Wat Tyler's Address to the King.. William Tell Among the Mountains.. ..LEIGH HUNT........ 17 WILLIAM BLAKE. 17 Webster's Progressive Speaker. THE IDIOT BOY. ANON. It had pleased God to form poor Ned Old Sarah loved her helpless child, She knew his wants--she understood And so for many a year they lived, But age at length on Sarah came, He tried in vain to waken her, They told him she was dead-the words To him no import bore. They closed her eyes and shrouded her, And when they bore her to the grave They laid her in the narrow house, And when the mournful train dispersed The rabble boys that used to jeer Now stood and watched him at the grave, They came, and went, and came again, And when he found himself alone Straight went he to his mother's cot, And laid it on the floor, And with the eagerness of joy He barred the cottage door. At once he placed his mother's corpse Upright within her chair, And then he heaped the hearth and blew The kindling fire with care. She now was in her wonted chair; It was her wonted place; And bright the fire blazed and flashed, Reflected from her face. Then bending down, he'd feel her hands, Anon her face behold; Why, mother, do you look so pale, And why are you so cold? And when the neighbors, on next morn, Old Sarah's corpse was in the chair It had pleased God from this poor boy Yet God was not unkind to him, THE OLD MAN DREAMS. O. W. HOLMES. O, for one hour of youthful joy! Off with the wrinkled spoils of age! One moment let my life-blood stream My listening angel heard the prayer, "But is there nothing in thy track To bid thee fondly stay, While the swift seasons hurry back To find the wished for day?" |