“they took her to the queen”
Yet did she kiss that little maid,
Who should no longer roam—
When lo, the dear dream flashed away,
And there she was at home!
“Make this thy home, thou Piping Will,”
The Burgomaster cried.
“Thou hast restored our little maid!
I tell thee, thou must bide.”
“‘nay, bide, thou merry piper boy!’ the kindly house-dames said”
“Make this thy home, thou Piping Will,”
The bustling mother said.
“Come, warm thyself before the hearth
And eat the good white bread.”
But Piping Will would only smile:
“Good friends, I cannot wait!”
(Who could have thought that tattered coat
Had been a robe of state!)