She's coming from among the trees, And now all full in view she sees Him whom she loves, her Idiot Boy. And Betty sees the Pony too: Why stand you thus, good Betty Foy! It is no goblin, 'tis no ghost, 'Tis he whom you so long have lost, He whom you love, your Idiot Boy. She looks again-her arms are up- She darts, as with a torrent's force, And fast she holds her Idiot Boy. And Johnny burrs, and laughs aloud, Whether in cunning or in joy I cannot tell; but while he laughs, Betty a drunken pleasure quaffs, To hear again her Idiot Boy. And now she's at the Pony's tail, She kisses o'er and o'er again, She's happy here, she's happy there, Her limbs are all alive with joy. She pats the Pony, where or when The little Pony glad may be, But he is milder far than she, "Oh! Johnny, never mind the Doctor; You've done your best, and that is all." She took the reins, when this was said, And gently turned the Pony's head From the loud water-fall. By this the stars were almost gone, Though yet their tongues were still. The Pony, Betty, and her Boy, Wind slowly through the woody dale; And who is she, be-times abroad, That hobbles up the steep rough road? Who is it, but old Susan Gale? Long Susan lay deep lost in thought, And as her mind grew worse and worse, She turned, she tossed herself in bed, On all sides doubts and terrors met her; Point after point did she discuss; And while her mind was fighting thus, Her body still grew better. "Alas! what is become of them? These fears can never be endured, I'll to the wood."-The word scarce said, Did Susan rise up from her bed, As if by magic cured. Away she posts up hill and down, She spies her Friends, she shouts a greeting; Oh me! it is a merry meeting, As ever was in Christendom. The Owls have hardly sung their last, And with the Owls began my song, And with the Owls must end. |