The Farmers Boy | Page 4

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THE MILK-MAID, ON THE FIRST OF MAY.

Hail, MAY! lovely MAY! how replenish'd my pails!
The young
Dawn overspreads the East streak'd with gold!
My glad heart beats
time to the laugh of the Vales,
And COLIN'S voice rings through the
woods from the fold.
The Wood to the Mountain submissively bends,
Whose blue misty
summits first glow with the sun!
See thence a gay train by the wild
rill descends
To join the glad sports:... hark! the tumult's begun.
Be cloudless, ye skies!... Be my Colin but there,
Not the
dew-spangled bents on the wide level Dale,
Nor Morning's first blush
can more lovely appear
Than his looks, since my wishes I could not
conceal.
Swift down the mad dance, while blest health prompts to move, We'll
count joys to come, and exchange Vows of truth;
And haply when
Age cools the transports of Love,
Decry, like good folks, the vain
pleasures of youth.
No, no; the remembrance shall ever be dear!
At no time LOVE with
INNOCENCE ceases to charm:
It is transport in Youth ... and it
smiles through the tear, When they feel, in their children, its first soft
alarm.
The Writer of this Preface doubts whether he has been successful in
adding the last Stanza to this beautiful and simply expressive song. But
he imagin'd that some thought of this kind was in the mind of the
Author: and he was willing to endeavour to express it. The Breast
which has felt Love, justly shrinks from the idea of its total extinction,
as from annihilation itself. And there is even an high social and moral
use in that order of Providence which exalts Sensations into tender and
benign Passions; those Passions into habitual Affections yet more
tender; and raises from those Affections Virtues the most permanent,
the most necessary and beneficent, and the most endearing: thus
expanding the sentiment into all the Charities of domestic and social
Life.

"I remember," says Mr. G. BLOOMFIELD, continuing his Narrative,
"a little piece which he called the Sailor's Return: [Footnote: It is much
to be wished that this may be discovered. L.] in which he tried to
describe the feelings of an honest Tar, who, after a long absence, saw
his dear native Village first rising into view. This too obtain'd a place in
the Poet's Corner."
"And as he was so young," his brother proceeds, "it shews some Genius
in him, and some Industry, to have acquir'd so much knowledge of the
use of words in so little time. Indeed at this time myself and my fellow
workmen in the Garret began to get instructions from him, though not
more than sixteen years old." [Footnote: What simple magnanimity and
benevolence in this Remark. L.]
"About this time there came a Man to lodge at our Lodgings that was
troubled with fits. ROBERT was so much hurt to see this poor creature
drawn into such frightful forms, and to hear his horrid screams, that I
was forced to leave the Lodging. We went to Blue Hart-court,
Bell-alley. In our new Garret we found a singular character, James Kay,
a native of Dundee. He was a middle-aged man, of a good
understanding, and yet a furious Calvinist. He had many Books, ... and
some which he did not value: such as the SEASONS, PARADISE
LOST, and some Novels. These Books he lent to ROBERT; who spent
all his leisure hours in reading the Seasons, which he was now capable
of reading. I never heard him give so much praise to any Book as to
that."
"I think it was in the year 1784 that the Question came to be decided
between the journeymen Shoemakers; whether those who had learn'd
without serving an Apprenticeship could follow the Trade."
[Footnote: That is as journeymen: for there was no question that they
could not as Masters_ on their _own account. That a person may work
as a journeyman without having served an apprenticeship, had already
been determined, T. 9. G. 3. Beach v. Turner. Burr. Mansf. 2449. A
person also who has not served an Apprenticeship may be a partner,
contributing money, or advice and attention to the accounts and general
concerns of the Trade, provided that he does not actually exercise the

Trade, and that the acting partner has served. Vide Reynolds_ v. _Chase,
M. 30. G. 2. Burr. Mansf. 2. 1 Burn. J.P. Apprent. § 12. L.]
"The Man by whom Robert and I were employ'd, Mr. Chamberlayne,
of Cheapside, took an active part against the lawful journeymen; and
even went so far as to pay off every man that worked for him that had
joined their Clubs. This so exasperated the men, that their acting
Committee soon looked for unlawful men (as they called them) among
Chamberlayne's workmen."
They found out little Robert_, and threatened to prosecute
_Chamlerlayne for employing him, and to