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“Are there not some things, B[rother], that will seem
“Like very Truth and yet like very dream;
“That we are ever at a Loss to find,
“Are they of fact or are they of the mind?” [OMITTED]
“Again a walk, dear R[ichard,] and so long?
“Would not M[atilda] tell you, it is wrong,
“That she so little of the Man behold,
“The Slave rebellious or the Lover cold?
“Where hast thou wandered?”—

“I describe but ill.
“When past the Park, I made for Depford Mill.
“Stopt by the Brook, I turned and slowly went
“One Mile, I think, upon a smooth Ascent.
“There, on that Hill, where clumps of Fir and pine
“So bound the Land that they may pass for thine,
“As Thy Plantations on the other Side
“Give to the Neighbours something of their Pride—
“There, as I stood and viewed the empty Hall
“And the small Church, remarked as very small,
“A sound, not ringing, but from bells a pair,
“Hanged between Turrets in the open Air,
“Called my Attention to the House; and then
“I saw there passing and thence coming Men. [OMITTED]
“Then first that Village wore a cheerful Air,
“Not like the noisy Concourse of its Fair;
“But I distinguished plainly, with my Glass,
“Another people thro' the Gardens pass.
“In fact, there seemed a joy diffused around,
“As if some long-lost blessing had been found;
“And I could judge by both their dress and air
“There went some pains to form that gentle pair.
“You will have Neighbours; nay, perhaps you know
“To whom that—Blessing, shall I say?—you owe.— [OMITTED]
“Nay, B[rother], I must leave
“The Place I love; but, going, I must grieve.”—
“True, my dear R[ichard]—but I ask reprieve;
“Speak gentle words, and you shall hear a Tale
“Of the new pair who came to Ashford Dale.” [OMITTED]
Small was their Garden, and they wished to grow
All that a Gardening Swain could set or sow;
And in that Soil the produce grew so tall
About the Path and Porch, the Door and Wall;
The Children crept the stately plants between,
And only Mary's snow-white Cap was seen—
When the low door was opened, and the Dame
From her small Parlor to her Garden came,
To see if John was coming from the Farm;
To hear the Village Scholars' glad Alarm,
And to behold the Bees, if clustering for the Swarm.
Such were the daily Cares in Mary's life,
The easiest Mother and the happiest Wife. [OMITTED]