There's Richard Bateman, thought she to herself, He was a parish-boy; at the church door They made a gathering for him--shillings, pence, And halfpennies, wherewith the neighbours bought A basket, which they filled with pedlar's wares; And, with this basket on his arm, the lad Went up to London, found a master there, Who out of many, chose the trusty boy To go and overlook his merchandize Beyond the seas; where he grew wondrous rich, And left estates and monies to the poor, And at his birth-place built a chapel, floored With marble which he sent from foreign lands. These thoughts and many others of like sort, Passed quickly through the mind of Isabel, And her face brightened. The old man was glad, And thus resumed:--"Well, Isabel! this scheme These two days has been meat and drink to me. Far more than we have lost is left us yet. We have enough; I wish indeed that I Were younger; but this hope is a good hope. Make ready Luke's best garments, of the best Buy for him more, and let us send him forth To-morrow, or the next day, or to-night: If he could go, the boy should go to-night." Here Michael ceased, and to the fields went forth With a light heart. The housewife for five days Was restless morn and night, and all day long Wrought on with her best fingers to prepare Things needful for the journey of her son. But Isabel was glad when Sunday came To stop her in her work; for, when she lay By Michael's side, she through the last two nights Heard him, how he was troubled in his sleep: And when they rose at morning she could see That all his hopes were gone. That day at noon She said to Luke, while they two by themselves Were sitting at the door, "Thou must not go: We have no other child but thee to lose, None to remember--do not go away, For if thou leave thy father he will die." The youth made answer with a jocund voice: And Isabel, when she had told her fears, Recovered heart. That evening her best fare Did she bring forth, and all together sat Like happy people round a Christmas fire.