THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD.

Look at Puss with her kittens-at Rob in his nest

They always know just what is right;

They always do that which is fittest and best,
And seem in their task to delight.

6.

Poor Rover! Good Dog! how I wish you could tell
What it is that you do understand :

But of this I am sure, that you love us both well,
As you say by a lick of my hand.

And a wag of the tail means, 'Thank you,
And bow-wow' a true promise gives

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I'm glad ;'

Of protection: Oh, brother, indeed it were sad
To hurt any creature that lives!

THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD.

A BALLAD.

1.

Now ponder well, you parents dear,

The words which I shall write,

A doleful story you shall hear
In time brought forth to light:

A gentleman of good account

In Norfolk lived of late,

Whose wealth and riches did surmount
Most men of his estate.

2.

Sore sick he was, and like to die,

No help that he could have;
His wife by him as sick did lie;
And both possess one grave.

No love between these two was lost,

Each was to other kind:

In love they lived, in love they died,
And left two babes behind:

3.

The one a fine and pretty boy,
Not passing three years old;
The other a girl more young than he,
And made in Beauty's mould.
The father left his little son,

As plainly doth appear,

When he to perfect age should come,
Three hundred pounds a year;

4.

And to his little daughter Jane,
Five hundred pounds in gold,
To be paid down on marriage-day,
Which might not be controlled;
But if the children chanced to die,
Ere they to age should come,
Their uncle should possess their wealth,
For so the will did run.

5.

'Now, brother,' said the dying man,

'Look on my children dear,

Be good unto my boy and girl,

No friend else have I here:
To God and you I do commend
My children night and day;
But little while, be sure, we have
Within this world to stay.

THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD.

6.

'You must be father and mother both,
And uncle all in one,

God knows what will become of them
When I am dead and gone.'

With that bespake their mother dear;
Oh brother kind,' quoth she,

'You are the man must bring our babes
To wealth or misery.

7.

'And if you keep them carefully,
Then God will you reward;
If otherwise you seem to deal,
God will your deeds regard.'
With lips as cold as any stone

She kissed her children small,

'God bless you both, my children dear;' With that the tears did fall.

8.

These speeches then their brother spoke

To this sick couple there-
'The keeping of your children dear,
Sweet sister, do not fear;
God never prosper me or mine,
Nor aught else that I have,
If I do wrong your children dear
When you are laid in grave!'

9.

Their parents being dead and gone,
The children home he takes,

And brings them both into his house,
And much of them he makes.

13,

He had not kept these pretty babes
A twelvemonth and a day,

When for their wealth he did devise
To make them both away.

10.

He bargained with two ruffians rude,
Which were of furious mood,
That they should take the children young,
And slay them in the wood.
He told his wife and all he had,

He did the children send

To be brought up to London fair,
With one that was his friend.

11.

Away then went these pretty babes,
Rejoicing at that tide,
Rejoicing with a merry mind

They should on cock-horse ride.
They prate and prattle pleasantly,
As they ride on the way,

To those that should their butchers be,
And work their lives' decay:

12.

So that the pretty speech they had,
Made murderers' hearts relent,
And they that undertook the deed,
Full sore they did repent.

Yet one of them, more hard of heart,
Did vow to do his charge,

Because the wretch that hired him

Had paid him very large.

THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD.

13.

The other would not agree thereto,
So here they fell at strife,
With one another they did fight
About the children's life;
And he that was of mildest mood
Did slay the other there,
Within an unfrequented wood,
While babes did quake for fear.

14.

He took the children by the hand,
When tears stood in their eye,
And bade them kindly go with him,
And look they did not cry.

And two long miles he led them on,
While they for food complain :

'Stay here,' quoth he, 'I'll bring you bread
When I do come again.'

15.

These pretty babes, with hand in hand,

Went wandering up and down,
But never more they saw the man
Returning from the town.
Their pretty lips with blackberries

Were all besmeared and dyed,

And when they saw the darksome night,
They sat them down and cried.

16.

Thus wandered these two pretty babes,
Till death did end their grief;
In one another's arms they died,
As babes wanting relief.

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