Down from the cicling by the chimney's edge, Which in our ancient uncouth country style Did with a huge projection overbrow Large space beneath, as duly as the light Of day grew dim, the House-wife hung a lamp; An aged utensil, which had perform'd Service beyond all others of its kind. Early at evening did it burn and late, Surviving Comrade of uncounted Hours Which going by from year to year had found And left the Couple neither gay perhaps Nor chearful, yet with objects and with hopes Living a life of eager industry. And now, when LUKE was in his eighteenth year, There by the light of this old lamp they sate, Father and Son, while late into the night The House-wife plied her own peculiar work, Making the cottage thro' the silent hours Murmur as with the sound of summer flies. Not with a waste of words, but for the sake Of pleasure, which I know that I shall give To many living now, I of this Lamp Speak thus minutely: for there are no few Whose memories will bear witness to my tale, The Light was famous in its neighbourhood, And was a public Symbol of the life, The thrifty Pair had liv'd. For, as it chanc'd, Their Cottage on a plot of rising ground Stood single, with large prospect North and South, High into Easedale, up to Dunmal-Raise, And Westward to the village near the Lake. And from this constant light so regular And so far seen, the House itself by all Who dwelt within the limits of the vale, Both old and young, was nam'd The Evening Star. Thus living on through such a length of years, The Shepherd, if he lov'd himself, must needs Have lov'd his Help-mate; but to Michael's heart This Son of his old age was yet more dear-- Effect which might perhaps have been produc'd By that instinctive tenderness, the same Blind Spirit, which is in the blood of all, Or that a child, more than all other gifts, Brings hope with it, and forward-looking thoughts, And stirrings of inquietude, when they By tendency of nature needs must fail. From such, and other causes, to the thoughts Of the old Man his only Son was now The dearest object that he knew on earth. Exceeding was the love he bare to him, His Heart and his Heart's joy! For oftentimes Old Michael, while he was a babe in arms, Had done him female service, not alone For dalliance and delight, as is the use Of Fathers, but with patient mind enforc'd To acts of tenderness; and he had rock'd His cradle with a woman's gentle hand.