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(A Song of the Backwoods)
THROUGH the deep woods, at peep of day, | |
| The careless herd-boy wends his way, | |
| By piny ridge and forest stream, | |
| To summon home his roving team: | |
| Cobos! Cobos! from distant dell | 5 |
| Sly echo wafts the cattle-bell. | |
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| A blithe reply he whistles back, | |
| And follows out the devious track, | |
| O’er fallen tree and mossy stone, | |
| A path to all save him unknown: | 10 |
| Cobos! Cobos! far down the dell | |
| More faintly falls the cattle-bell. | |
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| See, the dark swamp before him throws | |
| A tangled maze of cedar boughs; | |
| On all around deep silence broods | 15 |
| In Nature’s boundless solitudes: | |
| Cobos! Cobos! the breezes swell | |
| As nearer floats the cattle-bell. | |
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| He sees them now; beneath yon trees | |
| His motley herd recline at ease; | 20 |
| With lazy pace and sullen stare | |
| They slowly leave their shady lair: | |
| Cobos! Cobos! far up the dell | |
| Quick jingling comes the cattle-bell. | |
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