Song of the Farmer.

I have cattle that feed in the valley,

And herds that graze on the hill,

And I pride in the fruits of my labor,

For I’m lord of the land that I till,

I have plow’d the rough hill and the meadow

Till feeble with age and with toil,

And I know before long that another

Shall reap the new fruits of the soil.

For the son that hath toil’d for me ever,

And faithfully stood by my side,

Hath a hand that shall gather the harvest,

When his feeble old father hath died.

And the daughter so kind to her mother,

Shall share with him all I possess,

For I feel that they love me as father,

And welcome my tender caress.

There’s my faithful, my trusting companion,

My kind-hearted dear loving wife;

I have toil’d for her comfort with pleasure,

For such was the pride of my life.

And still in my manhood I love her,

For her kind and affectionate care,

And all that the earth can afford me,

With her I most willingly share.