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8.

Who fancied what a pretty sight
This Rock would be if edged around
With living Snowdrops ? circlet bright!
How glorious to this Orchard ground!

Who loved the little Rock, and set
Upon its Head this Coronet?

Was it the humour of a Child?

Or rather of some love-sick Maid,

Whose brows, the day that she was styled
The Shepherd Queen were thus arrayed?
Of Man mature, or Matron sage?
Or old Man toying with his age?

I ask'd-'twas whisper'd, The device
To each or all might well belong.
It is the Spirit of Paradise

That prompts such work, a Spirit strong,
That gives to all the self-same bent

Where life is wise and innocent.

9.

THE SPARROW's NEST.

Look, five blue eggs are gleaming there!

Few visions have I seen more fair,

Nor many prospects of delight

More pleasing than that simple sight!

I started seeming to espy

The home and shelter'd bed,

The Sparrow's dwelling, which, hard by

My Father's House, in wet or dry,

My Sister Emmeline and I

Together visited.

She look'd at it as if she fear'd it;

Still wishing, dreading to be near it:
Such heart was in her, being then
A little Prattler among men.

The Blessing of my later years
Was with me when a Boy;

She gave me eyes, she gave me ears;
And humble cares, and delicate fears;
A heart, the fountain of sweet tears;
And love, and thought, and joy.

10.

GIPSIES.

Yet are they here ?-the same unbroken knot
Of human Beings, in the self-same spot!
Men, Women, Children, yea the frame
Of the whole Spectacle the same!

Only their fire seems bolder, yielding light :
Now deep and red, the colouring of night;
That on their Gipsy-faces falls,

Their bed of straw and blanket-walls.

-Twelve hours, twelve bounteous hours, are gone while I Have been a Traveller under open sky,

Much witnessing of change and chear,

Yet as I left I find them here!

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