Читать книгу Come Hither: A Collection of Rhymes and Poems for the Young of All Ages онлайн

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With love that hath no feignings false, unto each gentle thing.

Therefore most sorrowful it was those children small to see,

Most sorrowful to hear them plead for the lamb so piteously:

"Oh! mother dear, it loveth us; and what beside have we?"

"Let's take him to the broad green hill!" in his impotent despair

Said one strong boy: "let's take him off, the hills are wide and fair;

I know a little hiding-place, and we will keep him there."

Oh vain! They took the little lamb, and straightway tied him down,

With a strong cord they tied him fast; and o'er the common brown,

And o'er the hot and flinty roads, they took him to the town.

The little children through that day, and throughout all the morrow,

From every thing about the house a mournful thought did borrow;

The very bread they had to eat was food unto their sorrow.

Oh! poverty is a weary thing, 'tis full of grief and pain;

It keepeth down the soul of man, as with an iron chain;

It maketh even the little child with heavy sighs complain.