WHEN THE LITTLE BOY RAN AWAY

When the little boy ran away from home,

The birds in the tree-top knew,

And they all sang, “Stay!” but he wandered away

Under the skies of blue.

And the wind came whispering from the tree,

“Follow me, follow me!”

And it sang him a song that was soft and sweet

And scattered the roses before his feet

That day, that day,

When the little boy ran away.

The violets whispered, “Your eyes are blue

And lovely and bright to see,

And so are mine, and I’m kin to you,

So dwell in the light with me.”

But the little boy laughed, while the wind in glee

Sang, “Follow, follow me!”

And the wind called the clouds from their home in the skies

And said to the violet, “Shut your eyes!”

That day, that day,

When the little boy ran away.

Then the wind played leapfrog over the hills

And twisted each leaf and limb;

And all the rivers and all the rills

Were foaming mad with him;

And ’twas dark as the darkest night could be,

But still came the wind’s voice, “Follow me!”

And over the mountain and up from the hollow

Came echoing voices with, “Follow him; follow!”

That awful day,

When the little boy ran away.

Then the little boy cried, “Let me go, let me go!”

For a scared, scared boy was he.

But the thunder growled from a black cloud, “No!”

And the wind roared, “Follow me!”

And an old gray owl from a tree-top flew,

Saying: “Who are you-oo? Who are you-oo?”

And the little boy sobbed, “I’m lost away!

And I want to go home where my parents stay.”

O, the awful day

When the little boy ran away!

Then the moon looked out from a cloud and said:

“Are you sorry you ran away?

If I light you home to your trundle bed,

Will you stay, little boy, will you stay?”

And the little boy promised—and cried and cried—

He never would leave his mother’s side,

And the moonlight led him over the plain;

And his mother welcomed him home again.

But, O, what a day

When the little boy ran away!