106 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE ms 



of verses written by a poor dear Oxford friend long since 

 dead, who was pleased, about 35 years ago, to make himself 

 merry with my attachment to gardening.* 



A HARVEST SCENE: 



AFTER THE MANNER OF THOMSON. 



Wak'd by the gentle gleamiiigs of the morn, 

 Soon clad, the Reaper, provident of want, 

 Hies chearful-hearted to the ripen'd field ; 

 Nor hastes alone ; attendant by his side 

 His faithful wife, sole partner of his cares, 

 Bears on her breast the sleeping babe ; behind, 

 With steps unequal, trips the infant train. 

 Thrice happy pair, in love and labour joined ! 



All day they ply their task ; with mutual chat. 

 Beguiling each the sultry, tedious hours : 

 Around them falls in rows the sever'd corn. 

 Or the shocks rise in regular array. 



But when high noon invites to short repast. 

 Beneath the shade of shelt'ring thorn they sit. 

 Divide the simple meal, and drain the cask : 

 The swinging cradle lulls the whimp'ring babe 

 Meantime ; while growling round, if at the tread 

 Of hasty passenger alarm'd, as of their store 

 Protective, stalks the cur with bristling back, 

 To guard the scanty scrip and russet garb. 



To Miss White. ^ , , , _^ ^ ^^. 



Seleburne, Aug. 27, 1783. 



Pray Mrs. Mary, did you observe the curious and re- 

 splendent meteor on Monday Aug. 18th a little after nine in 

 the evening, which alarmed the Country people much, who 

 all agree that it was a Fire-drake. Our shutters were shut 

 to the N.E. so that we saw nothing of the matter; but 

 Mrs. Clement and Co. who were at supper with their 

 windows open, ran out and had a fine view of this 

 Phsenomenon. Sam Barker was at that instant talking 

 with the Ostler at the Inn in Leatherhead, where he saw 

 it as well as could be expected in the crouded horizon of a 

 town. 



* Fide supra, vol. i. p. 50. 



