The storm was loud; a murky cloud
O'erhung the midnight sky,
And rude the blast that wildly passed
A lonely orphan by;
But ruder still the bitter thrill
Of woe that rent his heart;
Darker his fears, sadder the tears
That evermore would start.
"Bleak is the storm, and on my form
The winds in fury beat;
A racking pain, torments my brain,
And sore these weary feet;
No ray of light illumes the night,
And here, alas! I roam,
Where tempests howl and wild beasts growl;
Oh, that I had a home!
"Full many a day has rolled away
Since I have laid me down,
To cease to weep, and fall asleep,
Save on the cold, damp ground;
And many more may pass me o'er
Ere I may cease to roam;
One year ago it was not so,--
For then I had a home!
"Then on his child a father smiled,
And fondly me caressed;
When sorrow came, or bitter pain,
I leaned upon his breast;
He'd kiss my cheek, and kindly speak
In soft and soothing tone;
Oh, what a strange and dreary change--
For then I had a home!
"When evening gray shut out the day,
Beside my mother's knee,
With simple air I breathed the prayer
That mother taught to me;
Then laid me down, not on the ground,
Not on this cold, damp stone;
But on my bed, love made instead,--
For then I had a home!
"The livelong day I spent in play
Around our peaceful cot,
Or plucked the flowers from blooming bowers,
And to my mother brought.
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