But Betty, poor good woman! she, But yet I guess that now and then With Betty all was not so well, And to the road she turns her ears, And thence full many a sound she hears, Which she to Susan will not tell. Poor Susan moans, poor Susan groans, "As sure as there's a moon in heaven," Cries Petty, "he'll be back again; "They'll both be here, 'tis almost ten, "They'll both be here before eleven.” Poor Susan moans, poor Susan groans, The clock gives warning for eleven, 'Tis on the stroke-" If Johnny's near," Quoth Betty "he will soon be here, "As sure as there's a moon in heaven." The clock is on the stroke of twelve, His steedy, half an hour ago, For fohnny vile reflections cast; " A little idle sauntering thing!" With other names, an endless string, But now that time is gone and past. And Betty's drooping at the heart, That happy time all past and gone, "How can it be he is so late? "The Doctor he has made him wait; "Susan! they'll both be here anon!" And Susan's growing worse and worse, The clock is on the stroke of one; But neither Doctor nor his guide Appear along the moonlight road, There's neither horse nor man abroad, And Betty's still at Susan's side. And Susan she begins to fear 1 She prefaced half a hint of this "I must be gone, I must away, "What can I do?" says Betty, going, "What can I do to ease your pain? "Good Susan! tell me, and I'll stay; "I fear you're in a dreadful way, "But I shall soon be back again!" "Good Betty go! good Betty go! "There's nothing that can ease my pain.? Then off she hies, but with a prayer. That God poor Susan's life would spare, Till she comes back again. So through the moonlight lane she goes, In high and low, above, below, She's past the bridge that's in the dale, And now she's high upon the down, There's neither Johnny nor his horse, "Oh saints! what is become of him? "And join'd the wandering gypsey-folk: "Or him that wicked poney's carried "To the dark cave, the goblins' hall, "Or in the castle he's pursuing, Among the ghosts, his own undoing; "Or playing with the water-fall. At poor old Susan then she railed, Poor Betty! in this sad distemper, And now she's got into the town, The town so long, the town so wide, And now she's at the Doctor's door, "Oh Doctor! Doctor! where's my Johnny?" 'I'm here, what is't you want with me?” "Oh Sir! you know I'm Betty Foy, "And I have lost my poor dear boy, "You know him-him you often sec; |