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 