Simon Stone, he spied a boat,
“O here is a boat,” cried Simon Stone,
“I’ve a mind to try if this boat will float,
I’ll fish a spell, if I go alone.”
“O no,” said the rest, “we are going, too.”
“Then jump aboard,” said Simon Stone,
They sprang in the boat, a happy crew:
Wouldn’t you like to have counted one?
They rowed and rowed, they sailed and sailed;
“Small luck, small luck,” said Simon Stone.
They tried and tried, and they failed and failed,
Till they ached in every muscle and bone.
They dipped and dipped, and they hauled and hauled;
“Not a fin for our pains,” said Simon Stone.
“Hark!” cried one, for somebody called,
“Who can be out on the shore alone?”
“Never mind who? Pull away, pull away!”
“Let’s give it up,” said Simon Stone;
“We have fished all night, we may fish all day;
Let’s quit; I’m going ashore, for one.”
Then the strange voice called from the shore again.
“Listen! Listen!” said Simon Stone.
And now in the dawn they see Him plain,
Walking along the shore alone.
“Throw the net to the starboard, and then you’ll find,”
Cried the voice. “Let’s do it,” said Simon Stone.
So they dropped the net with a willing mind,
“Heave, ho! There’s a haul,” cried every one.
They tugged and they hauled, but they hauled in vain.
“Let’s drag it ashore,” said Simon Stone:
So they dragged and dragged with might and main,
“It’s the Lord,” spoke softly Cousin John.
“What! What! What!” cried the rest in the boat,
“What’s that you are saying?” quote Simon Stone:
“The Lord? Why, here then, give me my coat.”
In a trice he had it and put it on.
“Why, what in the world are you going to do?”
“I am going ashore,” said Simon Stone;
And he sprang without any more ado,
Overboard into the sea alone.
Then the rest they looked and said with a smile,
“What a man, to be sure, is Simon Stone!
He’s up to some queer thing all the while:”
“How he loves the Lord!” said Cousin John.
O, he swam for life, and he swam for love,
‘Till he stood on the shore with the Lord alone.
Who knows, but he and the Lord above,
How the Lord spoke sweetly to Simon Stone?
Now tell me, boys, both old and young,
Did you ever hear of Simon Stone?
And have you guessed the riddle I’ve sung?
And is it a story you’ve always known?
Now tell me if ever you loved like him?
If ever you felt like Simon Stone,
Whether I run or fly or swim,
I must have a word with the Lord alone?
ML 06/17/1917