The Herd Boy and His Hermit

The Herd Boy and His Hermit

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Title: The Herd Boy and His Hermit
Author: Charlotte M. Yonge
Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5313] [Yes, we are more than one
year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on June 29, 2002]
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for Charlotte M Yonge may be found at
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THE HERD BOY AND HIS HERMIT
BY
CHARLOTTE M. YONGE

Henry, thou of holy birth, Thou, to whom thy Windsor gave Nativity
and name and grave Heavily upon his head Ancestral crimes were
visited. Meek in heart and undefiled, Patiently his soul resigned,
Blessing, while he kissed the rod, His Redeemer and his God.
SOUTHEY

CONTENTS

CHAPTER
I. IN THE MOSS
II. THE SNOW-STORM
III. OVER THE MOOR
IV. A SPORTING PRIORESS
V. MOTHER AND SON
VI. A CAUTIOUS STEPFATHER

VII. ON DERWENT BANKS
VIII. THE HERMIT
IX. HENRY OF WINDSOR
X. THE SCHOLAR OF THE MOUNTAINS
XI. THE RED ROSE
XII. A PRUDENT RECEPTION
XIII. FELLOW TRAVELLERS
XIV. THE JOURNEY
XV. BLETSO
XVI. THE HERMIT IN THE TOWER
XVII. A CAPTIVE KING
XVIII. AT THE MINORESSES
XIX. A STRANGE EASTER EVE
XX. BARNET
XXI. TEWKESBURY
XXII. THE NUT BROWN MAID
XXIII. BROUGHAM CASTLE

THE HERD BOY AND HIS HERMIT

CHAPTER I

. IN THE MOSS

I can conduct you, lady, to a low But loyal cottage where you may be
safe Till further quest.--MILTON.
On a moorland slope where sheep and goats were dispersed among the
rocks, there lay a young lad on his back, in a stout canvas cassock over
his leathern coat, and stout leathern leggings over wooden shoes.
Twilight was fast coming on; only a gleam of purple light rested on the
top of the eastern hills, but was gradually fading away, though the sky
to the westward still preserved a little pale golden light by the help of
the descending crescent moon.
'Go away, horned moon,' murmured the boy. 'I want to see my stars
come out before Hob comes to call me home, and the goats are getting
up already. Moon, moon, thou mayst go quicker. 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 and fair, but not mine! That's the evening star --one of the
wanderers. Is it the same as comes in the morning betimes, when we do
not have it at night? Like that it shines with steady light and twinkles
not. I would that I knew! There! there's mine, my own star, far up, only
paling while the sun glaring blazes in the sky; mine own, he that from
afar drives the stars in Charles's Wain. There they come, the good old
twinkling team of three, and the four of the Wain! 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 the moonshine! Piers--deaf as he is--waking at their
music. Ba, they call the lambs! Nay, that's no 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 a great unwieldy collie puppy--'let us find her.'
A feeble piteous sound answered him, and following the direction of
the reply, he strode along, between the rocks and thorn-bushes that
guarded the slope of the hill, to a valley