For, as it chanced,
  Their cottage on a plot of rising ground
  Stood single, with large prospect, north and south,
  High into Easedale, up to Dunmail-Raise,
  And westward to the village near the lake; 135
  And from this constant light, so regular
  And so far seen, the House itself, by all
  Who dwelt within the limits of the vale,
  Both old and young, was named THE EVENING STAR.

    Thus living on through such a length of years, 140
  The Shepherd, if he loved himself, must needs
  Have loved his Helpmate; but to Michael’s heart
  This son of his old age was yet more dear—­
  Less from instinctive tenderness, [20] the same
  Fond spirit that blindly works in the blood of all—­[21] 145
  Than [22] that a child, more than all other gifts
  That earth can offer to declining man, [23]
  Brings hope with it, and forward-looking thoughts,
  And stirrings of inquietude, when they
  By tendency of nature needs must fail. 150
  [24] Exceeding was the love he bare to him,
  His heart and his heart’s joy!  For oftentimes
  Old Michael, while he was a babe in arms,
  Had done him female service, not alone
  For pastime [25] and delight, as is the use 155
  Of fathers, but with patient mind enforced
  To acts of tenderness; and he had rocked
  His cradle, as with a woman’s gentle hand. [26]
  And, in a later time, ere yet the Boy
  Had put on boy’s attire, did Michael love, 160
  Albeit of a stern unbending mind,
  To have the Young-one in his sight, when he
  Wrought in the field, or on his shepherd’s stool
  Sate with a fettered sheep before him stretched
  Under the large old oak, that near his door 165
  Stood single, and, from matchless depth of shade, [27]
  Chosen for the Shearer’s covert from the sun,
  Thence in our rustic dialect was called
  The CLIPPING TREE, [C] a name which yet it bears. 
  There, while they two were sitting in the shade, 170
  With others round them, earnest all and blithe,
  Would Michael exercise his heart with looks
  Of fond correction and reproof bestowed
  Upon the Child, if he disturbed the sheep
  By catching at their legs, or with his shouts 175
  Scared them, while they lay still beneath the shears.

  And when by Heaven’s good grace the boy grew up
  A healthy Lad, and carried in his cheek
  Two steady roses that were five years old;
  Then Michael from a winter coppice cut 180
  With his own hand a sapling, which he hooped
  With iron, making it throughout in all
  Due requisites a perfect shepherd’s staff,
  And gave it to the Boy; wherewith equipt
  He as a watchman oftentimes was placed