16. SECRET WAS THEIR HASTY MARRIAGE.

And when the ev'ning shadows fell,

Married by the village justice,

When softly rang the curfew bell,

Side by side they hastened westward.

Secret was their hasty marriage,

By a trusted village justice,

Loyal friend of Molly Barber.

In the month of June their wedding,

In the year of sev'nteen forty,

In the warm and joyous spring-time,

When the winter snows were over,

With the coming of the south-wind.

Big canoes were safely sailing

On the Mighty Central River,

For the ice had floated southward

And the fields were gay with flowers —

Green leaves growing in the forest;

Green the grass across the meadows;

Robin Red-breast gayly singing

“Welcome to the joyous spring-time.”