General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1868 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: PROLOGUE. The only earthly friend that he possessed Save that poor flock, toward his home I pressed, Along where chamois feet had tracked a way; My customed journey on the Baptist's day. With gun in hand and leashed dogs by my side I climbed the hills, which lessened every stride, And thought how eve with joy the day should crown, How I should knock and entering in sit down Before his hearthstone bright with maple brand, And see the board spread by his bounteous hand With garden-spoil on cloth so dazzling white, And then converse far through the silent night. I seemed indeed already to rejoice In all the sweetness of his touching voice; Already seemed to feel his grasping hand Speak, whilst his heart no language could command; For should all friendship's other speech depart, The hand bears testimony for the heart. And when at last I gained the crowning height Which brought his roof in unobstructed sight, Against a boulder grey my gun I laid, And, fanned by welcome breezes, gladly stayed My burning brow to cool; and strained my eyes To catch—but vainly, to my deep surprise—A glimpse of black robes 'neath the orchard trees; For 'twas his holy evening hour of ease, When by the rays the sun at parting shed His breviary in solitude he read; And soon I noted, wondering more and more, That where his chimney smoke upwreathed of yore At eve, as I had often seen, was none; Then marked the window darkened to the sun; And o'er my heart there swept a shade of fear As wind sweeps shiv'ring over water drear. To shape my sudden dread I made no stay, But to...
