26 



^§nn^ '§nxiU. 



I wandered out one summer's morn, 

 Across a meadow newly ?liorn ; 

 Th' sun wor shining bright an' clear, 

 And fi-agrant scents rose up i'th' air, 

 And all wor still. 

 When as my steps wor idly roving, 

 I coom upon a sect soa loving 

 It fill'd my heart wi' tender feeling, 

 As daan I sank beside it Icnceling, 

 O'th' edge o'th' hill 



It wor a little sky larks nest, 

 And two young babby burds, undrest, 

 Wor gaping wi' thcr beaks soa wide, 

 Calling for mammy to provide, 



Thcr morning's meal. 

 And high aboon ther little hooam, 

 The saando' Daddy's warbling coom, 

 Ringing soa sweetly o' my car, 

 Like breathings thro' a purer sphere. 

 He sano; soa weel. 



Thcr mammy a lew yards away, 

 Wor hopping on a bit o' h ay, 

 Too feard to come, too bold to flee, 

 And watching me wi' troubled e'e, 



Shoo seem'd to say; — 

 "Dooant touch my bonny babs young 



man, 

 Ther daddy does the best he can 

 To cheer you with his sweetest song 

 And those '11 sing as weel ci-c long, 

 Soa let'em stay." 



Tha needn't think I'd do 'em harm. 

 Come shelter 'em and keep 'em warm. 

 For I've a little nest mysel. 

 And two young babs, I'm praad to tell 



'Ats precious too;— 

 And they've a manmiy watching tlicar 

 'At howds them little ens as dcai-. 

 And dearer still, if that can be, 

 Nor what thease young ens are to thee, 



Soa come,— nah di. 



A'a well,-tha'rt shy, tha hops away,- 

 Tha does'nt trust a word I say, 

 Tha thinks I'm here to rob and 



plunder, 

 And I confess I dnnnot wonder, 



But tha's noa need ; — 

 111 leave you to yoursel,-gooU bye,- 



For now I see your daddy's nigh, 

 He's dropt that strain soa sweet and 



strong, 

 He loves you better nor his song, 



He does indeed. 



I walk'd away and sooin my ear, 

 Caught up the saand o' warbling clear 

 Thinks I they're happy once agean, 

 I'm glad I didn't prove soa mean. 



To rob that nest; — 

 I shall fjoa. hooam wi' leeter heart, 

 To mend awr Johnny's little cart, 

 (He alius finds rae wark enough 

 '1 o piecen up his brocken stufif. 



For ivery neet.) 



And Sally, a' if you could see her. 

 When I sit daan to get my teah, 

 Slioo puts her dolly o' my knee, 

 And makes me sing it "Hush a bee" 

 I'th' rocking chair; — 

 1 hen begs some sugar for it too, 

 ■What it cant aight shoo tries to do, 

 And turning up her cunning e'e. 

 Shoo rubs th' doll maath an' says you see, 



It gets it share. 



Sometimes I'm rayther cross I fear, 

 And start a little trembling tear, 

 'At like a drop o' glittering dew. 

 Swimming within a wild flower blue. 

 Falls fro' ther e'e: 

 But as the sun in April showers, 

 Eevives the little drooping flowers, 

 A kind word brings ther sweet smile 



back, 

 I raylee think my brain ud crack, 



If they'd to dee. 



Then if I love my baims soa weel. 

 May not a sky larks bosom feel; 

 As mich consai-n, for th' little things. 

 At snooze i'th shelter which her wings 

 Soa weel affords ? 

 If fol'ii -(vod nobbut bear i' mind, 

 How mich is gained by being kind, 

 'J her's fewer breasts wi ' grief ud 



swell, 

 And fewer folk ud thoughtless mell 

 Even o' th ' burds. 



J. HARTLEY. 



