32 
ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
And the milkmaid singeth blithe, 
And the mower whets his scythe.” 
She it is, whose voice was lost in the silence of Gold¬ 
smith’s “Deserted Village,” wherein its prosperity, among 
many sweet sounds “ at evening’s close ” one might have 
heard, 
“ The swain responsive as the milkmaid sung.” 
She is one the birds at their matins missed after the 
cruel “ Sack of Baltimore.” 
“ Midsummer morn, in woodland nigh, the birds begin to sing; 
They see not now the milking maids, deserted is the Spring.” 
Lines like the following portray her image: 
“ I see the pool, more clear by half 
Than pools where other waters laugh 
Up at the breasts of coot and rail. 
There, as she passed it on her way, 
I saw reflected yesterday 
A maiden with a milk-pail. 
“ There, neither slowly nor in haste,— 
One hand upon her slender waist, 
The other lifted to^ her pail,— 
She, rosy in the morning light, 
Among the water-daisies white, 
Like some fair sloop appeared to sail.” 
“ Against her ankles as she trod 
The lucky buttercups did nod.” 
Or these: 
“ I met a maiden with shining locks, 
Where milky kine were lowing.” 
“ She wore a kerchief on her neck, 
Her bare arm showed its dimple, 
Tier apron spread without a speck, 
Her air was frank and simple.” 
“ She milked into a wooden pail 
And sang a country dity.” 
* * * * * * * 
“ And all the while she milked and milked 
The grave cow heavy laden, 
I’ve seen grand ladies plumed and silked, 
But not a Sweeter maiden.” 
But not a sweeter, fresher maid, 
Than this in homely cotton, 
