THE CHILD AND THE BROOKLET
After the German of Dieffenbach."Why hastenest thou away,
Thou little brook so gay,
Far through the valley green?
I pray thee pause and be
A playmate kind to me,
I'm good, you must have seen."
Thou little brook so gay,
Far through the valley green?
I pray thee pause and be
A playmate kind to me,
I'm good, you must have seen."
The brooklet murmured low,
"I may not linger so,
No time have I for play;
I have so much to do
I cannot rest with you;
My way is far to-day.
"I may not linger so,
No time have I for play;
I have so much to do
I cannot rest with you;
My way is far to-day.
"For I must quickly glide
The old mill close beside
To turn the busy wheel;
Then through the meadows low,
To cheer the flowers that grow,
Must gently onward steal.
The old mill close beside
To turn the busy wheel;
Then through the meadows low,
To cheer the flowers that grow,
Must gently onward steal.
"The waiting lambs for me
Are crying plaintively
That I their thirst will slake;
So from the distant spring
The water cool to bring
My way I quickly take.
Are crying plaintively
That I their thirst will slake;
So from the distant spring
The water cool to bring
My way I quickly take.