INTRODUCTION.

PIPING down the valleys wild,
Piping songs of pleasant glee,
On a cloud I saw a child,

And he, laughing, said to me:

'Pipe a song about a Lamb!'

So I piped with merry cheer. 'Piper, pipe that song again;'

So I piped he wept to hear.

'Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe;

Sing thy songs of happy cheer!' So I sang the same again,

While he wept with joy to hear.

'Piper, sit thee down and write

In a book, that all may read.' So he vanish'd from my sight,

And I plucked a hollow reed,

And I made a rural pen,

And I stain'd the water clear, And I wrote my happy songs Every child may joy to hear.

THE SHEPHERD.

How sweet is the shepherd's sweet lot!
From the morn to the evening he strays;
He shall follow his sheep all the day,
And his tongue shall be filled with praise.

For he hears the lambs' innocent call,
And he hears the ewes' tender reply;
He is watchful while they are in peace,
For they know that their shepherd is nigh.

THE ECHOING GREEN.

THE sun does arise

And make happy the skies;

The merry bells ring

To welcome the spring;

The skylark and thrush,

The birds of the bush,
Sing louder around

To the bells' cheerful sound;

While our sports shall be seen
On the echoing green.

Old John with white hair,
Does laugh away care,
Sitting under the oak,
Among the old folk.
They laugh at our play,
And soon they all say,

'Such, such were the joys When we all-girls and boys—

In our youth-time were seen
On the echoing green.'

Till the little ones, weary,

No more can be merry,

The sun does descend,

And our sports have an end.

Round the laps of their mothers

Many sisters and brothers,
Like birds in their nest,

Are ready for rest,

And sport no more seen

On the darkening green.

THE LAMB.

LITTLE lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee? Gave thee life, and bade thee feed By the stream and o'er the mead; Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing, woolly, bright; Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice?

Little lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?

Little lamb, I'll tell thee;

Little lamb, I'll tell thee:

He is called by thy name,
For He calls Himself a Lamb.
He is meek, and He is mild,
He became a little child.
I a child, and thou a lamb,
We are called by His name.

Little lamb, God bless thee!
Little lamb, God bless thee !