IV. Year after year my stock it grew; Is all that is alive; And now I care not if we die, And perish all of poverty. V. Six Children, Sir! had I to feed; My pride was tamed, and in our greif They said, I was a wealthy man ; My sheep upon the uplands fed, And it was fit that thence I took 'Do this: how can we give to you,' They cried, what to the poor is due? VI. I sold a sheep, as they had said, A woeful time it was for me, To see the end of all my gains, The pretty flock which I had reared To see it melt like snow away- VII. Another still! and still another ! A little lamb, and then its mother! It was a vein that never stopped Like blood-drops from my heart they dropped. 'Till thirty were not left alive They dwindled, dwindled, one by one; And I may say, that many a time I wished they all were gone- VIII. To wicked deeds I was inclined, I went my work about; And oft was moved to flee from home, And hide my head where wild beasts roam. IX. Sir! 'twas a precious flock to me. And every week, and every day, X. They dwindled, Sir, sad sight to see! I had but only one : And here it lies upon my arm, To-day I fetched it from the rock; It is the last of all my flock." 1798. XXI. REPENTANCE. A PASTORAL BALLAD. THE fields which with covetous spirit we sold, When the troublesome Tempter beset us, said I, 'Let him come, with his purse proudly grasped in his hand; But, Allan, be true to me, Allan,—we'll die Before he shall go with an inch of the land!' There dwelt we, as happy as birds in their bowers; We could do what we liked with the land, it was ours; But now we are strangers, go early or late; |