306
THE KING'S SURVEYOR.
Some workmen, beguiling their early walk
With simple, cheery, jovial talk,
Went up Church Hill where St. John's doth stand
Looking out o'er the water and hi o'er the land.
With simple, cheery, jovial talk,
Went up Church Hill where St. John's doth stand
Looking out o'er the water and hi o'er the land.
They had wrought on the belfry long days before,
And were come to take up their toil once more,
And the staging whereby they reached that height
They lifted at morning and lowered at night.
And were come to take up their toil once more,
And the staging whereby they reached that height
They lifted at morning and lowered at night.
Midway up the hillside a boisterous shout
From the trio of honest throats rang out,
For lo! the staging swung high in air,
And—"What in the world is that up there
From the trio of honest throats rang out,
For lo! the staging swung high in air,
And—"What in the world is that up there
Surely it is—but can it be?—
An old horse gazing out to sea;
With sleepy eyes and listless ears,
As if he had gazed and gazed for years!
An old horse gazing out to sea;
With sleepy eyes and listless ears,
As if he had gazed and gazed for years!
Did he follow some dim receding sail?
It is not recorded in the tale;
But I'll venture to add the workmen swore
No horse ever stood so near heaven before.
It is not recorded in the tale;
But I'll venture to add the workmen swore
No horse ever stood so near heaven before.
When the village had fairly opened its eyes,
Fancy the merriment and surprise
That followed its wake as the story flew round
How the ancient horse on the staging was found!
Fancy the merriment and surprise
That followed its wake as the story flew round
How the ancient horse on the staging was found!
