The Emigrant Mechanic and Other Tales In Verse | Page 9

but just thou should'st some mercy show,?To that poor boy, who did no better know.
My Muse, most willingly, would quit these themes--?Which are not seemly in a poet's dreams.?More pleasing topics now demand my pen,?Though often sung by many wiser men.?The subject of my verse had early felt?That sensibility within him dwelt.?So constituted was he, that at school,?When he should have been conning grammar's rule--?In deep arithmetic--or other task--?His eye would wander to a distant desk,?Which, having reached, itself it stationed there,?Fixed on some beauty-bud of promise rare!?'Twill not seem strange, then, if in after years?This thing called Sensibility appears.?Strange, or not strange, our hero's heart was warm,?Which made him seek the other sex's charm;?And when his mind was brought to fix on one?Who, in his eyes, all others far outshone--?He loved to ramble, on a moonlight night,?With that dear girl--so charming in his sight--?And listen to the murmuring of Kent's stream,?Whose face reflected full each pale moonbeam;?Or wander by the side of some lone wood,?In sweet discourse, which both considered good.?Or else they clomb, delighted, up that hill,?Upon whose top the Castle's ruins still?Invite the mind, in pensiveness, to know?The end of all things in this world below.?Yes, these have stood within that gloomy place,?Which now exhibits many a striking trace?Of the rude ravages of Man and Time,?As seen upon that edifice sublime.?And, as he stood upon that green hill's brow,?Has felt inclined abiding love to vow?To her, who fondly on his arm was leaning?With upturned eyes, which well bespoke their meaning.?That place is sacred to such lovers' vows--?As could be witnessed by each tree that grows?Around those ruins; which have also seen?Some sad, strange sights within their day, I ween!?Sometimes they chose to see a mutual friend,?And in sweet singing would the evening spend.?At other times through beauteous Gillingrove,?[Footnote: A well-known lovers' retreat.]?They, arm in arm, and rapt in love, would rove.?This walk they mostly took on Sunday nights,?As most in keeping with that day's delights.?For both had long quite strict attendants been?At a small Chapel, thought to be too mean?To be oft visited by wealthy men;?Though some would wander to it now and then.?As yet nor WILLIAM, nor his girl, professed?To be by saving Gospel Truth most bless'd;?Yet both went there three times each Sabbath day,?To join in singing, if they did not pray.?And 'tis but right that Christian parents should?To church take children, for the children's good.?To lead them to regard the Lord's own day--?Nor spend its hours in idleness or play.?These two young people might be quite sincere,?For all their friends could ever see or hear;?But though their love was warm, and pure as day,?Time spent in this wise runs to waste away.?Of leisure he had never much to boast,?For every work-day found him at his post;?From six at morn till eight o'clock at night,?He faithful wrought, as in his Master's sight.?Yet oft he wished--that wish was strongest then--?Improvement in his learning to obtain;?But, such love frolics made that wish in vain.?This grieved him much when, afterwards, desire?He felt to nurture true poetic fire;?And did regret that youthful follies cost?So much in precious time forever lost.?This folly seen, he strove with eager haste?To let his leisure run no more to waste,?And rose each morn at four or five o'clock,?To walk abroad, and gain of health a stock;?Or listen to the lark's sweet morning lay,?As he rose up to greet the King of Day;?Or let the lively, thrilling blackbird's song,?Charm his fond ear as he walked slow along.?Sometimes through well-fenced fields of new-mown hay--?Breathing out fragrance--he was wont to stray;?Or climb a bill with firm, elastic tread,?While Sol his early beams in radiance shed.?The Castle hill he mostly did prefer,?As quite accordant with his character.?Upon its ruins he would musing sit,?Till he was seized with a strong rhyming fit;?Then frame his welling thoughts to some rude verse--?Which friends were anxious he should oft rehearse.?If thus his leisure was not always spent,?He read what books his friends had to him lent.?Of such good things he owned but very few--?And parents needed all the cash he drew.?Thus was his time most constantly employed,?While life passed smoothly on--not unenjoyed.
BOOK III.
THE ARGUMENT.--Holidays: the Schoolboy's anticipations in regard to them. Improper use made of such times by some Apprentices. Evil consequences of their conduct. An appeal to them on the subject. The sad tale of young DAYCOURT. Address to Liquor: its evils. WILLIAM'S holiday rambles. Father's birth-place. Tragic scene there. Farleton Knot. Glance back to Grandfather, etc. Joins Temperance movement. Visit of a man from Canada. His account of the country. Its consequences. WILLIAM'S taste in books. Rural rambles on business. Reflections on cruelty to animals. Retrospective glance. Conclusion.
Hail, Holidays! To you, with great delight,?The schoolboy looks--exulting with his might?At the fair prospect of enjoying play,?Or visiting relations far away.?Ere your