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The New World Edition of the Works of Rudyard Kipling
The New World Edition of the Works of Rudyard Kipling Author:Rudyard Kipling Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE LAND "hen Julius Fabricius, Sub-Prefect of the Weald, In the days of Diocletian owned our Lower River-field, He called to him Hobdenius—a Briton of the Cl... more »ay. Saying: 'What about that River-piece for layin' in to hay?' And the aged Hobden answered: 'I remember as a lad My father told your father that she wanted dreenin' bad. An' the more that you neeglect her the less you'll get her clean. Have it jest as you've a mind to, but, if I was you, I'd dreen.' So they drained it long and crossways in the lavish Roman style. Still we find among the river-drift their flakes of ancient tile, And in drouthy middle August, when the bones of meadows show, We can trace the lines they followed sixteen hundred years ago. Then Julius Fabricius died as even Prefects do, And after certain centuries, Imperial Rome died too. Then did robbers enter Britain from across the Northern main And our Lower River-field was won by Ogier the Dane. Well could Ogier work his war-boat—well could Ogier wield his brand— Much he knew of foaming waters—not so much of farming land. So he called to him a Hobden of the old unaltered blood, Saying: 'What about that River-bit, she doesn't look no good?' And that aged Hobden answered: ' 'Tain't for me to interfere, But I've known that bit o' meadow now for five and fifty year. Have it jest as you've a mind to, but I've proved it time on time. If you want to change her nature you have got to give her lime!' Ogier sent his wains to Lewes, twenty hours' solemn walk, And drew back great abundance of the cool, grey, healing chalk. And old Hobden spread it broadcast, never heeding what was in't; Which is why in cleaning ditches, now and then we find a flint. Ogier died. His sons grew English. Angl...« less