THE VILLAGE SCHOOLMASTER

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'ruth from his lips prevailed with double sway,

nd fools, who came to scoff, remained to pray.

'he service past, around the pious man,

/ith steady zeal, each honest rustic ran ;

ven children followed, with endearing wile,

.nd plucked his gown, to share the good man's smile ;

[is ready smile a parent's warmth expressed,

'heir welfare pleased him, and their cares distressed ;

'o them his heart, his love, his griefs were given,

ait all his serious thoughts had rest in heaven. 10

LS some tall cliff thai lifts its awful form,

wells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm,

though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread

iternal sunshine settles on its head.

OLIVER GOLDSMITH

THE VILLAGE SCHOOLMASTER
BESIDE yon straggling fence that skirts the way,
Vith blossomed furze unprofitably gay,
There, in his noisy mansion, skilled to rule,
The village master taught his little school;
^ man severe he was, and stern to view ;
, knew him well, and every truant knew ; 20
Yell had the boding tremblers learned to trace
The day's disasters in his morning face ;
.\ull well they laughed with counterfeited glee
\t all his jokes, for many a joke had he ;
?ull well the busy whisper, circling round,
Honveyed the dismal tidings when he frowned :
ifet he was kind ; or if severe in aught,
The love he bore to learning was in fault.
The village all declared how much he knew ;
Twas certain he could write and cypher too ; 30
Lands he could measure, terms and tides presage,
And e'en the story ran that he could gauge.
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