Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. V. Browning to Rupert Brooke

Thomas Edward Brown (1830–1897)

Extracts from Clevedon Verses: [Poihmation]: For J. P.

IT was in pleasant Derbyshire,

Upon a bright spring day,

From a valley to a valley

I sought to find a way;

And I met a little lad,

A lad both blithe and bold;

And his eyes were of the blue,

And his hair was of the gold.

“Ho! little lad, of yonder point

The name come quickly tell!”

Then, prompt as any echo,

Came the answer:—“Tap o’ th’ hill.”

“But has it any other name

That a man may say—as thus—

Kinderscout, or Fairbrook Naze?”

Then said the child, with constant gaze:—

“Tap o’ th’ hill it gets with us.”

“Yes, yes!” I said, “but has it not

Some other name as well?

Its own, you know?” “Aye, aye?” he said,

“Tap o’ th’ hill! tap o’ th’ hill!”

“But your father, now? how calls it he?”

Then clear as is a bell

Rang out the merry laugh:—“Of course,

He calls it Tap o’ th’ hill!”

So I saw it was no use;

But I said within myself:—

“He has a wholesome doctrine,

This cheerful little elf.”

And O, the weary knowledge!

And O, the hearts that swell!

And O, the blessed limit—

“Tap o’ th’ hill! tap o’ th’ hill!”