"A truly happy heart is certain to be a kind one, and, eager though he was to reach his journey's end, he paused once and again to lend a helping hand. Now it was to a peddler who was vainly trying to piece together the broken strap that had held his pack, again to restore a young bird to its nest, and then to release a white rabbit which had caught its foot in a trap and was moaning piteously.
"These incidents delayed him somewhat, and it was late in the afternoon when he reached the river several miles beyond which lay his destination. It was a wild and treacherous stream that rushed down from the hills, boiling and bubbling over rocks and between high, precipitous banks. Many years before a strong bridge had been thrown across it at the point where the path emerged from the forest, but to-day, to his utter surprise and bewilderment, there was no bridge to be seen. His journey was brought to a sudden stop.
"He looked about him; could he have missed his way? This was impossible, he had travelled it too often. On the other side of the river he saw a man chopping wood, and presently called to him to know what had become of the bridge.
| "'The bridge is broke and I have to mend it, |
| Fol de rol de ri do, fol de rol de ri do, |
| The bridge is broke and I have to mend it, |
| Fol de rol de ri.' |
"This was the man's reply, sung in a merry rollicking tune as he continued his work.
"'How deep is the stream?' asked the traveller.
| "'Throw in a stone, 'twill sink to the bottom, |
| Fol de rol de ri do, fol de rol de ri do—' |
"'How can I get across?'
| "'The ducks and the geese they all swim over, |
| Fol de rol de ri do, fol de rol de ri do—' |