A simple child, dear brother Jim,
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.
She had a rustic, woodland air,
And she was wildly clad ;
Her eyes were fair, and very fair ;
-Her beauty made me glad.
• 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 answered, “ Seven are we; And two of us at Conway dwell,
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,
Yet you are seven; I pray you tell,
Sweet Maid, how this may be ?"
Then did the little Maid reply,
“ Seven boys and girls are we;
Two of us in the church-yard lie,
Beneath the church-yard tree."
“ You run about, my little Maid,
Your limbs they are alive ;
If two are in the church-yard laid,
Then ye are only five.”
“ Their graves are green, they may be seen," The little Maid replied, “Twelve steps or more from mother's door, And they are side by side.
My stockings there I often knit,
My kerchief there I hem;
And there upon the ground I sit-
I sit and sing to them.
And often after sun-set, Sir,
When it is light and fair,
I take my little porringer,
And'eat my supper there.
The first that died was little Jane;
In bed she moaning lay,
Till God released her of her pain ;
And then she went away.
So in the church-yard she was laid ;
And all the summer dry,
Together round her grave we played,
My brother John and I.
And when the ground was white with snow,
And I could run and slide,
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, “ O Master! we are seven."
“ But they are dead: those two are dead ! Their spirits are in Heaven !" 'Twas throwing words away: for still The little Maid would have her will, And said, “ Nay, we are seven !"
|