wander over many a weary mile the � i could work � but little who would care for her the while t sweet the songs that she can sing you like the lark when first it wakes while her little heart seems lightened by the music that she makes would your daughters gentle lady hear my httle sister sing small the that we ask you hunger is a fearful thing may you never know how bitter sorrow is and want and shame gracious heaven has made you happy may it keep you still the same e thi homes of old the homes of old england i see them again the flowers on the meadow the flocks mi the plain the white gleaming among the green trees o who could be weary c pictures like these i see the green lawn with its border of i feel the cool shade of its work i hear the sweet music of and grove and are they not near me � the friends whom i love t once more i behold the neat cottages too the windows where sunshine smiles through the so gay with the of spring the gardens of roses where summer birds sing the returning at night from his toil to sit by his fire and to see the sweet smile of more felt than express d that him back to the home of his rest the homes of old england f all these have i sigh d when far far away when soft was the moonlight and dazzling the when all things around me were changing and new to the homes of old england my thoughts were still true i ve been where the streams vith more silvery have woke the wild echoes of many a green where more lovely and more than fancy e er pictured have burst on my sight i ve been where the flowers were more brilliant in hue the skies more with and blue i ve been where the rocks were more bold and sublime � but i wanted the sound of the evening bell s been where the air was more pure and more the breath of the morning more laden with i ve been where the sun in more glory has set but the homes of old england i ne er could forget � e the idiot they say i am an idiot boy and surely they should know who mock me for my senseless joy my still more senseless wo they call the children from their play er we chance to meet they teach the village dogs to bay and track my wandering feet and some turn pale with foolish fear and look so stern and still my loud laugh to hear as if i meant them ill how should i wish or dare to laugh so loud and merrily if i had given them half the pain which they give me the idiot no mine is all a harmless joy by doubt or fear the poor neglected idiot boy has never caused a tear mine is a joy that leads me where no other go no other human step would dare to tread the paths i know there while the winds and waves at play hold wild and free i laugh and sing the hours away with none to mock my glee on the bold rock i sit and watch the golden sun go down or in my outstretched hand i catch the glory of his crown is it not joy to hear the roar and see the s foam to dance upon the sparkling shore and make the my home such is my joy to climb alone up to the brow � � i o o ths idiot of some old or stone with the dark waves below what is it guides me � leads me on and points the path it is no wisdom of my own for none the idiot hath it is some power � i know not where nor what that power can be tliat seems so like a father s care surrounding even me is it in earth or air or sky that all protecting hand in vain i look in vain i try that power to understand one thing have i learned to know though storms and roar it safely leads where er i go can wisdom teach me more lake glad scene rejoicing � how we turn to thee f the old land the country of the free what though thy skies may not be always blue thy mountains tinged with heaven s ethereal hue thy lakes magnificent � thy rocks sublime � thou hast a beauty still unchanged by time nor gorgeous palace of the golden east nor pomp of ancient rome nor feast nor loud from melting that come lashed by their own wild fury into foam nor giant woods to waste run nor all the of a southern sun can the heart to turn from thee land of the just the noble and the free green are thy pastures happy land and green thy forest boughs that shade the scene and calm the mellow light of evening falls or slopes and peaceful cottage walls while the lake in the golden ray till softly fade those evening tints away lake o england let us love thee while we can thou nurse of all that most man turn not a deaf ear to thy people s cause but shield us still with just and equal laws thou art no favoured spot of genial earth thy beauty is thy moral worth when this shall fail thee with the power it gives the soul that in the lives shall fail him too and then a long adieu to all that made thee happy and true ths sons of jacob this toe found � mysterious falsehood why was evil blended thus with heaven s own plan was there no way but this most artful lie 