Page:Landon in Literary Gazette 1823.pdf/82



One day young sought the neighbouring town, With charge and promise of a swift return; And when the sunshine of a July noon Fell hot upon the earth, his Father left His solitary labour; the blue sky Was darkened with a shadow, and the air Weighed heavy on the brow, and made breath pain, He entered the low cottage to prepare Their meal for his tired boy, when suddenly He heard a sound of thunder from the hills Roll o'er the valley; looking out, he saw A black cloud on the sun. While yet he gazed, Like an imprisoned spirit bursting forth, Swept a blue flood of lightning o'er the sky. His —where was ? out he rushed— Looked wistfully to the low garden gate,— Shouted—then listened—till the heavy peal Echoed him as in mockery. On a rise, The limit of his little garden's stretch, There stood a cherry-tree, now rich with fruit,— It overlooked the land for miles around, And from its branches he could see the path Down which his child must come. He climbed the tree, But never looked around; the bolt came down And struck him in its anger,—he lay dead!—

The storm sank into silence, and the Boy, Drenched, but unharmed, came home;—with one light bound, Youth, health and happiness step on the wind, He sprang beneath the porch. Was it surprise, Or fear, or augury, that made him turn Pale unto sickness as he looked around? The cottage was quite empty, yet the door Was open wide, the rain had washed the floor, The dinner lay untouched, and on the hearth The embers had burnt out; and, stranger still, His Father's hat hung up. And cried Aloud in agony, and a long howl Answered him from the garden, and he ran,