THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER: A LITTLE BLACK THING AMONG THE SNOW 


     A little black thing among the snow, 
     Crying " 'weep! 'weep!" in notes of woe!
     "Where are thy father and mother? say?"
     "They are both gone up to the church to pray.

     Because I was happy upon the heath,
     And smil'd among the winter's snow,
     They clothed me in the clothes of death,
     And taught me to sing the notes of woe.

     And because I am happy and dance and sing,
   They think they have done me no injury,
   And are gone to praise God and his Priest and King,
   Who make up a heaven of our misery."