 | Jane and Ann Taylor: Original Poems for Infant Minds |  |
THE SHEPHERD BOY.
Upon a mountain's grassy steep,
Where moss and heather grew,
Young Colin wander'd with his sheep,
And many a hardship knew.
Where moss and heather grew,
Young Colin wander'd with his sheep,
And many a hardship knew.
No downy pillow for his head,
No shelter'd home had he;
The green grass was his only bed,
Beneath some shady tree.
No shelter'd home had he;
The green grass was his only bed,
Beneath some shady tree.
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Dry bread and water from the spring
Composed his temperate fare:
Yet he a thankful heart could bring,
Nor felt a murmur there.
Composed his temperate fare:
Yet he a thankful heart could bring,
Nor felt a murmur there.
Contented with his low estate,
He often used to say—
He envied not the rich or great,
More happy far than they.
He often used to say—
He envied not the rich or great,
More happy far than they.
While 'neath some spreading oak he stood,
Beside his browsing flocks,
His soft pipe warbled through the wood,
And echo'd from the rocks.
Beside his browsing flocks,
His soft pipe warbled through the wood,
And echo'd from the rocks.
An ancient castle on the plain,
In silent grandeur stood,
Where dwelt Lord Henry, proud and vain,
But not like Colin, good.
In silent grandeur stood,
Where dwelt Lord Henry, proud and vain,
But not like Colin, good.
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And oft his lands he wander'd through,
Or on the mountain's side;
And with surprise and envy too,
The humble Colin eyed.
Or on the mountain's side;
And with surprise and envy too,
The humble Colin eyed.
“And why am I denied,” said he,
“That cheerfulness and joy,
Which ever and anon I see
In this poor shepherd boy?
“That cheerfulness and joy,
Which ever and anon I see
In this poor shepherd boy?
“No wealth nor lands has he secure
No titled honours high;
And yet, though destitute and poor,
He seems more blest than I.”
No titled honours high;
And yet, though destitute and poor,
He seems more blest than I.”
But this Lord Henry did not know,
That pleasure ne'er is found
Where pride and passion overflow,
And evil deeds abound.
That pleasure ne'er is found
Where pride and passion overflow,
And evil deeds abound.
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Colin, though poor, was glad and gay,
For he was good and kind;
While selfish passions every day
Disturb'd Lord Henry's mind.
For he was good and kind;
While selfish passions every day
Disturb'd Lord Henry's mind.
Thus Colin had for his reward,
Contentment with his lot;
More happy than this noble lord,
Who sought but found it not.
Contentment with his lot;
More happy than this noble lord,
Who sought but found it not.
| Jane and Ann Taylor: Original Poems for Infant Minds | |