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O my aged Uncle Arly!Sitting on a heap of Barley Thro’ the silent hours of night, —Close beside a leafy thicket: —On his nose there was a Cricket, —In his hat a Railway-Ticket; — (But his shoes were far too tight.)

II

Long ago, in youth, he squander’dAll his goods away, and wander’d To the Tiniskoop-hills afar.There on golden sunsets blazing,Every morning found him gazing, —Singing – “Orb! you’re quite amazing! How I wonder what you are!”

III

Like the ancient Medes and Persians,Always by his own exertions He subsisted on those hills; —Whiles, – by teaching children spelling, —Or at times by merely yelling, —Or at intervals by selling “Propter’s Nicodemus Pills.”

IV

Later, in his morning ramblesHe perceived the moving brambles — Something square and white disclose; —‘Twas a First-class Railway-Ticket;But, on stooping down to pick itOff the ground, – a pea-green Cricket Settled on my uncle’s Nose.

V

Never – never more, – oh! never,Did that Cricket leave him ever, — Dawn or evening, day or night; —Clinging as a constant treasure, —Chirping with a cheerious measure, —Wholly to my uncle’s pleasure (Though his shoes were far too tight.)

VI

So for three-and-forty winters,Till his shoes were worn to splinters, All those hills he wander’d o’er, —Sometimes silent; – sometimes yelling; —Till he came to Borley-Melling,Near his old ancestral dwelling; — (But his shoes were far too tight.)

VII

On a little heap of BarleyDied my aged uncle Arly, And they buried him one night; —Close beside the leafy thicket; —There, – his hat and Railway-Ticket; —There, – his ever-faithful Cricket; — (But his shoes were far too tight.)

Эпизоды жизни моего дяди Арли

I

О мой Арли незабвенный!Ночью на копне ячменнойОн сидел в тени ольхи:На носу – Сверчок дотошный,Шляпа, железнодорожныйВ ней билет пустопорожний(Жутко жали башмаки).

II

В юности, давно когда-то,Жил он праздно и богато,Всё спустил, побрёл к Холмам.Там прижился, наблюдаяХод светил и распевая:«Солнце! Сфера золотая!Ты загадка!» – по утрам.

III

Словно перс или мидянин,Он трудился, неустанен,Чтобы жить среди Холмов —Детям знанья отдавая,Временами завываяИ недужным продаваяГруды разных порошков.

IV

Как-то на прогулке раннейУглядел квадратик странный —На земле билет белел;Дядя Арли встрепенулсяИ поднять его нагнулся,Тут Сверчонок подвернулся,Прыг – и на нос Арли сел.

V

Так они и задружились —Пили, ели, спать ложилисьНеразлейные дружки;Пел Сверчок не умолкая,Вкусу дяди потакая,Арли нравилась такаяЖизнь (хоть жали башмаки).

VI

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