Hewasasdeftasworkmentwain；hedressedThestones，andinthemortarthenhepressedTheheavyblocks；theworkmenfoundhimcheerful。
Mountingtheladderlikeabird：
Heskippedacrosstheraftersfearful。
Hesmiledasheascended，smiledashedescended——
Theverymasonstrembledathishardiness：
Buthewasworkingforhisfather——inhisgladness，Hislifewasfullofhappiness；
HisbravecompanionslovedtheboyWhofilledtheirlittlelifewithjoy。
Theysawthesweatrundownhisbrow，Andclappedtheirhands，thoughwearyhewasnow。
WhatblissofAbel，whentheday’swork’so’er，Andthebrightstarswereshining：
Untotheofficehemustgo，Anddonhisbetterclothing——
Thushispoorfathertodeceive，whothoughthewenta-clerking。
Hetookhispaperhomeandwrote，’midsttalkwithJanesoshyly，Andwithatwinklingeyeheansweredmother’slookssoslyly。
Threedaysthuspassed，andthesickmanarose，Lifenowappearedtohimasweetrepose。
OnThursday，temptingwastheroad；
Atmidday，Friday，hemustwalkabroad。
But，fatalFriday——Godhasmadeforsorrow。
Thefather，warmedupbythesun’sbrightray，Hiedtothework-yard，smilingbytheway；
Hewishedtothankthefriendwhoworkedforhim，Butsawhimnot——hiseyesweredim——
Yethewasnear；andlookingup，hesawnopeopleworking，Nodinner-bellhadstruck，noworkmensurewerelurking。
Oh，God！what’shappenedatthebuildingyard?
Acrowdcollected——master，mason——asonguard。”What’sthis?”theoldmancried。”Alas！somemanhasfallen！”
Perhapsitwashisfriend！Hissoulwithgriefwasburning。
Heran。Beforehimthrongedthepressofmen，Theytriedtothrusthimbackagain；
Butno；Hilairepressedthroughthecrowdofworkingmen。
Oh，wretchedfather——manunfortunate；
Thefriendwhosavedtheewasthychild——sadfate！
Nowhehasfallenfromtheladder’shead，Andliesableedingmass，nownearlydead！
NowHilaireutteredamostfearfulcry；
Thechildhadgivenhislife，nowhemightdie。
Alas！thebleedingyouthWasinhisdeath-throes，hecouldscarcelybreathe；”Master，”hesaid，”I’venotfulfilledmytask，But，inthenameofmypoormotherdear，Forthedaylost，takefatheronatlast。”
Thefatherheard，o’erwhelmedhewaswithfear，Abelnowsawhim，feltthathewasnear，Inclinedhisheaduponhisbreast，andpraying-
Handheldinhand，hesmiledonhimwhiledying。
ForHilary，hisplacewaswellpreserved，Hiswagesmightperhapsbedoubled。
Toolate！toolate！onesaddenedmornThesorrowofhislifewasgone；
Andthegoodfather，withhispallidface，WentnowtotakeanotherplaceWithinthetomb，besidehismuchlovedson。
FootnotestoTHEMASON’SSON。
[1]Jasminsays，”thesubjectofthispoemishistorical，andrecentlytookplaceinourneighbourhood。”
THEPOORMAN’SDOCTOR。
[LOUMEDICIDESPAURES。]
DedicatedtoM。CANY，PhysicianofToulouse。
WiththepermissionoftheRev。Dr。J。DuncanCraig，ofGlenagary，Kingston，Dublin，Iadopt，withsomealterations，hisfreetranslationofJasmin’spoem。
SweetcomesthisAprilmorning，itsfaintperfumesexhaling；
Brilliantshinesthesun，socrisp，sobright，sofreshening；
Pearl-likegleamandsparklethedew-dropsontherose，Whilegreyandgnarledolivesdrooplikegiantsinrepose。
Soundethlow，solemnly，themid-daybellinth’air，Glidethonsadlyamaidensickwithcare；
Herheadisbent，andsobbingwordssheshedswithmanyatear，But’tweenthechapelandthewindmillanotherdothappear。
Shelaughsandplucksthelovelyflowerswithmanyajoyousbound，Theother，paleandspiritless，looksupwardfromtheground；”Wheregoestthou，sweetMarianne，thislovelyAprilday?””BeneaththeelmsofAgen——thereliesmydestinedway。”IgotoseekthisverydaytheDoctorofthePoor。[1]
Did’stthounothearhowskilfullyhedidmymothercure?
