Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/102

76 Gave cheerful greeting.—Vivid was the light

Which flashed at this from out the Other's eyes;

He was all fire: the sickness from his face

Passed like a fancy that is swept away;

Hands joined he with his Visitant,—a grasp,

An eager grasp; and, many moments' space,

When the first glow of pleasure was no more,

And much of what had vanished was returned,

An amicable smile retained the life

Which it had unexpectedly received,

Upon his hollow cheek. "How kind," he said,

"Nor could your coming have been better timed;

For this, you see, is in our little world

A day of sorrow. I have here a charge"—

And, speaking thus, he patted tenderly

The sun-burnt forehead of the weeping Child—

"A little Mourner whom it is my task

To comfort;—but how came Ye?—if yon track

(Which doth at once befriend us and betray)

Conducted hither your most welcome feet

Ye could not miss the Funeral Train—they yet

Have scarcely disappeared." "This blooming Child,"

Said the Old Man, "is of an age to weep