p. 12 | THE NINETY AND NINE by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jul 19, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 29.

THE NINETY AND NINE.

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

Po' lil' brack sheep that strayed away, Done los' in de wind an' de rain, An' de Shepherd He say, "O hirelin', Go fin' My sheep again." An' the hirelin' say, "O Shepherd, Dat sheep am brack and bad." But de Shepherd He smile, like dat lil' brack sheep Wuz de onliest lamb He had.

An' He say, "O hirelin', hasten, For de win' an' de rain am cold, An' that lil' brack sheep am lonesome Out dere, so far f'um de fol'." But de hirelin' frown, "O Shepherd, Dat sheep am ol' an' gray;" But de shepherd He smile, like dat lil' brack sheep Wuz fair as de break ob day.

An' He say, "O hirelin', hasten, Lo, here is de ninety an' nine, But dere way off f'um de sheepfol', Is dat lil' brack sheep o' Mine!" An' de hirelin' frown, "O Shepherd, De res' ob de sheep am here!" But de shepherd He smile, like dat lil' brack sheep He hol' it the mostes' dear.

An' de Shepherd go out in de darkness Where de night was col' and bleak, An' dat lil' brack sheep He fin' it, An' lay it agains' His cheek. An' de hirelin' frown, "O Shepherd, Don' bring dat sheep to me!" But de Shepherd He smile, an' He hol' it close, An' dat lil' brack sheep—wuz—me!

—Paul Laurence Dunbar.