talkin' to us. We never knowd nothink. I never knowd what it wos all about." It takes him a long time to say this; and few but an experienced and attentive listener could hear, or, hearing, understand him. After a short relapse into sleep or stupor, he makes, of a sudden, a strong effort to get out of bed. "Stay, Jo, stay! What now?" “It's time for me to go to that there berryin-ground, sir,” he returns with a wild look. "Lie down, and tell me. What burying-ground, Jo?” "Where they laid him as wos wery good to me: wery good to me indeed, he wos. It's time fur me to go down to that there berryinground, sir, and ask to be put along with him. I wants to go there and be berried. He used fur to say to me, 'I am as poor as you to-day, Jo,' he ses. I wants to tell him that I am as poor as him now, and have come there to be laid along with him." "By-and-by, Jo. By-and-by." "Ah! P'raps they would n't do it if I wos to go myself. But will you promise to have me took there, sir, and have me laid along with him?" "Thankee, sir. Thankee, sir. They'll have to get the key of the gate afore they can take me in, for it's allus locked. And there's a step there, as I used fur to clean with my broom. It's turned wery dark, sir. Is there any light a-comin'?" "It is coming fast, Jo." Fast. The cart is shaken all to pieces, and the rugged road is very near its end. "Jo, my poor fellow!" "I hear you, sir, in the dark, but I'm a gropin'- —a gropin'let me catch hold of your hand.” "Jo, can you say what I say?" "I'll say anythink as you say, sir, for I know it's good." "OUR FATHER." "Our Father!-Yes, that's wery good, sir." "WHICH ART IN HEAVEN." "Art in Heaven -thy-name!" - is the light a-comin', sir?” "It is close at hand. HALLOWED BE THY NAME!" "Hallowed be 'The light is come upon the dark benighted way. your Majesty. Dead, my lords and gentlemen. erends and Wrong Reverends of every order. Dead! Dead Dead, Right Rev Dead, inen and women, born with Heavenly compassion in your hea: ts. And dying thus around us every day! SCENE FROM "MACBETH." Macbeth alone. Macbeth. Is this a dagger which I see before me? Shakespeare. The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee: I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? or art thou but A dagger of the mind; a false creation, As that which now I draw. Thou marshal'st me the way that I was going; Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses, And on thy blade, and dudgeon, gouts of blood, It is the bloody business, which informs Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one half world Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, I go, and it is done; the bell invites me. Enter Lady Macbeth. (A bell rings.) (Exit.) Lady M. That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold: What hath quench'd them, hath given me fire: - Hark! - Peace! It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman, Which gives the stern'st good-night. He is about it: The doors are open; and the suspected grooms Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugg'd their possets, That death and nature do contend about them, Whether they live or die. Macbeth (within). Who's there? — what ho! Lady M. Alack! I am afraid they have awak'd, And 'tis not done: - the attempt, and not the deed, Confounds us: - Hark! I laid their daggers ready, Had he not resembled He could not miss them. My father as he slept, I had done 't. - My husband? Enter Macbeth. Macb. I have done the deed: - Did'st thou not hear a noise? Lady M. I heard the owl scream, and the crickets cry. Lady M. This is a sorry sight. Donalbain. (Looking on his hands.) A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight. Macb. There's one did laugh in his sleep, and one cried, murder! That they did wake each other; I stood and heard them:, But they did say their prayers, and address'd them Again to sleep. Lady M. There are two lodg'd together. Macb. One cried, God bless us! and Amen, the other; As they had seen me, Listening their fear. I could not say, amen, with these hangman's hands, Consider it not so deeply. When they did say, God bless us. Lady M. But wherefore could not I pronounce amen? I had most need of blessing, and, amen Stuck in my throat. Lady M. These deeds must not be thought After these ways; so, it will make us mad. Macb. Methought, I heard a voice cry, Sleep no more! Macbeth doth murder sleep, the innocent sleep; Lady M. What do you mean? Macb. Still it cried, Sleep no more! to all the house. Glamis hath murder'd sleep; and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more! Lady M. Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, You do unbend your noble strength, to think So brainsickly of things: Go, get some water, And wash this filthy witness from your hand.- Macb. I'll go no more: I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on 't again, I dare not. Lady M. Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers: The sleeping, and the dead, That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, (Exit. - Knocking within.) Macb. Whence is that knocking? How is 't with me, when every noise appals me? What hands are here? Ha! they pluck out mine eyes! Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather Making the green - one red. Re-enter Lady Macbeth. Lady M. My hands are of your color; but I shame To wear a heart so white. (Knock.) I hear a knocking At the south entry: retire we to our chamber: A little water clears us of this deed: How easy is it then? Your constancy Hath left you unattended. — (Knocking.) Hark, more knocking: Get on your night-gown, lest occasion call us, And show us to be watchless: - Be not lost So poorly in your thoughts. Macb. To know my deed, - 'twere best not know myself. (Knock.) Wake Duncan with thy knocking! Ay, 'would thou couldst ! THE HIGH TIDE ON THE COAST OF LINCOLNSHIRE. (1571.) The old mayor climbed the belfry tower, Good ringers, pull your best," quoth he. Men say it was a stolen tyde — The Lord that sent it, He knows all; The message that the bells let fall: By millions crouched on the old sea-wall. I sat and spun within the doore, My thread brake off, I raised myne eyes; Lay sinking in the barren skies, "Cusha! Cusha! Cusha!" calling, Where the reedy Lindis floweth, From the meads where melick groweth Faintly came her milking song "Cusha! Cusha! Cusha!" calling |