Mother wept, and father sigh-d;
With delight a-glow
Cried the lad, -To-morrow,� cried,
-To the pit I go.�

Up and down the place he sped,
Greeted old and young,
Far and wide the tidings spread,
Clapp-d his hands and sung.

Came his cronies, some to gaze
Rapt in wonder; some
Free with counsel; some with praise;
Some with envy dumb.

-May he,� many a gossip cried,
-Be from peril kept;�
Father hid his face and sighed,
Mother turned and wept