They did--and truly: But that was what we almost overlook'd, They were such darlings of each other. For, Though from their cradles they had lived with Walter, The only kinsman near them, and though he Inclined to them, by reason of his age, With a more fond, familiar tenderness, They, notwithstanding, had much love to spare, And it all went into each other's hearts. Leonard, the elder by just eighteen months, Was two years taller; 'twas a joy to see, To hear, to meet them!--From their house the school Is distant three short miles--and in the time Of storm and thaw, when every water-course And unbridged stream, such as you may have noticed Crossing our roads at every hundred steps, Was swoln into a noisy rivulet, Would Leonard then, when elder boys perhaps Remain'd at home, go staggering through the fords, Bearing his brother on his back. I've seen him On windy days, in one of those stray brooks-- Ay, more than once I've seen him--mid-leg deep, Their two books lying both on a dry stone Upon the hither side; and once I said, As I remember, looking round these rocks And hills on which we all of us were born, That God who made the great book of the world Would bless such piety-- LEONARD. It may be then-- PRIEST. Never did worthier lads break English bread; The finest Sunday that the autumn saw With all its mealy clusters of ripe nuts, Could never keep these boys away from church, Or tempt them to an hour of Sabbath breach. Leonard and James! I warrant, every corner Among these rocks, and every hollow place Where foot could come, to one or both of them Was known as well as to the flowers that grow there. Like roe-bucks they went bounding o'er the hills; They played like two young ravens on the crags; Then they could write, ay, and speak too as well As many of their betters--and for Leonard! The very night before he went away, In my own house I put into his hand A Bible, and I'd wager house and field That, if he is alive, he has it yet. LEONARD. It seems, these brothers have not lived to be A comfort to each other-- PRIEST. That they might Live to such end, is what both old and young In this our valley all of us have wish'd, And what, for my part, I have often pray'd: But Leonard-- LEONARD. Then James is still left among you? PRIEST.