"Someone is absent," the shepherd said
As over my cla**book he bent his head
"For several Sundays absent too
So tell me teacher what did you do?" "I didn't call as perhaps I should
I sent some cards but they did no good
I never heard and she never came
So I decided to drop her name" He answered gravely, "The fault was mine
Hundred, no, there were ninety nine
One was lost and dark and cold
I sought that sheep that had left the fold The path was stony and edged with thorns
My feet were wounded bruised and torn
I kept on searching not counting the cost
And overjoyed when I found the lost"