Mother wept, and father sigh?d; 
 With delight a-glow 
Cried the lad, ?To-morrow,? cried, 
 ?To the pit I go.? 
 
Up and down the place he sped, 
 Greeted old and young, 
Far and wide the tidings spread, 
 Clapp?d his hands and sung. 
 
Came his cronies, some to gaze 
 Rapt in wonder; some 
Free with counsel; some with praise; 
 Some with envy dumb. 
 
?May he,? many a gossip cried, 
 ?Be from peril kept;? 
Father hid his face and sighed, 
 Mother turned and wept