I.

The pair who thus that morning met
Ne'er mingled mutual speech before,
And now could neither heart forget
What then it seemed so soon was o'er.

II.

In secret thought each breast could say
That one it knew of kindred mould,
And through the long, long summer day
That tale in fancy oft was told.

III.

For far unlike was Henry's mind
To aught that Jane had seen before;
Though poor and lowly, yet refined
With much of noblest lore.

IV.

A gentle widow's only child
He grew beneath a loving rule;
A man with spirit undefiled,
He taught the village school.

V.

And many books had Henry read,
And other tongues than ours he knew,
His heart with many fancies fed,
Which oft from hidden wells he drew.

VI.

What souls heroic dared and bore
In ancient days for love and duty,
What sages could by thought explore,
What poets sang of beauty:

VII.

With these he dwelt, because within
His breast was full of silent fire.
No praise of men he cared to win,
More high was his desire;

VIII.

To be, to know whate'er of Good
To man below is given;
And, asking Truth as daily food,
Seek little more from Heaven.

IX.

To him the friend of all his days
Had been his fervid mother,
And ev'n the playmate of his plays—
He never wished another.

X.

For he was weak and oft in pain;
From noisy sports he shrank away;
But songs to sing, or tales to feign,
For him made holiday.