A Fairy Lullaby

There are two stars in yonder steeps     That watch the baby while he sleeps.     But while the baby is awake     And singing gayly all day long,     The little stars their slumbers take     Lulled by the music of his song.     So sleep, dear tired baby, sleep     While little stars their vigils keep.     Beside his loving mother-sheep     A little lambkin is asleep;     What does he know of midnight gloom---     He sleeps, and in his quiet dreams     He thinks he plucks the clover bloom     And drinks at cooling, purling streams.     And those same stars the baby knows     Sing softly to the lamb's repose.     Sleep, little lamb; sleep, little child--     The stars are dim--the night is wild;     But o'er the cot and o'er the lea     A sleepless eye forever beams--     A shepherd watches over thee     In all thy little baby dreams;     The shepherd loves his tiny sheep--     Sleep, precious little lambkin, sleep!