She's past the bridge far in the dale; 1820. The bridge is past--far in the dale; 1827.] [Variant 19: 1827. ... that's in the brook, 1798.] [Variant 20: 1827. And now she's high ... 1798.] [Variant 21. 1827. ...would ... 1798.] [Variant 22. 1836. And now she's got into the town, 1798.] [Variant 23: 1827. ... my Johnny here, 1798.] [Variant 24. 1836. All like a silent horseman-ghost, He travels on along the vale. 1798.] [Variant 25. 1820. ... he's hunting . . 1798.] [Variant 26. 1820. ...that's so trim .... 1798.] [Variant 27. 1827. ...he'll gallop .... 1798.] [Variant 28. 1802. For sure he met ..... 1798.] [Variant 29. 1798. ...unfriendly.... Only in MS. and in the edition of 1805.] [Variant 30: 1827. ...that's feeding ... 1798.] [Variant 31: 1827. And now she's ... 1798.] [Variant 32: 1827. ... she's happy there, 1798.] [Variant 33: 1827 Long Susan lay deep lost in thought, 1798.] [Variant 34: 1836. ... she posts ... 1798.] * * * * * FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: As Wordsworth gives the date of this poem as 1798, the above line implies that his poetical work began at least in 1784, when he was fourteen years of age. The note to 'An Evening Walk' dictated to Miss Fenwick (see p. 5) implies the same.--Ed.] * * * * * SUB-FOOTNOTE ON THE VARIANT [Sub-Footnote i: This change was made by S. T. C.--Ed.] * * * * * THE OLD CUMBERLAND BEGGAR [A] Composed 1798.--Published 1800. The class of Beggars to which the old man here described belongs, will probably soon be extinct. It consisted of poor, and, mostly, old and infirm persons, who confined themselves to a stated round in their neighbourhood, and had certain fixed days, on which, at different houses, they regularly received charity; sometimes in money, but mostly in provisions.-W. W. 1800.