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"You run about, my little Maid, Your limbs they are alive;

If two are in the church-yard laid,

Then ye are only five."

"Their graves are green, they may be seen," The little Maid replied,

"Twelve steps or more from my mother's door,

And they are side by side.

My stockings there I often knit,

My kerchief there I hem;

And there upon the ground I sit

I sit and sing to them.

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The first that died was little Jane;

In bed she moaning lay,

Till God released her of her pain;

And then she went away.

So in the church-yard she was laid;
And when the grass was dry,

Together round her grave we played,

My brother John and I.

And when the ground was white with snow,

And I could run and slide,

My brother John was forced to go,

And he lies by her side."

"How many are you then," said I,

"If they two are in Heaven?"

The little Maiden did reply,

"O Master! we are seven."

"But they are dead; those two are dead!

Their spirits are in Heaven!"

'Twas throwing words away: for still

The little Maid would have her will,

And said, "Nay, we are seven !"

IX.

ANECDOTE FOR FATHERS,

SHOWING HOW THE PRACTICE OF LYING MAY BE TAUGHT.

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His face is fair and fresh to see;

His limbs are cast in beauty's mould,

And dearly he loves me.

One morn we strolled on our dry walk,
Our quiet home all full in view,

And held such intermitted talk
As we are wont to do.

My thoughts on former pleasures ran;
I thought of Kilve's delightful shore,
Our pleasant home when Spring began,
A long, long year before.

A day it was when I could bear
Some fond regrets to entertain;
With so much happiness to spare,
I could not feel a pain.

The green earth echoed to the feet
Of lambs that bounded through the glade,
From shade to sunshine, and as fleet

From sunshine back to shade.

Birds warbled round me

every trace

Of inward sadness had its charm;

"Kilve," said I, 66 was a favoured place,

And so is Liswyn farm."

My boy was by my side, so slim

And graceful in his rustic dress!

And, as we talked, I questioned him,
In very idleness.

"Now tell me, had you rather be,"

I said, and took him by the arm,

"On Kilve's smooth shore, by the green sea, Or here at Liswyn farm ?"

In careless mood he look'd at me,
While still I held him by the arm,
And said, "At Kilve I'd rather be
Than here at Liswyn farm."

"Now, little Edward, say why so;
My little Edward, tell me why."-
"I cannot tell, I do not know.".
"Why, this is strange," said I.

"For, here are woods, and green-hills warm: There surely must some reason be

Why you would change sweet Liswyn farm For Kilve by the green sea."

At this, my Boy hung down his head,
He blush'd with shame, nor made reply;
And five times to the Child I said,
"Why, Edward, tell me why?"

His head he raised-there was in sight,
It caught his eye, he saw it plain-
Upon the house-top, glittering bright,
A broad and gilded Vane.

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