FOR CHILDREN. 91

“ Before my father went away, ~
Enticed by bad men o’er the sea,
Sister and I did nought but play—
We lived beside yon great ash tree.

‘ But then poor mother did so cry,
And looked so changed, I cannot tell ;
She told us that she soon should die,
Aud bade us love each other well.

*« She said, that when the war was o’er,
Perhaps we might our father see ;
But if we never saw him more,
That God our father then would be!

* She kissed us both, and then she died,
And we no more a mother have ;
Here many a day we've sat and cried
Together at poor mother’s grave.

“ But when my father came not here,
I thought if we could find the sea,
We should be sure to meet him there,

And once again might happy be.

“ We hand in hand went many 4 mile,
And asked our way of all we met;
And some did sigh, and some did smile,
And we of some did victuals get.

*‘ But when we reached the sea and found
’Twas one great water round us spread,
We thought that father must be drowned,
And cried, and wished we both were dead.

“ So we returned to mother’s grave,
And only longed with her to be ;