Page:Wee wee songs for our little pets.djvu/139

She tried to do her errand twice;
  But when she came to speak,
I saw her turn aside and wipe
  A tear from off her cheek.

I thought it strange, and led her out;
  "What ails you, child," said I;
"Pray have you hurt yourself, or what
  Can thus have made you cry?"

"Oh, no," she said, "I am not hurt;
  I am to blame, I fear;
But such a tender sight as this
  Will always force a tear.

"For I had tender parents once,—
  Affectionate and kind;
But they are dead; they both have gone,
  And left their child behind.

"I had a little sister, too,
  And many a pleasant day
We with our mother worked and read
  The cheerful hours away.

"But when we lost our parents, ma'am,
  Our living all was fled;
And we were placed in strangers' hands,
  To earn our daily bread.