Oft would she pluck and save the fairest bloom, Or gather bunches of the rarest flow'rs, And decorate a lonely cottage room To brighten up a widow's dreary hours. Her form was seen beside the sick man's bed, To whom she read, and laboured to inspire: And sanctity was in her as she led On Sunday morn the simple village choir. But tears course down, the fire again burns low; The brighter th' sun, the darker follows shade, Sweet years flew on--then heaven why was it so?-- I see the open grave where Fan was laid. * * * * * This life is sorrow-burdened: yet if bright And framed of worldly bliss without alloy, We should not see the worth of true delight, Nor strive to gain an everlasting joy! THE SHEPHERD'S FAIRY. A PASTORALE. BY DARLEY DALE, Author of "Fair Katherine," etc. CHAP. VII JACK'S SMOCK-FROCK [Illustration] Fairy's education had been a puzzle to Mrs. Shelley, though at first Jack had taught her to read and write, until she was five years old, when the problem had been solved by the rector, Mr. Leslie, who had always taken a great deal of notice of the pretty child, offering to let her learn with his girls of their governess, who was a Frenchwoman, and from that day Fairy's mornings and afternoons till four o'clock were spent at the rectory, and in the evenings Jack helped her to prepare her lessons for the next day. By this means Jack learnt French, and had access to many books which would otherwise have been impossible for him to get hold of. He made the most of his opportunities, and was always far ahead of Fairy in all her studies except French, and in this Fairy was the teacher, and her silvery laugh was often heard to ring out merrily at Jack's English accent, for she had begun to learn it so early that her accent was perfect; indeed, she seemed to have a gift for languages, so quickly did she pick up French; but then she had a very quick ear and a talent for mimicry, both of which are great helps in learning a foreign language. [Illustration: "WADING ACROSS THE ANGRY BOURNE."] Once or twice John Shelley--who had a great dread lest his eldest son should spend too much time over books, time which, unless the book was the Bible, the simple shepherd thought wasted--had suggested that Charlie should help Fairy, and Jack look after the sheep, but Fairy soon settled this; Jack could not follow the sheep in the evenings, and as for Charlie, he could read and write and do a little ciphering, but he hated books, and was no use to her at all. The three boys had only been sent to the village school till they were twelve years old, when Jack had been taken away to follow the sheep and learn a shepherd's duties, Willie had gone to sea, and Charlie, for the present, worked in the garden, looked after the pigs and poultry, and helped his mother in various ways.