is still the same; There's the very step so oft I mounted ; Old stone school-house! - it is still the same. 14. In the cottage, yonder, I was born; Long my happy home-that humble dwelling; In the cottage, yonder, I was born. - 15. Those two gate-way sycamores you see, Those two gate-way sycamores you see. 16. There's the orchard where we used to climb There's the orchard where we used to climb. 17. There, the rude three-cornered chestnut rails, Round the pasture where the flocks were grazing, Where so sly I used to watch for quails, In the crops of buckwheat we were raising Traps and trails! There the rude three-cornered chestnut rails. 18. How in summer have I traced that stream, There through mead and woodland sweetly gliding, From some nook where I have found them hiding; How in summer have I traced that stream 19. There's the mill that ground our yellow grain; Cot, there nestling in the shaded lane, There's the mill that ground our yellow grain! 20. There's the gate on which I used to swing; Brook and bridge, and barn, and old red stable; There's the gate on which I used to swing. 21. I am fleeing! - all I loved are fled; Yon green meadow was our place for playing: I am fleeing! - all I loved are fled. 22. Yon white spire, a pencil on the sky, Tracing silently life's changeful story, So familiar to my dim old eye, Points me to seven that are now in glory Yon white spire, a pencil on the sky. 23. Oft the aisle of that old church we trod, Oft the aisle of that old church we trod. 24. There I heard of wisdom's pleasant ways, There I heard of wisdom's pleasant ways. 25. There my Mary blessed me with her hand, When our souls drank in the nuptial blessing, Ere she hastened to the spirit-land; Yonder turf her gentle bosom pressing; There my Mary blessed me with her hand. 26. I have come to see that grave once more, And the sacred place where we delighted,- I have come to see that grave once more. 27. Haply, ere the verdure there shall fade, I, all withering with years, shall perish; 28. Angel, said he sadly, I am old! Earthly hope no longer hath a morrow : Angel, said he sadly, I am old. 29. By the way-side, on a mossy stone, Sat the hoary pilgrim, sadly musing; Still I marked him sitting there alone, All the landscape, like a page, perusing; By the way-side, on a mossy stone. |