The strap-hanging homeward ride.

Straight to thine heart I fled, unfaltering, Like homeward pigeon with uncagèd wing.

And the eye and ear are meeting, Now, the slow sheep homeward bleating; Now, the wonted shelter near, Lowing the lusty-fronted steer Creaking now the heavy wain, Reels with the happy harvest grain; While, with many-colored leaves, Glitters the garland on the sheaves; For the mower's work is done, And the young folks' dance begun!

In life's young morning, When heavenly promise lit his day, His smitten spirit, homeward turning, Forsook its tenement of clay.

He had made nearly four miles on his solitary homeward way, when, passing under a ledge of rock which bears the name of the Cat's Skaitch, he saw the same figure in the short cloak standing within some thirty or forty yards of himthe thin curtain of mist, through which the moonlight touched it, giving to it an airy and unsubstantial character.

The owls have hardly sung their last, While our four travellers homeward wend; The owls have hooted all night long, And with the owls began my song, 435 And with the owls must end.

Oh, the Friday evening meetings, and the happy homeward stroll, While the moonlight softly mingled with the love-light in your soul; Then the lingering 'neath the lattice where the roses hung above, And the "good-night" kiss at parting, and the whispered word of love, Ah, they lighted Life's dark highway with a sweet and sacred glow From the Friday evening meetings in the vestry, long ago.