THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD. He told his wife, and all he knew, Away then went the pretty babes, They prate and prattle pleasantly, To those that should their butchers be, So that the pretty speech they had Yet one of them, more hard of heart, Had paid him very large. The other would not agree thereto, About the children's life. 85 He took the children by the hand, And bade them come and go with him, THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD. And two long miles he led them thus, "Stay here," quoth he; "I'll bring ye bread These pretty babes, with hand in hand, Went wandering up and down; Their pretty lips with blackberries Thus wandered these two pretty babes No burial these pretty babes And now the heavy wrath of God Upon their uncle fell; Yea, fearful fiends did haunt his house, His conscience felt a hell. 87 888 THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD. His barns were fired, his goods consumed, His lands were barren made; His cattle died within the field, And nothing with him stayed. And in a voyage to Portugal And, to conclude, himself was brought He pawned and mortgaged all his lands The fellow that did take in hand Was for a robbery judged to die, Who did confess the very truth The uncle died, while he, for debt, |