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The Lump Of Gold
by
III.
Oh, pleasant green of Micklethorpe!
From far Australian shore,
From deep Canadian wilderness
That hears St. Lawrence roar,
From ships in the Pacific seas,
Or coast of Labrador,
Comes back to thee the tender thought.
With dear remembrance crowned;
Thy wandering children love thee well,
And all the landscape round.
And dream of thee in lonely nights,
And think thee holy ground.
IV.
And so thou art; and so shalt be,
Where’er thy loved ones roam;
The vision of thine ancient tree
Shall speak to them of home;
The ancient tree, the lone churchyard,
The monitory spire,
And smoke upcurling through the wood,
From distant cottage fire–
The scene of many a mother’s kiss,
Or blessing of a sire.
V.
‘Twas Sunday morn, and Parson Vale,
Beloved of high and low,
With smiles for all men’s happiness,
And heart for every woe,
Walked meekly to the parish church,
With hair as white as snow–
Walked meekly to the parish church,
Amid his daughters three–
There were more angels at his side
Than mortal eyes could see–
The four were seven–for with them went
Faith, Hope, and Charity.
VI.
Faith, Hope, and heavenly Charity–
Whate’er the good man taught,
Whate’er his text, these hlessed three
Were present to his thought;
He never scorned his fellow men.
Or held the humhlest nought.
He warned the strong, he raised the weak,
And, like his Master mild.
He helped and comforted the poor,
And loved each little child.
And, ‘mid the moil and dust of life,
Went forward undefiled.
VII.
His eldest daughter, matron fair,
In beauty’s perfect noon.
Mature, and redolent of sweets,
And pleasant as a tune,
Walked at his side; his life’s best charm,
Since one perchance more dear,
Had gone before him to the grave.
In summer of her year,
And leff him memories and regrets.
And three fond hearts to cheer.
VIII.
Sweet Lilian Vale! if some denied
The splendours of her face.
Not one denied her perfect charm
Of gentleness and grace.
No dazzling beauty fired her eyes,
But on her brow serene,
Enthroned upon that ivory seat,
Sat Goodness, like a queen.
IX.
The quiet ripple of her smile
Revealed the peaceful mind,
The mellow moonlight of her eyes
Her sympathies refined;
And when she spoke, the audible charm
Was Beauty for the blind.
Her gentle heart was wooed and won.
But he whose name she bore,
Adventurous for the sake of wealth
Had sought the Australian shore;
And delved the mines of Ballarat
For undiscovered ore.
X.
But not for sake of gold alone
Went Aubrey from his bride,
‘Twas restless youth, ’twas love of change,
‘Twas old ancestral pride,
‘Twas hope to raise a fallen house
From penury’s disgrace–
To purchase back from usurers
The birthright of his race;
And dwell respected like his sires
In Aubrey Park and Place.
XI.
So Lilian kept her father’s house,
Beloved–and loving duty–
A youthful matron–fairest sight
In all the realm of Beauty.
No dream had she of sudden wealth
From all her lord’s endeavour–
She only prayed his safe return–
Resigned;–but hopeful ever.
XII.
The four–the seven, went into church–
So meek, so calm, and holy;–
But one unseen had gone before
With downcast eyes and lowly.
Pallid and faint, and travel-worn.
Like one sick-hearted and forlorn;
He shunned the inquiring look.
And sat with chin upon his hand
And eyes upon the Book.