Among the fern, the chestnut, and the oak,—
Beside the stilly lake and silent brook,—
A host of little boys and maidens play
With pastors, masters, keeping holiday.
Their merry whistle and their shrill-voic’d tongues,
The hip-hurrahs join’d with their youthful songs,
Make one glad concert of unusual mirth—
One happy unison of joy on earth.
They tumble, rumble, on the beauteous lawn,
As free from care as are the swift-foot fawn
That stray beneath yon summer-blooming trees,
And sniff at will the heav’nly-perfum’d breeze.
See how the little rev’lers romp and fall,
Whilst some are racing for the sky-thrown ball:
A stripling, heedless of th’ obscurèd root
Of some large chestnut, trips his nimble foot,
And stumbles; but ’tis only o’er a mound,
Clad with Earth’s velvet, so no harm is found.
There (laughingly) th’ expectant bride,
Is sporting lovingly with him—her pride:
Then sprightly tripping to another, tries
To startle him, who (turning round) espies
Her merry-making face, and laughs consent,—
Whilst she discloses some blithe sentiment.
* * * * *
Look round again: there seems a sweet content
In every eye; in every bosom seems
A heart that beats with love’s enchanting beams.
List to the music of th’ refection bell:
Behold the young ones,—e’en their gestures tell
What speaks it; they come hast’ning to its ting,
And form themselves, adroitly, in a ring
Upon the trodden blade. They sit, and eat,
And quaff. Why should they not?—It is most meet
Those Englanders should well enjoy their treat.
Hear then the thunder of the little throat
Of him, who first doth nail[74] the Pastor’s coat,—
Of them, who follow—anxious for the prize,
Which is held out to greet their longing eyes—
As forth the Pastor runs from tree to tree,
With equal pleasure and sincerity.
* * * * *
Now for the elder ones: they, like the young,
Refresh’d, hie forth and mingle with the throng,
As prone to mirth, apparently as gay
As Spring’s sweet blossoms in the bright noon-day:
Some tune their voices in harmonious glee,
And thus make jub’lant the festivity;
Whilst others, wand’ring o’er the pleasant grounds,
Return to welcome those according sounds,
And bid them echo, with their meet applause,
The blitheful song in honour of the cause.
Again the ball is launch’d upon the green:
But lo!—down west, day’s radiant lamp is seen
In gorgeous amplitude. The hour has come—
The junior host are marshall’d out for home.
God then is prais’d:[75] and, as the heav’ns grow dark,
The deer are left the guardians of the park.
[73] Composed on the occasion of St. Peter’s (Pimlico, London) annual
School Festival, held at Bushy Park, Hampton Court, 27th July, 1865.
[74] Make holdfast.
[75] The singing of a hymn.
[Illustration]