BEHIND THE HILL

Behind the hill I met a man in green

Who asked me if my mother had gone out?

I said she had. He asked me had I seen

His castle where the people sing and shout

From dawn to dark, and told me that he had

A crock of gold inside a hollow tree,

And I could have it.— I wanted money bad

To buy a sword with, and I thought that he

Would keep his solemn word; so, off we went.

He said he had a pound hid in the crock,

And owned the castle too, and paid no rent

To any one, and that you had to knock

Five hundred times. I asked, “Who reckoned up?”

And he said, “You insulting little pup!”