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, Him whom she loves, her idiot boy, She's happy here, she's happy there, She is uneasy every where; 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 By this the stars were almost gone, Though yet their tongues were still. The pony, Betty, and her boy, That hobbles up the steep rough road? Long Susan lay deep lost in thought, Both for her messenger and nurse; She turned, she toss'd herself in bed, Point after point did she discuss ; And while her mind was fighting thus, Her body still grew better. M "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, And to the wood at length is come, 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. For while they all were travelling home, "Where all this long night you have been, Now Johnny all night long had heard And thus to Betty's question, he Made answer, like a traveller bold, (His very words I give to you,) "The cocks did crow to-whoo, to-whoo, "And the sun did shine so cold." —Thus answered Johnny in his glory, And that was all his travel's story. |