Page:A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields.djvu/316

Rh And sang! The sun seemed to smile in her song! Some scrap it was of popular melody; Thus sings the linnet clear and loud and long, Until its notes mount straight up to the sky.

O breath of lovely days! Mysterious strength Of sunbeam warm, or blossom newly blown! O joy to hear, to see, to feel at length The charm divine by God on all things thrown!

In spring can any child a long time sob? The blade of grass attracts it, or the leaf; The human pulse keeps time to nature's throb; How little need the poor to cheat their grief.

I heard her, and I saw; no, not one tear! As a load-carrier sometimes flings his load, Her heart she lightened when she saw none near, And fairy colours on her brown face glowed.

Then wakening up, as to neglected task, To every passer she went begging round, Her visage donned its sad and sombre mask, And took her voice its low pathetic sound.

But when she came to me and stretched her hand, With moistened eye, sad look, and tangled tress, 'Be off!' I cried, 'thy tricks I understand, I followed thee; thy part needs more address.

'Thy parents taught thee, and these tears are lies, I heard thee sing, this woe is stratagem!' The girl said simply, lifting up her eyes, 'I sing for myself, my tears are for them.'