 | [Poems by Payne in] John Howard Payne ... his life and writings |  |
THE WANDERER.
The mother of a young lamb died,
And left it helpless on the wild.
A shepherd found it, 'twas his pride,—
He lov'd it almost like a child,—
It never left him—'till one day
He looked and 'twas no longer there!
“My precious lamb is gone astray!
In vain I seek her everywhere!
She's gone! my lov'd one's gone!” he cried,
“My hope is gone, my joy, my pride!”
And only Echo's voice replied,
“She's gone! she's gone!”
And left it helpless on the wild.
A shepherd found it, 'twas his pride,—
He lov'd it almost like a child,—
It never left him—'till one day
He looked and 'twas no longer there!
“My precious lamb is gone astray!
In vain I seek her everywhere!
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“My hope is gone, my joy, my pride!”
And only Echo's voice replied,
“She's gone! she's gone!”
But soon the thoughtless truant yearn'd
For him she left so desolate,
And when the shepherd home return'd,
He found her at his cottage gate!
The shepherd did not then disdain
The lamb he had so loved before,
But took it to his heart again,
Forgave it, and it stray'd no more!
“She's here!” the exulting shepherd cried,
“She never more will quit my side!”
And both with Echo now replied,
“She's here, she's here!”
For him she left so desolate,
And when the shepherd home return'd,
He found her at his cottage gate!
The shepherd did not then disdain
The lamb he had so loved before,
But took it to his heart again,
Forgave it, and it stray'd no more!
“She's here!” the exulting shepherd cried,
“She never more will quit my side!”
And both with Echo now replied,
“She's here, she's here!”
| [Poems by Payne in] John Howard Payne ... his life and writings | |