Nay, Boy, be of good hope:--we both may live To see a better day. At eighty-four I still am strong and stout;--do thou thy part, I will do mine.--I will begin again With many tasks that were resign'd to thee; Up to the heights, and in among the storms, Will I without thee go again, and do All works which I was wont to do alone, Before I knew thy face.--Heaven bless thee, Boy! Thy heart these two weeks has been beating fast With many hopes--it should be so--yes--yes-- I knew that thou could'st never have a wish To leave me, Luke, thou hast been bound to me Only by links of love, when thou art gone What will be left to us!--But, I forget My purposes. Lay now the corner-stone, As I requested, and hereafter, Luke, When thou art gone away, should evil men Be thy companions, let this Sheep-fold be Thy anchor and thy shield; amid all fear And all temptation, let it be to thee An emblem of the life thy Fathers liv'd, Who, being innocent, did for that cause Bestir them in good deeds. Now, fare thee well-- When thou return'st, thou in this place wilt see A work which is not here, a covenant 'Twill be between us--but whatever fate Befall thee, I shall love thee to the last, And bear thy memory with me to the grave. The Shepherd ended here; and Luke stoop'd down, And as his Father had requested, laid The first stone of the Sheep-fold; at the sight The Old Man's grief broke from him, to his heart He press'd his Son, he kissed him and wept; And to the House together they return'd. Next morning, as had been resolv'd, the Boy Began his journey, and when he had reach'd The public Way, he put on a bold face; And all the Neighbours as he pass'd their doors Came forth, with wishes and with farewell pray'rs, That follow'd him 'till he was out of sight. A good report did from their Kinsman come, Of Luke and his well-doing; and the Boy Wrote loving letters, full of wond'rous news, Which, as the House-wife phrased it, were throughout The prettiest letters that were ever seen. Both parents read them with rejoicing hearts. So, many months pass'd on: and once again The Shepherd went about his daily work With confident and cheerful thoughts; and now Sometimes when he could find a leisure hour He to that valley took his way, and there Wrought at the Sheep-fold. Meantime Luke began To slacken in his duty, and at length He in the dissolute city gave himself To evil courses: ignominy and shame Fell on him, so that he was driven at last To seek a hiding-place beyond the seas.