"Someone is absent," the shepherd said As over my classbook 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"
Thus spoke the shepherd in tender tones "I looked and lo, I was all alone But God, a vision, had sent to me To show his will towards the absentee"