t you gave us.

_M_. Did you say
The afternoon was bright?

_J_. Yes, bright indeed!
The sun is on the plane-tree, and it flames
All red and orange.

_C_. I can see my father--
Look! look! the leaves are falling on his gown.

_M_. Where?

_C_. In the churchyard, Uncle--he is gone:
He passed behind the tower.

_M_. I heard a bell:
There is a funeral, then, behind the church.

_2d Child_. Are the trees sorry when their leaves drop off?

_1st Child_. You talk such silly words;--no, not at all.
There goes another leaf.

_2d Child_. I did not see.

_1st Child_. Look! on the grass, between the little hills.
Just where they planted Amy.

_J._ Amy died--
Dear little Amy! when you talk of her,
Say, she is gone to heaven.

_2d Child_. They planted her--
Will she come up next year?

_1st Child_. No, not so soon;
But some day God will call her to come up,
And then she will. Papa knows everything--
He said she would before he planted her.

_2d Child_. It was at night she went to heaven. Last night
We saw a star before we went to bed.

_1st Child_. Yes, Uncle, did you know? A large bright star,
And at her side she had some little ones--
Some young ones.

_M_. Young ones! no, my little maid,
Those stars are very old.

_1st Child_. What! all of them?

_M_. Yes.

_1st Child_. Older than our father?

_M_. Older, far.

_2d Child_. They must be tired of shining there so long.
Perhaps they wish they might come down.

_J_. Perhaps!
Dear children, talk of what you understand.
Come, I must lift the trailing creepers up
That last night's wind has loosened.

_1st Child_. May we help?
Aunt, may we help to nail them?

_J._ We shall see.
Go, find and bring the hammer, and some shreds.

_[Steps outside the window, lifts a branch, and sings.]_

Should I change my allegiance for rancor
If fortune changes her side?
Or should I, like a vessel at anchor,
Turn with the turn of the tide?
Lift! O lift, thou lowering sky;
An thou wilt, thy gloom forego!
An thou wilt not, he and I
Need not part for drifts of snow.

_M. [within_] Lift! no, thou lowering sky, thou wilt not lift--
Thy motto readeth, "Never."

_Children_. Here they are!
Here are the nails! and may we help?

_J_. You shall,
If I should want help.

_1st C