And Granny Dowson cautious went
Before, to spoil their merriment,
Thinking no creature nigh.
Young William came; but at the tree
The watchful Grandam found!
Straight to the Village hasten’d he
And summoning his neighbours round,
The Hedgerow’s tangled boughs among,
Conceal’d the list’ning wond’ring throng.
He told them that, for many a night,