 | Poems for children |  |
64
SIR WILLIAM NAPIER AND LITTLE JOAN.
Sir William Napier, one bright day,
Was walking down the glen,
A noble English soldier,
And the handsomest of men.
Was walking down the glen,
A noble English soldier,
And the handsomest of men.
Among the fragrant hedgerows
He slowly wandered down,
Through blooming field and meadow,
By pleasant Freshford town.
He slowly wandered down,
Through blooming field and meadow,
By pleasant Freshford town.
With look and mien and magnificent
And step so grand moved he!
And from his stately front outshone
Beauty and majesty.
And step so grand moved he!
And from his stately front outshone
Beauty and majesty.
About his strong white forehead
The rich locks thronged and curled
Above the splendor of his eyes
That might command the world
The rich locks thronged and curled
Above the splendor of his eyes
That might command the world
A sound of bitter weeping
Came up to his quick ear,
He paused that instant, bending
His kingly head to hear.
Came up to his quick ear,
He paused that instant, bending
His kingly head to hear.
65
Among the grass and daisies
Sat wretched little Joan,
And near her lay a bowl of delf
Broken upon a stone.
Sat wretched little Joan,
And near her lay a bowl of delf
Broken upon a stone.
Her cheeks were red with crying,
And her blue eyes dull and dim,
And she turned her pretty woful face
All tear stained up to him.
And her blue eyes dull and dim,
And she turned her pretty woful face
All tear stained up to him.
Scarce six years old and sobbing
In misery so drear!
“Why, what's the matter, Posy?”
He said, “Come, tell me, dear.”
In misery so drear!
“Why, what's the matter, Posy?”
He said, “Come, tell me, dear.”
“It 'sfather's bowl I 'se broken,
'T was for his dinner kept:
I took it safe, but coming home
It fell,”—again she wept.
'T was for his dinner kept:
I took it safe, but coming home
It fell,”—again she wept.
“But you can mend it, can't you?”
Cried the despairing child
With sudden hope, as down on her
Like some kind god he smiled.
Cried the despairing child
With sudden hope, as down on her
Like some kind god he smiled.
“Don't cry, poor little Posy!
I cannot make it whole,
But I can give you sixpence
To buy another bowl.”
I cannot make it whole,
But I can give you sixpence
To buy another bowl.”
66
He sought in vain for silver
In purse and pockets too,
And found but golden guineas;
He pondered what to do.
In purse and pockets too,
And found but golden guineas;
He pondered what to do.
“This time to-morrow, Posy,”
He said, “again come here,
And I will bring your sixpence.
I promise! Never fear!”
He said, “again come here,
And I will bring your sixpence.
I promise! Never fear!”
Away went Joan rejoicing.
A rescued child was she,
And home went good Sir William,
And to him presently
A rescued child was she,
And home went good Sir William,
And to him presently
A footman brings a letter.
And low before him bends,
“Will not Sir William come and dine
To-morrow with his friends?”
And low before him bends,
“Will not Sir William come and dine
To-morrow with his friends?”
The letter read, “And we 've secured
The man among all men
You wish to meet! He will be here:
You will not fail us then?”
The man among all men
You wish to meet! He will be here:
You will not fail us then?”
To-morrow! could he get to Bath
And dine with Dukes and Earls
And back in time? That hour was pledged—
It was the little girl's!
And dine with Dukes and Earls
And back in time? That hour was pledged—
It was the little girl's!
67
He could not disappoint her,
He must his friend refuse,
So “a previous engagement”
He pleaded as excuse.
He must his friend refuse,
So “a previous engagement”
He pleaded as excuse.
Next day when she, all eager,
Came o'er the fields so fair,
Not surer of the sunrise
Than that she should find him there,
Came o'er the fields so fair,
Not surer of the sunrise
Than that she should find him there,
He met her, and the sixpence
Laid in her little hand.
Her woe was ended, and her heart
The lightest in the land.
Laid in her little hand.
Her woe was ended, and her heart
The lightest in the land.
How would the stately company
Who had so much desired
His presence at their splendid feast,
Have wondered and admired!
Who had so much desired
His presence at their splendid feast,
Have wondered and admired!
As soldier, scholar, gentleman,
His praises oft are heard—
'T was not the least of his great deeds
So to have kept his word.
His praises oft are heard—
'T was not the least of his great deeds
So to have kept his word.
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