| The horses stood before the gate, The ruffians twain astride; And gay with scarlet girth and rein They started, side by side. O, blithe the babies’ spirits were, That they could have a ride! For every pretty sight they saw, For every sound they heard, The boy had noisy laugh or shout, The girl had winsome word— He questioned, never satisfied, She chattered like a bird. |
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| Meanwhile each ruffian surly sat, In dark and restless mood; Little the prattlers, in their joy, Such silence understood, As on through the warm early day They rode towards the wood. |
They reached the leafy wilderness,
And then the way grew wild;
But ever with new glee the babes
The gathering gloom beguiled.
Until, at last, quite cheered and won,
One of the ruffians smiled.
Love had o’ercome within his breast