The Herd Boy and His Hermit

e'er so we

ne path in w

EB

lope of one of the gorges down which smaller streams rushed in wet weather to join the Derwent. There was a sound of tinkling water, and leaning forward, Hal

were stran

reator

erum pro

s foot slipped, and with Watch barking round him, he rolled helplessly down the rock, and found himself befor

ne's touching his master. 'Holy sir, thanks, great thanks,' as a lo

. 'Hast thou lost thy way? Good dog, t

nk you, I kno

with the shepherd at Derwe

aid Hal. 'Oh, sir, are you the

the answer, with something of a s

r speak to me! If you would help me to some bett

y God?' said the hermit, a sweet l

long after is to tell me what means all this-yonder sea, and all the stars up above. And they will call me a simpleton for marking such as these, and only want me to heed

to defend,' said the hermit sadly; 'I would have thee learn and prac

n a mystery play long long ago-when a Hand cam

e Hand was figured

! But why do some move about among the others-one big one moves from the Bull's

aid the hermit smiling, 'to understand the circuits

the boy, startled. '

but in some things I may aid thee, and I shall

edo and Pater. She says the old parson used to teach them our own tong

hermit, laying his long delicate hand on Hal's

n under starvation, and how time went neither knew till there was a rustling and a step. Watch sprang u

to make a sign, saying, 'Thou se

ng Lord! Sworn to silence, I trust!

ll over the rock by the waterfall, but since he is here, I

al. 'Hob Hogward knows that I can keep

y will I welcome thee, my fair child, whensoever thou canst find thy

home,' replied Hal; then, putting a knee to th

ee with all my soul, thou fatherless lad,' and he laid his hand on the young lad's wond

ering as he walked how the hermit seemed to know him-him whose presence had been so sedulo

wanderings that he encountered no questions, only one of Hob's growls that he should always

d, and my lord had stumbled incontinently on the anchoret's den, it was the holy man's will that he might come there whenever

nd Sir Lancelot if they would have i

a word to the Threlkeld or any of his kin! Let well alone! I only wish the lad had never gone a-roaming the

as certain to find him saying his prayers. Food was supplied by Simon himself, and, since Hal's admission, was often carried by him, and the hermit seemed to spend his time either in prayer or in a gentle dreamy state of meditation, though he always lighted up into animation at the arrival of the boy whom he had made his friend. Hal had thought him old at first, on the p

come with Watch by his side, and encouraged to talk and ask questions, which the hermit answered with what seemed to the boy the utmost wisdom, but older heads would have seen not to be that of a clev

little portuary, or abbreviated manual of the service, was all that the hermit possessed, treasured with his small crucifix in his bosom, and of course it was in Latin. The Hours of the Church he knew by heart, and never failed to observe them, training his young pupil in the repetition and English meaning of such as occurred durin

ng; he showed no such dislike or backwardness in chivalrous exercises as previously; and when once Sir Lancelo

ere's nought like having an old squire trained in the

of demeanour, and partly by the rather sad assurances that it was well that a man born to his station, if he ever regained it, should be able to defend himself and others, and not be

written on vellum, so as to be illegible to anyone unfamiliar with writing, with Latin, or the service. However, the anchoret yielded to his importunity so far

pil made a remark or asked a question. Yet he was always concerned at his own inattention when awakened, and would apologise in a tone of humility that always made Hal feel grieved and ashamed of having be

k he is a saint,'

ts don't come down from he

im at his prayers. His face is like the angel at

t chapel? Thou wert a b

ermit's face brought all back again, and the

so long! This hermit is

orthy; but sure all saint

uld let me go to church. But look thee here, Hal, if he be such a saint as thou sayst, maybe

for anything, and accordingly asked permission of him

. 'Is the poor child then afflicted wi

her hear nor speak, and if you, holy sir, would lay thine hand on

est-nay, a greater sinner, in that a burthen was laid on me that I had not the soul to rise to, so that the sin and

standing by in awestruck amazement, heard no more save sob

full effect of his request, but when he thought it over he was all the more convinced that his friend was a great saint. Had he not always heard that saints believed themselves great sinners, and