LEGENDARY. AMONG GREEN PLEASANT MEADOWS. AMONG green, pleasant meadows, All in a grove so wild, Was set a marble image Of the Virgin and the Child. Here oft, on summer evenings, Oft sat his mother by him, And told how the Lord Jesus 'And now from highest heaven He doth look down each day, And sees whate'er thou doest, And hears what thou dost say!" Thus spoke his tender mother; Again the boy was playing; Come down and play with me! "I will find thee flowers the fairest, "O holy, holy mother! Put him down from off thy knee ; For in these silent meadows There are none to play with me." Thus spoke the boy so lovely, That self-same night she dreamèd "And for the fruits and flowers Which thou hast brought to me, Rich blessing shall be given A thousand-fold to thee. "For in the fields of heaven Thou shalt roam with me at will; And of bright fruit celestial Thou shalt have, dear child, thy fill!" Thus tenderly and kindly The fair child Jesus spoke ; And, full of careful musings, The anxious mother woke And thus it was accomplished: And thus he spoke, in dying: "And in his hand he beareth He died-but that fond mother For she knew he was with Jesus, And she asked him not again! - From the German of Herder. THE FAIRIES OF THE CALDON-LOW. "AND where have you been, my Mary, "And what did you see, my Mary, And I saw the merry winds blow." 'And what did you hear, my Mary, "Then take me on your knee, mother, "And merry was the glee of the harp-strings, And their dancing feet so small ; But oh! the sound of their talking "And what were the words, my Mary, That you did hear them say?" "I'll tell you all, my mother, But let me have my way. "And some they played with the water And rolled it down the hill ; And this,' they said, 'shall speedily turn "For there has been no water Ever since the first of May; And a busy man shall the miller be By the dawning of the day! |