She gave one look, she caught up her crook,
Wiped away the sleep that did blind her;
And nibble-nibble-crop, without a stop
The lambs came nibbling behind her.
Home, home she came, both tired and lame,
With three times as large a stock;
In a month or more, they'll be sheep as before,
A lovely, long-wooled flock!
But what will she say, if, one fine day,
When they've got their bushiest tails,
Their grown-up game should be just the same,
And again she must follow mere trails?
Never weep, Bo-Peep, though you lose your sheep,
Tears will turn rainbow-laughter!
In the trail of the sun if the mothers did run,
The lambs are sure to run after;
But a day is coming when little feet drumming
Will wake you up to find them—
All the old sheep—how your heart will leap!—
With their big little lambs behind them!
LITTLE BOY BLUE.
Little Boy Blue lost his way in a wood—
Sing apples and cherries, roses and honey:
He said, "I would not go back if I could,
It's all so jolly and funny!"
He sang, "This wood is all my own—
Apples and cherries, roses and honey!
Here I will sit, a king on my throne,
All so jolly and funny!"
A little snake crept out of a tree—
Apples and cherries, roses and honey:
"Lie down at my feet, little snake," said he—
All so jolly and funny!
A little bird sang in the tree overhead—
"Apples and cherries, roses and honey:"
"Come and sing your song on my finger," he said,
All so jolly and funny.