LEGENDARY. AMONG GREEN PLEASANT MEADOWS. AMONG green, pleasant meadows, All in a grove so wild, Was set a marble image Of the Virgin and the Child. Here oft, on summer evenings, That sanctified the grove Oft sat his mother by him, And told how the Lord Jesus "And now from highest heaven And sees whate'er thou doest, And hears what thou dost say!" Thus spoke his tender mother; Again the boy was playing; Come down and play with me! "I will find thee flowers the fairest, "O holy, holy mother! Put him down from off thy knee; For in these silent meadows There are none to play with me." Thus spoke the boy so lovely, That self-same night she dreamèd "And for the fruits and flowers Which thou hast brought to me, Rich blessing shall be given A thousand-fold to thee. "For in the fields of heaven Thou shalt roam with me at will ; And of bright fruit celestial Thou shalt have, dear child, thy fill !" Thus tenderly and kindly And thus it was accomplished: And thus he spoke, in dying : "And in his hand he beareth Bright flowers as white as snow, And red and juicy strawberries Dear mother, let me go ! ” ; THE FAIRIES OF THE CALDON-LOW. "AND where have you been, my Mary, “And what did you see, my Mary, And I saw the merry winds blow." "And what did you hear, my Mary, All up on the Caldon Hill?” "I heard the drops of water made, And I heard the corn-ears fill." "Oh tell me all, my Mary All, all that ever you know ; For you must have seen the fairies Last night on the Caldon-Low." "Then take me on your knee, mother, A hundred fairies danced last night, "And merry was the glee of the harp-strings, And their dancing feet so small; But oh the sound of their talking Was merrier far than all !" "And what were the words, my Mary, "And some they played with the water And this,' they said, 'shall speedily turn "For there has been no water Ever since the first of May; By the dawning of the day! |