Birket Foster's pictures of English landscape . 20 XXI. FOUR STAGES OF THE STREAM. I. THE DIPPING-PLACE. From its spring-head, below the hill,Through clustering docks and reeds, It wound scarce seen, an infant rill,Untaxed for human needs. And other baby runnels ran To join with it in play,Till many rills in one, began The streamlets working day. Beneath its alder-shadows cool Cows made their summer lair,And shepherds dammed it to a pool To wash their fleeces fair. Then by elm-bosomd cottage-pales,Where the green coltsfoot grows, And lilies spread their golden sails,For household use it flows.
Birket Foster's pictures of English landscape . 20 XXI. FOUR STAGES OF THE STREAM. I. THE DIPPING-PLACE. From its spring-head, below the hill,Through clustering docks and reeds, It wound scarce seen, an infant rill,Untaxed for human needs. And other baby runnels ran To join with it in play,Till many rills in one, began The streamlets working day. Beneath its alder-shadows cool Cows made their summer lair,And shepherds dammed it to a pool To wash their fleeces fair. Then by elm-bosomd cottage-pales,Where the green coltsfoot grows, And lilies spread their golden sails,For household use it flows. The swallows from the broad-thatched, eavesBrush it with winnowing wing, And to its edge, through lush green leavesLasses their pitchers 21 XXII. II. THE STEPPING-STONES. Still broadning on with every rood. None may the brook oerleap,Even when innocent of flood Its summer shallows sleep. Answring the whispers of the beechWith whispered ripple-tones, From wavelets that scarce mid-way reachThe sun-warmed stepping-stones. Too shallow, if it willed, to drown,The babes that cross its play ; Too clear to hide one pebble strowniUong its harmless way. Ah, youth of man, and youth of stream ! Who dreams, while smooth and clearThe summer-shallowed waters gleam, rIhe winter spate so near ? When every rounded stepping-stoneWhere babies fearless stood, To fierce desire a barrier grown,Serves but to chafe the Hood.
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Keywords: ., bookauthordalzielgeorge18151902, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860
