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Hymns and Poems

Original and Translated: By Edward Caswall ... Second Edition

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XV. A VILLAGE INCIDENT.
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XV. A VILLAGE INCIDENT.

I know a man of many years,
Full ninety years and more,
On Summer-noons he oft appears
Outside his cottage-door.

435

And there with palsied hand will he
Sit knitting in the shade;
O, 'tis a curious sight to see
That old man at his trade.
In winter by his chimney-hole
He spends the livelong day,
And often gets a passing dole
From those who go that way.
For he is known the parish round,
And all the neighbourhood o'er;
And there has lived on that same ground
For ninety years and more.
No child has he, they are all gone,
And rest them in a row;
Last week he buried a younger son
With hair as white as snow.
In his old prayer-book at the end,
Their ages you may see;
That book it is his oldest friend,
And twice as old as he.
But yesterday I pass'd that way,
And miss'd him from his chair;
I saw that in distress he lay,
And gave what I could spare.
Then lifting up his clear blue eye,
With trembling voice he cried,
‘May you be bless'd by God on high,
And Christ the crucified!’
O words of comfort, how did they
My heart with rapture fill!
And ever since, do what I may,
I seem to hear them still.

436

And ever to myself I sing
With a deep inward glee,
‘Old man, it was a pleasant thing
To be thus bless'd by thee.’