To this did Johnny answer make, Both with his head, and with his hand, And proudly shook the bridle too, And then his words were not a few, Which Betty well could understand. And now that Johnny is just going, But when the pony moved his legs, And while the pony moves his legs, Is not more still and mute than he. His heart it was so full of glee, And Betty's standing at the door, And Betty's face with joy o'erflows, The silence of her idiot boy, What hopes it sends to Betty's heart! He's at the guide-post-he turns right, She watches till he's out of sight, And Betty will not then depart. Burr, burr-now Johnny's lips they burr, As loud as any mill, or near it, Meek as a lamb the pony moves, And Johnny makes the noise he loves, Away she hies to Susan Gale: And Johnny's in a merry tune, The owlets hoot, the owlets curr, And Johnny's lips they burr, burr, burr, And on he goes beneath the moon, His steed and he right well agree, That should he lose his eyes and ears, But then he is a horse that thinks! Now, though he knows poor Johnny well, What he has got upon his back. So through the moonlight lanes they go, And far into the moonlight dale, And by the church, and o'er the down, To bring a doctor from the town, To comfort poor old Susan Gale. And Betty, now at Susan's side, And Betty's still at Susan's side: She sits, as if in Susan's fate Her life and soul were buried. But Betty, poor good woman! she, Five years of happiness or more, |