Now, goodness gracious! what was to be done?
He sat himself down in the shade of a tree,
And pondered the matter most thoughtfully.
At length he exclaimed, “My dear little chicks,
I might carry one, but I can’t carry six!
Yet courage! Your parson’s good care will provide
That each of you home on his own horse shall ride!”
He drew out his jackknife so broad and so bright,
And fell to work slashing with main and with might;