Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/325
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THE ORPHANS.
307
With looks of woe too sadly true,
With looks that spoke a grateful heart,
The shivering boy then nearer drew,
And did his simple tale impart:
With looks that spoke a grateful heart,
The shivering boy then nearer drew,
And did his simple tale impart:
"Before my father went away,
Enticed by bad men o'er the sea,
Sister and I did nought but play—
We lived beside yon great ash-tree.
Enticed by bad men o'er the sea,
Sister and I did nought but play—
We lived beside yon great ash-tree.
But then poor mother did so cry,
And looked so changed, I cannot tell;
She told us that she soon would die,
And bade us love each other well.
And looked so changed, I cannot tell;
She told us that she soon would die,
And bade us love each other well.
She said that, when the war was o'er,
Perhaps we might our father see;
But if we never saw him more,
That God our Father then would be!
Perhaps we might our father see;
But if we never saw him more,
That God our Father then would be!
She kissed us both, and then she died,
And we no more a mother have:
Here many a day we've sat and cried
Together at poor mother's grave.
And we no more a mother have:
Here many a day we've sat and cried
Together at poor mother's grave.
But when my father came not here,
I thought if we could find the sea,
We should be sure to meet him there,
And once again might happy be.
I thought if we could find the sea,
We should be sure to meet him there,
And once again might happy be.
We hand in hand went many a mile,
And asked our way of all we met;
And some did sigh, and some did smile,
And we of some did victuals get.
And asked our way of all we met;
And some did sigh, and some did smile,
And we of some did victuals get.
But when we reached the sea, and found
'Twas one great water round us spread,
We thought that father must be drowned,
And cried, and wished we both were dead.
'Twas one great water round us spread,
We thought that father must be drowned,
And cried, and wished we both were dead.
So we returned to mother's grave,
And only long with her to be;
For Goody, when this bread she gave,
Said father died beyond the sea.
And only long with her to be;
For Goody, when this bread she gave,
Said father died beyond the sea.
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