"Now let me speak no more--yet all declared "That one so young, in pity, should be spared, "And one so manly ;—on his graceful neck, "That chains of jewels might be proud to deck, "To a small mole a mother's lips have press'd,"And there the cord-my breath is sore oppress'd. "I now can speak again :—my elder boy "Was that year drown'd, -a seaman in a hoy: "He left a numerous race; of these would some "In their young troubles to my cottage come, "And these I taught—an humble teacher I— "Upon their heavenly Parent to rely. 66 "Alas! I needed such reliance more: My idiot-girl, so simply gay before, "Now wept in pain; some wretch had found a time, "Depraved and wicked, for that coward-crime; "I had indeed my doubt, but I suppress'd "The thought that day and night disturb'd my rest; "She and that sick-pale brother—but why strive "To keep the terrors of that time alive? "The hour arrived, the new, th' undreaded pain, "That came with violence, and yet came in vain. “I saw her die: her brother too is dead; "Nor own'd such crime-what is it that I dread? "The parish aid withdrawn, I look'd around, "And in my school a bless'd subsistence found 66 'My winter-calm of life: to be of use "Would pleasant thoughts and heavenly hopes pro duce ;! "I loved them all; it soothed me to presage “The various trials of their riper age, "Then dwell on mine, and bless the Power who gave "Pains to correct us, and remorse to save. "Yes! these were days of peace, but they are past, “A trial came, I will believe, a last ; "I lost my sight, and my employment gone, "Useless I live, but to the day live on; "Those eyes, which long the light of heaven enjoy'd, "Were not by pain, by agony destroy'd: 66 My senses fail not all; I speak, I pray; "By night my rest, my food I take by day; And, as my mind looks cheerful to my end, "I love mankind, and call my GOD my friend." E 66 "Alas! I needed such My idiot-girl, so simply "Now wept in pain; so "Depraved and wicked "I had indeed my dou "The thought that d "She and that sick"To keep the terro "The hour arri "That came wit1 "I saw her die Nor own'd st he pari ould p id when the parent check'd his impious rage, Now he had cursed the tyranny of age,"ay, once had dealt the sacrilegious blow On his bare head, and laid his parent low; The father groan'd- "If thou art old," said he, · And hast a son-thou wilt remember me." On an inn-settle, in his maudlin grief, This he revolved, and drank for his relief. Now lived the youth in freedom, but debarr'd From constant pleasure, and he thought it hard; Hard that he could not every wish obey, But must awhile relinquish ale and play; Hard! that he could not to his cards attend, But must acquire the money he would spend. With greedy eye he look'd on all he saw, He knew not justice, and he laugh'd at law; On all he mark'd, he stretch'd his ready hand; He fish'd by water and he filch'd by land: Oft in the night has Peter dropp'd his oar, Fled from his boat, and sought for prey on shore; Oft up the hedgerow glided, on his back Bearing the orchard's produce in a sack, Or farm-yard load, tugg'd fiercely from the stack; And as these wrongs to greater numbers rose, The more he look'd on all men as his foes. He built a mud-wall'd hovel, where he kept His various wealth, and there he oft-times slept ; But no success could please his cruel soul, He wish'd for one to trouble and control. PETER GRIMES OLD Peter Grimes made fishing his employ, And took young Peter in his hand to pray : At first refused, then added his abuse : His father's love he scorn'd, his power defied, Yes! then he wept, and to his mind there came Much of his conduct, and he felt the shame,- "This is the life itself," the boy replied; |