the houses stood with shut doors.

　　I wandered along the crooked lane.

　　An old man came out with his bag of gold.

　　He pondered and said，”I will hire you with my money.“

　　He weighed his coins one by one，but I turned away.

　　It was evening. The garden hedge was all a flower.

　　The fair maid came out and said，”I hire you with a smile.“

　　Her smile paled and melted into tears，and she went back alone into the dark.

　　The sun glistened on the sand，and the sea waves broke waywardly.

　　A child sat playing with shells.

　　He raised his head and seemed to know me，and said，”I hire you with nothing.“

　　From thence forward that bargain struck in child's play made me a free man.