Beholdthissilverinmyhand，thesevioletssosweet，Theguerdonofhislovingcare——I’lllaythemathisfeet。”Now，dostthounotremember，mydarlingMarianne，Howinourlonelyhutthetyphusfeverran?
Andwewerepoor，withoutafriend，ore’enourdailybread，Andsadlythen，andsorrowful，dearmotherbowedherhead。”Oneday，thesunwasshininglowinluridwesternsky，All，all，ourlittlewealthwasgone，andmotheryearnedtodie，Whensudden，attheopendoor，ashadowcrossedtheway，Andcheerfullyamanlyvoicedidwordsofcomfortsay：”’Takecourage，friends，yourillsIknow，yourlifeIhopetosave。’
’Toolate！’dearmothercried；’toolate！Myhomeisinthegrave；
Ourthingsarepledged，ourmed’cinegone，e’enbreadwecannotbuy。’
Thedoctorshudder’d，thengrewpale，butsadlystilldrewnigh。”Nocurtainshadweonourbed：Imarkedhispallidface；
Fivesilvercrownsnowforthhedrewwithmelancholygrace——
’Poorwoman，taketheseworthlesscoins，suppressyourbittergrief！
Don’tblush；repaythemwhenyoucan——thesedropswillgiverelief。’”Heleftthehut，andwentaway；soonsleep’srefreshingcalmRelievedthepatienthehadhelped——awonder-workingbalm；
Theworldnowseemedtosmileagain，likespringtideflowerssogay，Whilemother，brothers，andmyself，incessantworkedaway。”Thus，liketheswallowswhichreturnwithspringuntoourshore，Thedoctorbroughtrejoicingbackuntoourvine-wreatheddoor；
Andwearehappy，Isabel，andmoneytoowe’vemade；
Butwhydostweep，whenIcanlaugh?”thegentlemaidensaid。”Alas！alas！dearMarianne，Iweepandmournto-day，Fromyourhousetoourcottage-homethefevermadeitsway；
Myfatherlieswithghastlyface，andmanyaravingcry——
Oh，wouldthatDurandtoomightcome，beforethesickmandie！””DearIsabel，hasteon，hasteon——we’llseekhishousethishour！
Come，letusrun，andhastenonwithallourutmostpower。
He’llleavetherichestpalaceforthepoorman’shumbleroof——
He’sfarfromrich，exceptinlove，ofthatwe’vehadfullproof！”
ThegoodGodblessthenobleheartthatcarethforthepoor；
Thenforththepantingchildrenspeedtoseekthesickman’scure；
Andasbeneathourgiantelmstheypasswithrapidtread，Theyscarcelydaretolookaround，orlifttheirwearyhead。
Thetownatlastisreached，bythePont-Longtheyenter，ClosebytheHuedesJacobins，nearDurand’shousetheyventure。
Aroundtheportalsofthedoortherethrongsamournfulcrowd；
TheyseetheCross，theyheartheprieststheRequiemchauntaloud。
Thegirlsweretroubledintheirsouls，theirmindswererentwithgrief；
Oneaboveall，youngMarianne，wastremblinglikealeaf：
Anotherdeath——oh，cruelthought！thenofherfatherdying，ShequicklyrantoDurand’sdoor，andaskedaneighbour，crying：”Where’sthegooddoctor，sir，Ipray?Iseekhimformyfather！”
Hesoftreplied，”ThegraciousGodintoHisfolddothgatherThebestofpoorfolks’doctorsnow，tohiseternalrest；
Theybearthebodyforth，’tistrue：hisspirit’swiththeblest。”
Brightonhiscorpsethecandlesshinearoundhisnarrowbier，Escortedbythecrowdsofpoorwithmanyabittertear；
Nomore，alas！canhethesadandanguished-ladencure——
Oh，wail！ForDurandisnomore——theDoctorofthePoor！
FootnotestoTHEPOORMAN’SDOCTOR。