Little Bell 247 LITTLE BELL He prayeth well who loveth well THE ANCIENT MARINER PIPED the blackbird on the beechwood spray' "Pretty maid, slow wandering this way, What's your name?" quoth he— "What's your name? Oh stop and straight unfold, Pretty maid with showery curls of gold,"— "Little Bell," said she. Little Bell sat down beneath the rocks Tossed aside her gleaming golden locks— "Bonny bird," quoth she, "Sing me your best song before I go." "Here's the very finest song I know, Little Bell," said he. And the blackbird piped; you never heard Full of quips and wiles, Now so round and rich, now soft and slow. And the while the bonny bird did pour In the little childish heart below All the sweetness seemed to grow and grow, From the blue, bright eyes. Down the dell she tripped and through the glade, And from out the tree Swung, and leaped, and frolicked, void of fear,While bold blackbird piped that all might hear"Little Bell," piped he. Little Bell sat down amid the fern- Great ripe nuts, kissed brown by July sun, Little Bell looked up and down the glade— Down came squirrel eager for his fare- And the while these frolic playmates twain Piped and frisked from bough to bough again, 'Neath the morning skies, In the little childish heart below All the sweetness seemed to grow and grow, And shine out in happy overflow From her blue, bright eyes. By her snow-white cot at close of day, Knelt sweet Bell, with folded palms to pray— Very calm and clear Rose the praying voice to where, unseen, In blue heaven, an angel shape serene Paused awhile to hear "What good child is this," the angel said, "That, with happy heart, beside her bed Prays so lovingly?" Low and soft, oh! very low and soft, Crooned the blackbird in the orchard croft, "Bell, dear Bell!" crooned he. "Whom God's creatures love," the angel fair Murmured, "God doth bless with angels' care; The Barefoot Boy Child, thy bed shall be Folded safe from harm-Love deep and kind Little Bell, for thee!" 249 Thomas Westwood [1814?-1888] THE BAREFOOT BOY BLESSINGS on thee, little man, Through thy torn brim's jaunty grace; From my heart I give thee joy, I was once a barefoot boy! Prince thou art, the grown-up man Only is republican. Let the million-dollared ride! Oh for boyhood's painless play, Where the whitest lilies blow, For, eschewing books and tasks, Oh for boyhood's time of June, Whispering at the garden wall, Talked with me from fall to fall; Mine the sand-rimmed pickerel pond Mine the walnut slopes beyond, Mine, on bending orchard trees, Apples of Hesperides! Still as my horizon grew, Larger grew my riches too; Oh for festal dainties spread, The Heritage Pewter spoon and bowl of wood, Cheerily, then, my little man, Shall the cool wind kiss the heat: Quick and treacherous sands of sin. Ah! that thou couldst know thy joy, Ere it passes, barefoot boy! 251 John Greenleaf Whittier [1807-1892] THE HERITAGE THE rich man's son inherits lands, And piles of brick and stone, and gold, And he inherits soft white hands, |