“Sunday, September 25, 1803.—­A beautiful autumnal day.  Breakfasted at a public-house by the road-side; dined at Threlkeld; arrived at home between eight and nine o’clock, where we found Mary in perfect health, Joanna Hutchinson with her, and little John asleep in the clothes-basket by the fire.”

(From Dorothy Wordsworth’s ‘Recollections of a Tour made in Scotland’, 1803.)—­Ed.

* * * * *

THE BLIND HIGHLAND BOY

A TALE TOLD BY THE FIRE-SIDE, AFTER RETURNING TO THE VALE OF GRASMERE[A]

Date of composition uncertain.—­Published 1807

[The story was told me by George Mackereth, for many years parish-clerk of Grasmere.  He had been an eye-witness of the occurrence.  The vessel in reality was a washing-tub, which the little fellow had met with on the shores of the Loch.—­I.F.]

One of the “Poems referring to the Period of Childhood” in 1815 and 1820.—­Ed.

  Now we are tired of boisterous joy,
  Have [1] romped enough, my little Boy! 
  Jane hangs her head upon my breast,
  And you shall bring your stool and rest;
    This corner is your own. 5

  There! take your seat, and let me see
  That [2] you can listen quietly: 
  And, as I promised, I will tell [3]
  That strange adventure which befel
    A poor blind Highland Boy. 10

  A Highland Boy!—­why call him so? 
  Because, my Darlings, ye must know
  That, under hills which rise like towers, [4]
  Far higher hills than these of ours! 
    He from his birth had lived. 15

  He ne’er had seen one earthly sight
  The sun, the day; the stars, the night;
  Or tree, or butterfly, or flower,
  Or fish in stream, or bird in bower,
    Or woman, man, or child. 20

  And yet he neither drooped nor pined,
  Nor had a melancholy mind;
  For God took pity on the Boy,
  And was his friend; and gave him joy
    Of which we nothing know. 25

  His Mother, too, no doubt, above
  Her other children him did love: 
  For, was she here, or was she there,
  She thought of him with constant care,
    And more than mother’s love. 30

  And proud she was of heart, when clad
  In crimson stockings, tartan plaid,
  And bonnet with a feather gay,
  To Kirk he on the sabbath day
    Went hand in hand with her. 35

  A dog too, had he; not for need,
  But one to play with and to feed;
  Which would [5] have led him, if bereft
  Of company or friends, and left
    Without a better guide. 40