INTRODUCTION. IPING down the valleys wild, And he laughing said to me :— "Pipe a song about a lamb :" So I piped with merry cheer. "Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe, 66 'Piper, sit thee down and write In a book that all may read—" So he vanish'd from my sight; And I pluck'd a hollow reed, And I made a rural pen, THE SHEPHERD. Ho OW 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 lamb's innocent call, THE ECHOING GREEN. HE sun does arise THE And make happy the skies; The merry bells ring To welcome the Spring; The skylark and thrush, The birds of the bush, To the bells' cheerful sound, Old John with white hair Does laugh away care, Sitting under the oak Among the old folk. They laugh at our play, |