ummer ... 1842.]

[Variant 15:

1845.

The suns of twenty summers danced along,--
Ah! little marked, how fast they rolled away:
Then rose a mansion proud our woods among,
And cottage after cottage owned its sway,
No joy to see a neighbouring house, or stray
Through pastures not his own, the master took;
My Father dared his greedy wish gainsay;
He loved his old hereditary nook,
And ill could I the thought of such sad parting brook. 1798.

Then rose a stately hall our woods among, 1800.

... how fast they rolled away:
But, through severe mischance, and cruel wrong,
My father's substance fell into decay;
We toiled, and struggled--hoping for a day
When Fortune should put on a kinder look;
But vain were wishes--efforts vain as they:
He from his old hereditary nook
Must part,--the summons came,--our final leave we took. 1820.]

[Variant 16: The following stanza occurs only in the editions 1798 to
1805:

But, when he had refused the proffered gold,
To cruel injuries he became a prey,
Sore traversed in whate'er he bought and sold:
His troubles grew upon him day by day,
Till all his substance fell into decay.
His little range of water was denied; [i]
All but the bed where his old body lay,
All, all was seized, and weeping, side by side,
We sought a home where we uninjured might abide. 1798.

And all his substance fell into decay.
They dealt most hardly with him, and he tried
To move their hearts--but it was vain--for they
Seized all he had; and, weeping ... 1802-5.]

[Variant 17:

1820.

Can I forget that miserable hour, 1798.

It was in truth a lamentable hour 1802.]

[Variant 18:

1798.

I saw our own dear home, that was ... 1802.

The edition of 1820 returns to the text of 1798.]

[Variant 19:

1827.

... many and many a song 1798.]

[Variant 20:

1800.

... little birds ... 1798.]

[Variant 21:

1836.

His father said, that to a distant town
He must repair, to ply the artist's trade. 1798.

Two years were pass'd, since to a distant Town
He had repair'd to ply the artist's trade. 1802.]

[Variant 22:

1802.

Four years each day with daily bread was blest,
By constant toil and constant prayer supplied. 1798.]

[Variant 23: