His Steed and He right well agree, But then he is a Horse that thinks! And when he thinks his pace is slack; Now, though he knows poor Johnny well, Yet for his life he cannot tell What he has got upon his back. So through the moonlight lanes they go, And far into the moonlight dale, And by the church, and o'er the down, To bring a Doctor from the town, And Betty, now at Susan's side, Of Johnny's wit and Johnny's glory. And Betty's still at Susan's side: By this time she's not quite so flurried: She sits, as if in Susan's fate But Betty, poor good Woman! she, Five years of happiness or more 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 Betty," he 'll be back again; They'll both be here-'tis almost tenThey'll both be here before eleven." Poor Susan moans, poor Susan groans; The clock is on the stroke of twelve, And Betty, half an hour ago, And Betty's drooping at the heart, And Susan's growing worse and worse, And Betty's in a sad quandary; And then there's nobody to say If she must go or she must stay! 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 Of sad mischances not a few, She prefaced half a hint of this With, "God forbid it should be true!" I must be gone, I must away, "Oh God forbid!" poor Susan cries. "What can I do?" says Betty, going, "Nay, 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, And far into the moonlight dale; And how she ran, and how she walked, And all that to herself she talked, Would surely be a tedious tale. |