Charlotte M Yonge

The Herd Boy and His Hermit Charlotte M Yonge

On a moorland slope where sheep and goats were dispersed among the rocks, there lay ayoung lad on his back, in a stout canvas cassock over his leathern coat, and stout leathernleggings over wooden shoes. Twilight was fast coming on; only a gleam of purple lightrested on the top of the eastern hills, but was gradually fading away, though the sky to thewestward still preserved a little pale golden light by the help of the descending crescentmoon.'Go away, horned moon, ' murmured the boy. 'I want to see my stars come out before Hobcomes to call me home, and the goats are getting up already. Moon, moon, thou mayst goquicker. Thou wilt have longer time to-morrow-and be higher in the sky, as well as bigger, and thou mightst let me see my star to-night! Ah! there is one high in the sunset, pale andfair, but not mine! That's the evening star-one of the wanderers. Is it the same as comes inthe morning betimes, when we do not have it at night? Like that it shines with steady lightand twinkles not. I would that I knew! There! there's mine, my own star, far up, only palingwhile the sun glaring blazes in the sky; mine own, he that from afar drives the stars inCharles's Wain. There they come, the good old twinkling team of three, and the four of theWain! Old Billy Goat knows them too! Up he gets, and all in his wake "Ha-ha-ha" he calls, and the Nannies answer. Ay, and the sheep are rising up too! How white they look in themoonshine! Piers-deaf as he is-waking at their music. Ba, they call the lambs! Nay, that'sno call of sheep or goat! 'Tis some child crying, all astray! Ha! Hilloa, where beest thou?Tarry till I come! Move not, or thou mayst be in the bogs and mosses! Come, Watch'-to agreat unwieldy collie puppy-'let us find he