Therefore into a neighbouring ditch he flung
The burden that across his back had slung,
Then casting himself down upon a bank,
Quite in a lounging attitude he sank,
And gazing on the clear calm skies above,
He sang some ditty about ladies' love.
Up comes the rider at a rapid trot—
The pace had made him and his steed both hot—
And asked abruptly, reining in his grey,
If he had seen a rascal pass that way,
Who on his shoulders a large bundle bore—
A horrid thief he was, the horseman swore.
"Why, yes," was the reply, "I have just seen
A fellow with long legs pass by—I ween
It is the same you seek; for he looked round
Soon as your horse's footfall on the ground
Was heard—and then, as quickly as he could,
He fled to hide himself in yonder wood.
if you make haste, you there will catch him soon."
The horseman thanked him much and craved a boon—
It was to hold his steed, while in pursuit
He went himself into the wood on foot.
'Twas granted, and the husband rushed among
The bushes tall—while the thief laughing sprang
Upon the horse; he took the bundle too,
And fast away he rode, or rather flew.
Angry, fatigued, and scratched till he was sore,
The husband came, his bootless errand o'er.
Fancy what was his grief, his rage, to find
The horse he thought he left so safe behind,
Gone too! He cried, "Hey! hey!" its name he called,
But all in vain he shouted and he bawled—
The clever thief the faster rode away.
There was no creature near on whom to lay
The blame; so the poor foolish dupe abused
The moon, for having thus her light misused.
Home on his weary legs he had to trudge;
His steed to the vile thief did he not grudge!
"Well, did you find him?" asked his smiling wife.
He answered, in a tone subdued, "My life,
I did. If found him, and—and—for your sake,
Our best, our swiftest horse I let him take,
That he with greater speed might find his way."
The dame smiled on him, and in accents gay
Exclaimed, "O best of husbands! who could find
Your equal—one so thoughtful, wise, and kind!"
MORAL.
The moral of this story shows,
Though knaves on women oft impose,
That men are sometimes quite as green,
But hold their tongues themselves to screen.
