THE LAST OF THE FLOCK. In distant countries I have been; He saw me, and he turned aside, As if he wished himself to hide : Then with his coat he made essay I followed him, and said, " My Friend He makes my tears to flow. To-day I fetched him from the rock; He is the last of all my flock. When I was young, a single Man, And after youthful follies ran, Though little given to care and thought, Of sheep I numbered a full score, And every year increas'd my' store. Year after year my stock it grew, As sweet a flock as ever grazed! They throve, and we at home did thrive. -This lusty Lamb of all my store Is all that is alive; And now I care not if we die, And perish all of poverty. Six Children, Sir! had I to feed, Hard labour in a time of need! My pride was tamed, and in our grief, They said I was a wealthy man ; And it was fit that thence I took Whereof to buy us bread :" "Do this how can we give to you," They cried, "what to the poor is due ?" I sold a sheep, as they had said, A woeful time it was for me, To see the end of all my gains, To see it melt like snow away! Another still! and still another! It was a vein that never stopp'd Like blood-drops from my heart they dropp'd. Till thirty were not left alive They dwindled, dwindled, one by one, And I may say, that many a time I wished they all were gone : They dwindled one by one away ; To wicked deeds I was inclined, And wicked fancies cross'd my mind And every man I chanc'd to see, No I thought he knew some ill of me. I went my work about. Oft-times I thought to run away; Sir! 'twas a precious flock to me, God cursed me in my sore distress; |