IV. CHARACTERISTICS Of a Child three Years old. LOVING she is, and tractable, though wild; To dignify arch looks and laughing eyes; Not less if unattended and alone Than when both young and old sit gathered round And take delight in its activity, Even so this happy Creature of herself Is all sufficient: solitude to her Is blithe society, who fills the air With gladness and involuntary songs. Light are her sallies as the tripping Fawn's Forth-startled from the fern where she lay couched; Unthought-of, unexpected as the stir Of the soft breeze ruffling the meadow flowers; Or from before it chasing wantonly During a boisterous Winter Evening. WHAT way does the Wind come? What way does he go? He rides over the water, and over the snow, Through wood, and through vale; and o'er rocky height As, if you look up, you plainly may see; There's never a Scholar in England knows. He will suddenly stop in a cunning nook, doelgrobuf And rings a sharp larum ;—but if you should look There's nothing to see but a cushion of snow Round as a pillow, and whiter than milk, And softer than if it were covered with silk. Sometimes he'll hide in the cave of a rock, Then whistle as shrill as the buzzard cock; -Yet seek him,—and what shall you find in the place? Nothing but silence and empty space, Save, in a corner, a heap of dry leaves, That he's left for a bed for beggars or thieves! As soon as 'tis daylight, to-morrow, with me Studded with apples, a beautiful show! Hark! over the roof he makes a pause, And growls as if he would fix his claws -But let him range round; he does as no harm Books have we to read,-hush! that half-stifled knell, Methinks 'tis the sound of the eight o'clock bell. -Come, now we'll to bed! and when we are there Here's a cozie warm House for Edward and me. VI. THE MOTHER'S RETURN. BY THE SAME. A MONTH, Sweet Little-ones, is passed O blessed tidings! thought of joy! Louder and louder did he shout I told of hills, and far-off towns, But he submits; what can he do? |