THE KING'S SURVEYOR.
305
Yet a kindly care old Shepherd showed
For the creatures he pastured on the road
In gathering storms he sought his flock
From Frenchman's Lane to Puddle Dock.
For the creatures he pastured on the road
In gathering storms he sought his flock
From Frenchman's Lane to Puddle Dock.
As he drove his shaggy herd before
From Wibird's Hill to Christian Shore,
Merrily would the town's folk say:
"Be careful Shepherd is coming this way!"
From Wibird's Hill to Christian Shore,
Merrily would the town's folk say:
"Be careful Shepherd is coming this way!"
Now the boys—well, boys will be boys, you know;
And sixty or seventy years ago
They were ripe for mischief and ready for play
As the rogues who run from the rod to-day.
And sixty or seventy years ago
They were ripe for mischief and ready for play
As the rogues who run from the rod to-day.
And if one of those lads, overflowing with fun,
In Broad Street, or Jaffrey, or Islington,
Spied one of those horses of Shepherd Ham,
How could he leave him to browse like a lamb!
In Broad Street, or Jaffrey, or Islington,
Spied one of those horses of Shepherd Ham,
How could he leave him to browse like a lamb!
Some little trick with the burr-tangled tail
Switching the poor beast's flanks like a flail:
No evil he meant, but all he could do
He could not help playing a prank or two.
Switching the poor beast's flanks like a flail:
No evil he meant, but all he could do
He could not help playing a prank or two.
One morning, while slumber seemed yet to drown
The first faint hum of the drowsy town,
And Nature herself in her mist-spun cap
Indulged in an innocent morning nap,
The first faint hum of the drowsy town,
And Nature herself in her mist-spun cap
Indulged in an innocent morning nap,
