In mire that clogged the wheels, the hills were steep.
Creaking and groaning in lugubrious tones,
The dray, thus pulled by thing of skin and bones,
Moved slowly forward till at length the road
Descended sharply, and thus eased the load;
But this now crowded on the nigh-spent beast
With force sufficient (so it seemed, at least)
To hurl him headlong. And yet, strange to tell,
The donkey paused, unheeding blows that fell
From wrathful hand. The boys broke off their play,