The sun went down beyond yon hills,

Across yon dreary-moor,

Weary and lame, a boy there came,

Up to a farmer's door.

"Will you tell me if any there be

That will give me employ

To plough and sow, and reap and mow,

And be a farmer's boy?

"My fathers dead, and mothers left,

With her five children small,

And what is worst for mother still,

I'm the oldest of them all:

Though little I be yet I fear not work,

If you will me employ

To plough and sow, and reap and mow,

And be a farmer's boy.

"And if that you won't me employ,

One favour I have to ask,

Will you shelter me till break of day,

From this cold winter's blast:

At break of day, I'll trudge away,

Elsewhere to seek employ

To plough and sow, and reap and mow,

And be a farmer's boy."

The mistress said, "Pray take the lad,

No farther let him seek;"

"O yes, dear father," the daughter cried,

While tears ran down her cheeks,

"For those that will work it's hard to want,

And wander for employ

To plough and sow, and reap and mow,

And be a farmer's boy."

In course of time he grew a man

The good old farmer died,

And left the boy the farm he had,

And his daughter for his bride;

The boy that was the farm now has,

Oft smiles and thinks with joy,

Of the lucky day he came that way,

And to be a farmer's boy.