That seemed too clean for mortal feet,

Ere long a stranger met my gaze—

What joy!—one loved in boyish days!

Quoth he: “We revel here to-night,

That all may share in my delight,

For soon I’ll claim the fairest hand

In happy Broek-in-Waterland.”

As thus he spoke, we walked along,

And soon were mingled in the throng;

He vowed, in all a lover’s pride,