But yet his horse was not a whit For why? his owner had a house So like an arrow swift he flew Away went Gilpin, out of breath, The Callender, amazed to see His neighbour in such trim, Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate, And thus accosted him— What news? what news? your tidings tell, Tell me you must and shall— Say, why bareheaded you are come, Or why you come at all? Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, And loved a timely joke, And thus unto the Callender In merry guise he spoke I came because your horse would come; My hat and wig will soon be here, The Callender, right glad to find But to the house went in. Whence straight he came with hat and wig, A wig that flow'd behind, A hat not much the worse for wear, Each comely in its kind. He held them up, and in his turn But let me scrape the dirt away, Said John-It is my wedding-day, So, turning to his horse, he said, 'Twas for your pleasure you came here, You shall go back for mine. Ah, luckless speech, and bootless boast! Whereat his horse did snort as he And gallop'd off with all his might, Away went Gilpin, and away Now Mistress Gilpin, when she saw Her husband posting down Into the country far away, She pull'd out half-a-crown ; And thus unto the youth she said, This shall be yours, when you bring back The youth did ride, and soon did meet But not performing what he meant, Away went Gilpin, and away The postboy's horse right glad to miss Six gentlemen upon the road With postboy scampering in the rear, Stop thief!-stop thief!—a highwayman! And now the turnpike gates again The toll-men thinking as before That Gilpin rode a race. And so he did and won it too, For he got first to town, Nor stopp'd till where he had got up -Now let us sing, Long live the king, And when he next doth ride abroad, W. COWPER. Hohenlinden ON Linden, when the sun was low, But Linden saw another sight, By torch and trumpet fast array'd To join the dreadful revelry. Then shook the hills with thunder riven; But redder yet that light shall glow 'Tis morn, but scarce yon level sun Shout in their sulph'rous canopy. The combat deepens. On, ye brave Few, few, shall part, where many meet! Shall be a soldier's sepulchre. T. CAMPBELL. The Village Blacksmith UNDER a spreading chestnut tree His hair is crisp, and black, and long, His brow is wet with honest sweat, He earns whate'er he can, And looks the whole world in the face, Week in, week out, from morn till night, You can hear him swing his heavy sledge, And children coming home from school And catch the burning sparks that fly He goes on Sunday to the church, He hears the parson pray and preach, Singing in the village choir, And it makes his heart rejoice. It sounds to him like her mother's voice, He needs must think of her once more, And with his hard, rough hand he wipes |