Never to living ear came sweeter sounds Than when I heard thee by our own fire-side First uttering without words a natural tune, When thou, a feeding babe, didst in thy joy Sing at thy Mother's breast. Month follow'd month, And in the open fields my life was pass'd And in the mountains, else I think that thou Hadst been brought up upon thy father's knees. --But we were playmates, Luke; among these hills, As well thou know'st, in us the old and young Have play'd together, nor with me didst thou Lack any pleasure which a boy can know. Luke had a manly heart; but at these words He sobb'd aloud; the Old Man grasp'd his hand, And said, "Nay do not take it so--I see That these are things of which I need not speak. --Even to the utmost I have been to thee A kind and a good Father: and herein I but repay a gift which I myself Receiv'd at others' hands, for, though now old Beyond the common life of man, I still Remember them who lov'd me in my youth." Both of them sleep together: here they liv'd As all their Forefathers had done, and when At length their time was come, they were not loth To give their bodies to the family mold. I wish'd that thou should'st live the life they liv'd. But 'tis a long time to look back, my Son, And see so little gain from sixty years. These fields were burthen'd when they came to me; 'Till I was forty years of age, not more Than half of my inheritance was mine. "I toil'd and toil'd; God bless'd me in my work, And 'till these three weeks past the land was free. --It looks as if it never could endure Another Master. Heaven forgive me, Luke, If I judge ill for thee, but it seems good That thou should'st go." At this the Old Man paus'd, Then, pointing to the Stones near which they stood, Thus, after a short silence, he resum'd: "This was a work for us, and now, my Son, It is a work for me. But, lay one Stone-- Here, lay it for me, Luke, with thine own hands. I for the purpose brought thee to this place."