Her little neighbouring flock.

Ah Jessy, oft the fancied friend,
Commits a cruel wrong;
Weak neighbours seldom should depend
On kindness from the strong.

No manly guard hast thou with thee
A savage foe to scare,
For thy good man far off to sea
The distant billows bear.

That best of guards thou oft has known,
But of his aid bereft,
Two little boys with thee alone
Are all thy treasures left.

The eldest grew with manly grace,
His years yet barely seven,
A stripling of a sweeter face,
Has never gaz'd on Heaven.

He was indeed a friend most rare,
To chear his lonely mother,
And aid her in her constant care
His little baby-brother.

With these to Jessy much endear'd,
Whom from the world she hid,
Three nurslings more she fondly rear'd,