He was a stripling both slender and tall
(My idle eyes vacantly take the view),
His coat was too large, or he was too small,
His nose was a snub, and his eyes were blue.
Angry I felt to see Rover rejoice,
But he suddenly stopp'd, began to quake,
And howl'd in a most deplorable voice,
As if his dog-heart was ready to break.
Then the boy, stooping down, something slipp'd in
(The something was little and square and white)