 | I SAW A LITTLE GIRL.
SONG FOR CHILDREN. Water-drops |  |
22. I SAW A LITTLE GIRL.
SONG FOR CHILDREN.
I SAW a little girl,
With half uncovered form,
And wondered why she wandered thus
Amid the winter storm.
They said her mother drank of that
Which took her sense away,
And so, she let her children roam
Unheeded, day by day.
I saw them take a man
To prison for his crime,
Where solitude, and punishment,
And toil divide the time.
And as they led him through the gate
Unwillingly along,
They told me 'twas intemperance,
That made him do the wrong.
With half uncovered form,
And wondered why she wandered thus
Amid the winter storm.
They said her mother drank of that
Which took her sense away,
And so, she let her children roam
Unheeded, day by day.
I saw them take a man
To prison for his crime,
Where solitude, and punishment,
And toil divide the time.
And as they led him through the gate
Unwillingly along,
They told me 'twas intemperance,
That made him do the wrong.
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I saw a woman weep,
As though her heart would break;—
They said her husband drank too much
Of what he should not take.
I saw an unfrequented mound,
Where weeds and brambles wave;—
On which had fallen no mourning tear,—
It was the drunkard's grave.
They said these were not all
The risks the intemperate run,—
For there was danger, lest the soul
Be evermore undone.
Since crystal water is so sweet,
And beautiful to see,
And never leads to harm or woe,
It is the drink for me.
As though her heart would break;—
They said her husband drank too much
Of what he should not take.
I saw an unfrequented mound,
Where weeds and brambles wave;—
On which had fallen no mourning tear,—
It was the drunkard's grave.
They said these were not all
The risks the intemperate run,—
For there was danger, lest the soul
Be evermore undone.
Since crystal water is so sweet,
And beautiful to see,
And never leads to harm or woe,
It is the drink for me.
| I SAW A LITTLE GIRL.
SONG FOR CHILDREN. Water-drops | |