Upon  a  moonlight  evening,  a-sitting  in  the  shade;
He  saw  her  wave  her  handkerchief,  as  much  as  if  to  say,
''  I'm  wide  awake,  young  oysterman,  and  all  the  folks  away."

Then  up  arose  the  oysterman,  and  to  himself  said  he,

'^I  guess  I'll  leave  the  skiff  at  home,  for  fear  that  folks

should  see;
I  read  it  in  the  story-book,  that,  for  to  kiss  his  dear,
Leander  swam  the  Hellespont — and  I  will  swim  this  here."

And  he  has  leaped  into  the  waves,  and  crossed  the  shining

stream.
And  he  has  clambered  up  the  bank,  all  in  the  moonlight

gleam;


584  Narrative

O  there  were  kisses  sweet  as  dew,  and  words  as  soft  as  rain —
But  they  have  heard  her  father's  step,  and  in  he  leaps  again  I

Out  spoke  the  ancient  fisherman — ^^'O  what  was  that,  my

daughter!"
**  'Twas  nothing  hut  a  pehhle,  sir,  I  threw  into  the  water."
^And  what  is  that,  pray  tell  me,  love,  that  paddles  off  so

fast?''
''It's  nothing  but  a  porpoise,  sir,  that's  been  a-swimming

past"

Out  spoke  the  ancient  fisherman — *^  Now  bring  me  ndy  har-
poon!

I'll  get  into  my  fishing-boat,  and  fix  the  fellow  soon."

Down  fell  that  pretty  innocent,  as  falls  a  snow-white  lamb;

Her  hair  drooped  round  her  pallid  cheeks,  like  sea-weed  on
a  dam.
Alas  for  those  two  loving  ones  I  she  waked  not  from  her

Bwound,
And  he  was  taken  with  the  cramp,  and  in  the  waves  was

drowned ;
But  Fate  has  metamorphosed  them,  in  pity  of  their  wo.
And  now  they  keep  an  oyster-shop  for  mermaids  down  below.
Oliver  Wendell  Holmes.
THE  WELL  OF  ST.  KEYNE

A  WELL  there  is  in  the  west  country.
